Ballater & Crathie Eagle, Issue 62, Summer 2011

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Elf’ and ‘Safety’ at the Boules BBQ

Ballater & crathie Community magazine no. 62 Summer 2011

The kids in action at the Youth Event held in March.

John McDonald with one of his ‘Flowers with Funk-tion’ displays The Ballater & Crathie Eagle is made possible by:

Advertising, Donations, Sponsorship, Fundraising, “Awards for All” Lottery funding, and Cairngorms Leader +European Funding. Thank You. We deliver FREE from Crathie to Cambus O’May. Thanks to Friends of the Eagle for delivering to some outlying areas.

‘Rainbow at Crathie’ by Ian Murray Snr.

News from Lochnagar Distillery - the busy coffee morning (below) the long service award presented to Alex Philips (above))

Domestic & Commercial Crown Thinning & Reduction

Balmoral SCOTTISH HOME

TO

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T H E R O YA L F A M I LY

Dismantling & Felling Hedge Pruning & Maintenance Dangerous Tree Control Stump Grinding & Removal

Professional Tree Surgeon N.P.T.C. Qualified

Fully Insured

Free Estimates

call: 013398 80823 e: deesidetreecare@gmx.co.uk

m: 07786 756078 w: www.deesidetreecare.co.uk

The McEwan Gallery Bill Yule PGA Golf Professional Tuition available £20 per 1/2 hour - 5 Lessons for £80 Non Members Welcome! *Gift Vouchers Available*

Stockist of:

Ping / Titliest / Nike / Glenmuir / Srixon

Ballater Golf Shop

Archibald Kay Harvest

Oil on canvas

*Open 7 Days a Week* Ballater Golf Club

Ballater (200 metres off A93) AB35 5UB

Email: shnyule@aol.com

Tel: 013397 55429 E: dot@mcewangallery.com www.mcewangallery.com

Victoria Road, Ballater AB35 5QX Tel. 013397 55658

Open April 1st - July 31st 2011 Castle Ballroom and Royal Dress Exhibition, Gardens, Audio Tour, Coffee Shop, Balmoral Collection and Gift Shop For further information telephone: Tel: 013397 42534

www.balmoralcastle.com

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Poetic Correspondence

3

Inside Your Summer Eagle:

by Ian Hay For some years now, Arthur Chisnall has contributed articles to the Eagle when he has reminisced about his childhood living in the Barracks in Ballater. Arthur has also been a regular subscriber to the Eagle.

Late last year however, our Subscription Secretary failed to note in her records that Arthur had renewed his subscription, and as a consequence Arthur received no copy of Issue number 60. A very polite letter was sent to the Subscription Secretary explaining the position, and it contained the following short poem, described as “With apologies to McGonagall o’ Dundee”.

Ay doot, Ay doot, it’s yer records that’r oot An it’s nae jist me that’s a daft auld coot For the siller Ay sent on January ten Wis paid tae yer bankie in April ye ken.

An so Ay trust ye’ll kindly agree The “senior moment” wis’na doon tae me An’ Eagle issues saxty one tae fower Can fly eence mair tae my welcome door.

Ever the perfect secretary, Betty Wilson penned a suitably contrite poetic reply as follows.

Firewood

Tel: 013397 55997 Mobile: 07821 746756

Ye’re richt, ye’re richt, there is nae doot It’s me that is the daft auld coot.

Ye keep yer records guid and fine, Not in an orra mess like mine.

I can but hang my heid in shame For blackening your own good name And sure, if it was down to me, You’d get all future Eagles free.

During the course of the correspondence, Betty mentioned that Arthur’s memories of life in the Barracks where his father was the keeper, as contained in several Eagle articles, reminded her that her own grandfather had been keeper at the Barracks from 1866 to 1896. It is a small world right enough!

Diary

The dates you need:

Choices, choices Thinking about the red squirrel

Ballater School

The latest activities and news:

The Crathie Pages Groups, School and more:

Retail Pharmacy and Veterinary Chemist Group Delivering Quality Healthcare since 1897

PRESCRIPTIONS COSMETICS PHOTOGRAPHIC Over-the-Counter MEDICINES & ADVICE Mon - Fri 9am - 5.30pm Sat 9am - 5pm

10 Bridge Street, Ballater Tel: 013397 55409

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Thoughts and tips on how to stay safe:

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23

New Support Group for carers Bowls - a game for oldies?

Think again:

The Old School

Options for its future:

Pottering About The passage of time:

Contact us:

All the ways YOU can contribute:

Local Groups: Ballater Boules: 44 Ballater (RD) Ltd: 22 Ballater RHS Floral Art Group: 10 Ballater Royal Horticultural Society: 12 Ballater Songsters: 9

Home Security and Road Safety

Help for those who help others:

Davidsons Chemists

4-5

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BOVOF: 20 Charitable Chiels: 11 Churches: 10 Community Council: 18 Deeside Carers Support Group: 14 Indoor Bowling Club: 11 K&D Befriending: 15

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Old People’s and over 50’s Association: 13 Rotary Club: 16 SWRI: 8

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Upper Deeside Art Society: 9 55

Upper Deeside Music: 8

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Advertising: Full page: £60; Half page: £30; Quarter page: £20; Eighth page: £10 Book and pay for 4 issues: series discount of 10% - copy can be changed each issue

Donations:

Donations are gratefully received, and acknowledged. You can also put money into our tins in the Library or Yules Newsagents.

A big “Thank You” this issue to David Wright

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Eagle Eyes... Walkers -

a 999 Text Service

by MCofS

June Fri 10 Ballater Charitable Chiels Golf Day, Ballater Golf Club Sat 11 Nearly New Sale and Coffee Morning, St Kentigern’s Church Hall, 10-12 Sat 11 BRHS Plant Sale, Hut on the Green, 10.00am Mon 13 Ballater and Crathie Community Council, Mike Sheridan Room, 7pm Tue 14 CLAN Walking Group meet CLAN Centre, 1.30pm Thu 16 BRHS Floral Art: “Creating Waves” Workshop, Mary Wright,

Mike Sheridan Room, 7.30pm Fri 17 Rotary Charity Golf Day at Aboyne Golf Club Sat 18 Nearly New Sale and Coffee Morning, St Kentigern’s

Church Hall, 10-12

CLAN Strawberry Tea at Kindrochit Court, Braemar, 2-4pm

Summer Solstice Night Ride, Cyclehighlands, 7pm,

www.cyclehighlands.com Wed 29 CLAN Second Chancers Group, Ballater Golf Club, 4pm July Fri 1 Ballater School term ends Sat 2 Guild Coffee Morning and Sales Table, Glenmuick Church Hall, 10.30am-12 Sun 3 Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve Open Day, Burn O’

Vat Visitor Centre, noon-4pm Mon 4 Deeside Carers Support Group, The White Cottage, Aboyne, 11am Wed 6 Ballater Business Association Meeting, venue TBA, 7.30pm Tue 12 CLAN Walking Group meet CLAN Centre, 1.30pm Thu 21 Floral Art Group Afternoon Outing to Glenbervie

House, Drumlithie, near Stonehaven, 2.30pm (arrival time) Mon 25-Fri 29 The Royal Deeside Golf Classic, various venues,

www.royaldeesidegolfclassic.co.uk Wed 27 Moths in the Morning, Burn O’Vat Visitor Centre, 10am-noon

CLAN Second Chancers Group, Ballater Golf Club, 4pm Sun 31 Ballater 10-mile road race, Ballater School, noon, www.deesiderunners.com August Mon 1 Deeside Carers Support Group, Victoria Tea Rooms, Dinnet, 11am

Classical Guitar Concert, Ian Watt and Kristiina Jalakas from

AIYS, Crathie Kirk, 7.30pm, tickets tel 55745 Fri 5 Emerald Isle Irish Dancers, Victoria Hall, 7.30pm, tickets tel 55745

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) is urging everyone who walks climbs and skis in the Scottish mountains to register with the 999 emergency text service. This service has been set up to allow people to text 999 when voice calls cannot be made, but where there is sufficient signal to send a text.

Heather Morning, the MCofS Mountain Safety Advisor, is urging mountaineers to register for the new service. She said: “You can now contact the 999 emergency services by SMS text from your mobile phone. This is going to be particularly useful for those needing 999 assistance in the hills when mobile phone reception is often intermittent and there is not enough signal to make a call.”

However, you will only be able to use this service if you have registered with emergencySMS first. The MCofS is urging mountaineers to register now rather than wait for an emergency. To register, text ‘Register’ to 999. You will get a reply and will then need to follow the instructions you are sent. The text system is meant to be used only when voice calls cannot be made and the system does not guarantee that texts will be delivered, so users should wait until they receive a reply from the emergency services before assuming help has been summoned. The system was originally set up to help deaf and hard of hearing people.

Further details, including guidelines on how to register, can be found at www.emergencysms. org.uk.

For further information contact Mike Dales on 01738 493 942 or go to the MCofS website at: http://www.mcofs.org.uk.

Ballater 57 Entrance Sign by Jack Coull In view of the deteriorating state of the roadside signs for Ballater, currently located at Tullich before the Pass of Ballater turn off, a number of Ballater organisations, supported by the Community Council, propose to erect a more attractive granite ‘Welcome’ sign on the A93 on the approach to the village. The suggested site would be on the left of the road opposite the Pannanich estate. Banchory has such a sign as do a number of villages in Speyside.

A possible design would have lettering in either gold or black on a central polished area surrounded by rough, undressed local granite.

Both the height and width would be 2 metres.

The organisers would welcome comments and suggestions from residents, submitted in writing, for attention of J. Coull at Ballater (RD) Ltd, Bank Building, 7 Bridge Street, Ballater AB35 5QP.

Moira Melrose Kiltmaker since 1992 Quality Hand Sewn Kilts

013398 800 74 8007 Email: kiltmaker@hotmail.co.uk

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a passport…but I digress.

My first two passports were the temporary sort, when I was sweet-ish 16 and 17. The fact I mostly cut my own hair is self evident, obviously using a large pudding basin on my head. A year later, in my first 10 year passport, albeit in black and white, I was resplendent in blonde curly hair and frilly Laura Ashley – what was I thinking?! Yet it’s me, and I can still feel that me. Looking at the photos I wished the contentedly confident me now could have talked to the rather scared, startled and confused me of that time. But then I realised that the mistakes I have made would have been different and the many joys I have relished would not have happened. I recognised that I have made the best decisions I could on the available evidence and experience. All that from looking at old passports with my daughters. Ain’t life grand?

I’m delighted to recently note that

another bugbear of mine I have written about previously in these good pages is clearly shared by many others, and indeed there is a growing campaign against them.

No, not the flashing road signs the size of a house, nor the plethora of yellow notices on electricity poles telling you they carry electricity and can be dangerous – just how stupid are we supposed to be? – but ridiculously bright and glittery blue car lights that are on whether it’s midday or midnight. It’s worth repeating my feelings on this I think. The only 4 wheel vehicles that need lights on in daylight are emergency ones. No-one else is that important, nor should they be allowed to dazzle the rest of us. If you share my abhorrence of this growing trend too there’s a website to make you feel less alone in your loathing: www.lightmare.org I am going to say nothing about gardening as my head is hung in too much shame... but I’ll lift it just enough to reach my glass to wish all our good readers a wonderful summer. Cheers!

Larks Gallery Stockists of local artists as well as ceramics, sculpture, woodturning, photography, glass, textiles and jewellery.

Summer Hours: Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday:

10am - 5pm Sunday:

1pm - 4pm

10 Braemar Road, Ballater, Aberdeenshire Tel: 013397 55888 www.larksgallery.com

...so you know What’s Going On

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Sat 6-Sat 13 Victoria Week, various events, www.ballatervictoriaweek.co.uk Sat 6 Aboyne Highland Games, Aboyne Green, 10.30am onwards Sun 7 Book Fair, Victoria Halls, 10am-5pm, £1 entry

Parade of Vehicles followed by Fair in Monaltrie Park, starts 1pm Tues 9 CLAN Walking Group meet CLAN Centre, 1.30pm

Guild Strawberry Teas and Sales Table, Glenmuick Church Hall, 2.30-4.30pm

Fiona Brandie School of Highland Dancing perform on the Church Green, 7pm Wed 10 Putting Competition, Ballater Golf Club, 11am onwards, Adults £1, u15s free

Ballater Songsters Concert in the Albert Hall, 2.30pm

Thu 11 Highland Games, Monaltrie Park, 12.30pm onwards

Fri 12 Bike Safari, Cyclehighlands, 1pm, www.cyclehighlands.com

Trumpet Shall Sound recital, Upper Deeside Music Society,

St Kentigern’s Church, 7.30pm, £10 adults Sat 13 Car Boot Sale, Church Green, 10.30am-12.30pm tbc Tues 16 Ballater School term begins Sat 20/Sun 21 BRHS Annual Show, Victoria Halls, Sat 1-5pm, Sun 11-3pm Thu 25-Sep 4 UDAS Annual Exhibition Victoria Hall, 10.00am to 7.00pm Mon 29 Ballater Post Office closed Wed 31 CLAN Second Chancers Group, Ballater Golf Club, 4pm September Mon 5 Ballater School Parent Council AGM, 7pm Thu 8 OPA/Over-50s trip to Pitlochry, non-members £6, Ruth 53244

Sat 10-Sun 18 North East Open Studios,

see www.northeastopenstudios.co.uk for details

Tue 13 CLAN Walking Group meet CLAN Centre, 1.30pm Sat 17 Morven Hill Race, Dinnet, 1pm, www.deesiderunners.com Sat17-25 Active Aboyne Outdoor Activities Festival, www.activeaboyne.co.uk Sat 24 Guild Coffee Morning and Sales Table, Glenmuick Church

Hall, 10.30am-12

Are Your Dates Here?

For inclusion in this FREE section of the Eagle, please contact Cat Houston on 55243, 07968 941359 (texts welcome) or catrionahouston@yahoo.co.uk

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Letter from our Editor

has s, tland ical r o c e S d a phys pe of r Re ndsca weeks, the this time Dea a l l a c a politi it was ast few tate f and h the tly in the p virtually as almoral Es but g u o te staf drastic h a y t s B a s n i e Alt ignifican E a M h , m y ft ly erdeen ted an side re ed s part o in ear chang ape on Dee said that, thland fire away as Abmes, preven ay arly M rt landsc ar. Having es of a hea from as far ck on the fla oorstep. e d n a o f l last ye d the ravag Ser vice staf Loch Mui pe on our d of late Apri assle of airp ed a e s p h m c r e suffe orts of Fir g water fro ness lands ul blue skie ith all the t is to be ho ill f the eff ter droppin f the wilder and wonder the Costas w Deeside? I n Deeside wm. p o e o o t t c n r the r on i i l mo a l h e e p h to a ly, the suns eds to trav such weathe ulate touris and amuse nd the e g a t e e m a s i n v e t , dam doubted a r s o h d” to inte high ile we st. Wh ions to Un amuse l a boo ing times wh al organisat h in the area n fact “ Be ntaining the years l a s u gave y and wait arious loc find muc 2011 is i ss in mai ver the 24 ble e v securit e efforts of visitors will Ballater for ever y succ the Week o ve an enjoya t n h m i e t a a h h t k e s t i e a T e u d als alike ha ral beauty. uth Week uit and u disting c oria W bear fr eme of Vict ew Victoria which have sitors and lo onderful nat rts are contincal s i h n o t e v w f i e f t , e s i e nd lo a’ , ne Th wishes th and activ ever yo ent our are of the Eagle for tourists a of hard t s e t a l n h g t e a v m l e E of pages omple at dea rds of e e, both t’s hop standa xistence. Le weather to c d within the in the villag er, but a gre etermination of. of its e r with good you will rea ous facilities taking for ev s, and the d to be proud y i i e summ eanwhile, as improve var of these are luntar y bas bring results Ian Ha o e , v o t M d m en na de so in the ing ma t of it o m that ally be . It may see rtaken, mos goods”, will, people being unde roduce the s p work i nvolved to “ i e s o h t

Pottering about

by Stella Potter

Just over ten years ago I wrote in my column about passport photos, how the passage of time makes the photo I hated when taken seem a really rather nice one ten years later. I have recently renewed my passport and have again had to reluctantly lose the photo I now like. To add insult to injury, one is now not allowed to smile – is it assumed that all travellers are grumpy? – nor wear glasses, even if one normally does all the time. I am horrified at my new photo.

A glum looking, spectacle free wrinkled face that I know is me, but I can’t quite believe, nor want to believe, that I actually look that old. Being very short sighted, I thankfully don’t get the full horror when I look in the mirror without my glasses. Where did those bulging suitcases under my eyes come from?

Why is one eye smaller than the other, my mouth uneven and my nose so huge? I can

see myself this summer scowling and nearly winking at passport control to prove it’s really me. Depressing. Yet, doubtless in ten years time I’ll think it a rather good picture and be sad to lose it. How vanity diminishes over the years…

On a more positive passport pic note, to the delight of my daughters, I found my collection of old passports. Older readers may remember the temporary passports you could get from the post office for a year’s travel in Europe. Three-fold beige card things, with spaces for a picture and the name of your wife. One of the many reasons I embraced feminism was this appalling assumption that the male passport holder somehow owned the wife. There clearly was no option for a woman to obtain a temporary passport and add her husband, though I’m sure many lesbian couples enjoyed sharing

The Chimney Sweep

Wee Jim Landscapes

Open

Fires, Agas, Wood

Burning Stoves Swept

Full Inspection,

By Popular Demand!

Ballater Library opening Hours: Sunday & Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday:

Closed 10am-1pm, 6.30pm-8pm Closed 2pm-4pm, 6.30pm-8pm

Friday: Saturday:

2pm-5pm 10am-12noon

55

Sweep

& Vacuum Bird-Guards & Chimney

Cowls Fitted Friendly, Helpful &

Reliable Service Fully Insured

Clean & Tidy

Please Call: Alan Mckay

Tel Mob: 07910103308

James Anderson Bridgefoot, Glenmuick, Ballater Aberdeenshire AB35 5SN

Firewood Available Call for details Tel: 013397 55997 Mobile: 07821 746756 Email: weejimlandscapes@yahoo.co.uk

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continues. We have a very active management team which is gradually working through a programme of small improvements. The key entry system is working well, although this is only for use if booked accommodation is not open for some reason, and is certainly not a substitute for proper bookings through Eileen.

New notice boards have been provided throughout the buildings. These are mainly for the display by the Association of statutory notices and information. There is space on the boards at the entrances to the Albert and Victoria Halls for some notices by user groups, and these are labelled accordingly.

Income from halls rents fell over the winter – many meetings were cancelled because of the harsh weather. This of course has a knock-on effect, and we are ever conscious of having to tighten the purse strings whilst covering day to day maintenance. We also have a ring-fenced

Lucy’s Leisure & Lifestyle Clothing Clothing Accessories Footwear

for Men, Women & Children Stockists of

Royal Station, Ballater t: 013397 54099

account for any fundraising and donations which are held specifically for the time when we have to produce some match funding. Many groups have given generously, and we will have a barometer recording all their donations in due course. Please consider how you can help.

In the meantime, the Association is organising some fundraisers – 300+ Club – we have had our first draw – winners - number 71 Doris Barbour £75, Number 224 Sandra Bradley £50, number 251 Mr and Mrs Will £40, number 136 David Kinghorn £30. The next draw will take place on Saturday 4th June.

21st May – Giant Jumble Sale - with teas by the WRI. 5th August – the Aberdeen International Youth Festival visits Ballater with the Emerald Isle Dancers – come along and enjoy a flavour of Riverdance!

26th November – a celebration of Scotland with St Andrews Night event watch out for information and tickets soon!

We would love to welcome representatives of all groups who use the Halls to our monthly meetings. Only a handful take responsibility for this wonderful community resource, and they all do a power of work so that everyone benefits – come along and help!

I may be contacted on 013397 55745 or email marybellmacaulay@btinternet.com The new management team and elected officers are: Bell Macaulay – Chair, Jack Coull – Vice Chair, Willie Meston – Treasurer, Eileen Collins – Bookings Secretary, Veronica Houston – Minutes Secretary, Team – Ron Drever, Douglas Glass, Ian and Margaret Hay, Frances Johnstone, Norma Davies, Wilma Glashan.

Keep in touch with a Subscription UK: £8.00 EC: £10.00 Overseas: £14.00 For the rates above, four issues will be posted.

A subscription can be a very welcome gift to farflung friends and relatives.

Simply provide the name & address to whom the issues should be sent, with a cheque or postal order for ‘Ballater Eagle’ for the relevant amount and drop off your request to the Library. Betty, our Subscriptions person will do the rest. Easy!

Ways to contact the Eagle:

Hand in to the Library  Post to Ballater Eagle, c/o Ballater Library, Ballater, AB35 5QB

 E-mail to:

ballater.eagle@btopenworld.com



Contributions of any kind on PC disc (Word format) always welcome.

How to contact our Representatives:

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Scottish Parliament: Dennis Robertson MSP e-mail: dennis.robertson.msp@ scottish.parliament.uk

Westminster: Sir Robert Smith MP Tel: 01330 820330, Fax: 01330 820338, e-mail: robert.smith.mp@parliament.uk Aberdeenshire Council: Peter Argyle: Tel: 013398 81180 e-mail: cllr.p.argyle@aberdeenshire.gov.uk Rosemary Bruce: Tel: 013398 89318 e-mail: cllr.r.bruce@aberdeenshire.gov.uk Marcus Humphrey: Tel: 013398 85332 email: cllr.m.humphrey@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Cairngorms National Park: Katrina Farquhar email: info@katrinafarquhar.co.uk Tel: 013398 81 006

Eagle Who’s Who & Where

Editor: Ian Hay  55941 Treasurer: Dr. Sheila Sedgwick  55292 Secretary: Betty Wilson  55791 Advertising Manager: Faye Swan  55345 Distribution: Andy and Julie Bloor Diary Secretary & Typing: Cat Houston  55243 Design: Ollie Ross  42300, Stella Potter  55969 & Karen Major  55026 Email us at: ballater.eagle@btopenworld.com Eagle Online by Tom Potter: www.ballaterscotland.com/eagle

If you would like a large print version of the Eagle, please contact Ballater Library on 55628.

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Upper Deeside Music

by Jane Angus The society’s spring meetings this year have been fortunate. The snow came in the morning after Dr Williams’ exhilarating organ recital and the young musicians and their families had sunshine and clear roads for the stimulating visit of Mr Jamie Barclay’s students to Craig Megan. With Anne Grant accompanying, members of the society and visitors fully enjoyed the experience and musicality of these young people and it is hoped that we may have this opportunity again.

We have been fortunate to benefit from a series of visits from young people sponsored by the Tunnell Trust. The Paitti Quartet gave an exceptional concert in March at St Kentigern’s.

Their performances of late works of Haydn, Beethoven and Debussy will long remain in

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Local Group News

our memories and we shall watch for further broadcasts and news of this talented quartet with considerable interest.

The Strathmore Singers came to St Kentigern’s on May 8th with sacred and secular works by composers from Palestrina to Elgar. In Victoria Week, Friday 12th August at 7.30 p.m. Grant Golding, trumpet and Matt Edwards, organ, will again play as The Trumpet Shall Sound.

At all our meetings, accompanied children and members of H.M. Forces are welcomed without charge.

In the autumn, the society will again meet in the Darroch Learg Hotel, for the Trio Ecossaise, who will also have workshops in the school with the pianist Christine Lawrie from Dundee, Jessica Beeston, viola and Andrew Johnston, piano. We hope for Phillip Highman, cello and Simon Lane, piano, eventually next February but after the problems of last December when they could not even reach their airports, it becomes a question of ‘stand-by-your-phones’.

Ballater SWRI by

Frances Johnstone Recent meetings of Ballater SWRI have been well attended. On 16th February, Barry Florence and Craig Mitchell from H.M.Sheridan’s Butchers, gave an excellent and humorous demonstration on all cuts of lamb. The meeting four weeks later, on 16th March was an Open Night with members from other institutes being invited to see a presentation of slides on birds of prey by Stewart Millar from Blairgowrie. At the end of his talk, Stewart produced a beautiful but shy real owl which he had rescued 14 years ago.

On 15 th April, 14 ladies of Ballater WRI went on the Aberdeenshire Federation Holiday to Durham and Beamish. With 2 Whytes Coaches full of ladies from all over Aberdeenshire, this was a very well organised

Victoria and Albert Memorial Halls by Bell Macaulay

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the thermal imaging exercise undertaken during the Feasibility Study.

In addition, an asbestos survey must be completed before contractors will begin work, to avoid delays later. The complexity of the building makes it imperative that professional assistance is sought to manage and take responsibility for commissioning insulation of the entire building, and the Hurd Rolland team were proposed in view of their knowledge of the Halls and their wide experience in dealing with similar projects. The meeting agreed that funding for these aspects should be sought without delay so that we might benefit before next winter.

In the meantime of course, the day to day running and maintenance of the building

“We will need to consider carefully how we can stage our proposed heating and refurbishment programme so that the community can start to benefit from improvements to the Victoria and Albert Halls at a time when funding is hard to come by”, said Ian Hay, co-ordinator of the Halls Refurbishment Group.

Ian was talking at the first meeting of the Halls Development Association following the recent Annual General Meeting. He recapped on all the information already gathered from the community, culminating in a comprehensive action report which now needs to be broken down into manageable chunks. All advice has pointed to the fact that good insulation of the building should be the first priority to stop the available heat leaking out as demonstrated by

the

ALEXANDRA HOTEL Lunch served 12 noon - 2pm and

Supper / Dinner served 5.30pm - 8.30pm Ensuite accommodation available

Everybody Welcome!

12 Bridge Square, Ballater. Tel: 013397 55376 www.alexandrahotelballater.com

52

of the kindness of people with lorries to make this possible.

It would make for a great day as we have many stalls of interest to appeal to all ages.”

Victoria Week simply would not happen without the support of Ballater’s folk and there’s plenty of time to get involved if you want to. The Sunday Fayre event needs volunteers to run a number of these fabulous stalls, and groups and individuals could use the event to raise money for their own organisation or charity. Could you run a coconut shy, a set of stocks or a chocolate fountain, for example? How about being part of a human fruit machine? If you think you can help, with these or with the provision of a lorry for a float, contact Anne on annereid570@yahoo. co.uk or 53146.

The event as a whole needs an army of “money bucket shakers”, and anyone with a

First Aid qualification and a little spare time that week is asked to volunteer their services so all events can also be covered safely.

As well as being a fun-filled week of events, Victoria Week raises thousands of pounds for local charities and organisations.

Among those to benefit last year were Ballater’s Halls, Pipe Band, School and Enhancement Group. Other monies are ploughed into making the following year’s event as big a success as the last.

A more detailed programme will be available online by the time the summer Eagle hits doormats, with a revamped souvenir programme available in mid-July. For more information contact Val on 013397 55018 (Secretary) or Cat on 013397 55243 (Publicity) or email valvictoriaweek@gmail.com. www.ballatervictoriaweek.co.uk.

Find us on Facebook (Community Organisation).

H.P.S. (Aberdeen) Ltd Integrated Building / Landscaping Services and Supplies Chanaich Lodge Provost Craig Road Ballater Aberdeenshire AB35 5NN

Tel: 01339 756336 Fax: 01339 755893 Mobiles: 07710 469563 07850 653160

Managing Director Peter Henderson Email: peter.hps@btconnect.com

event, and the weather was perfect, so all returned happy and satisfied.

On 21st April, we held our AGM which was conducted by Leonel Cushnie WRI, and after some quizzes and amusing poems, the new committee was elected as follows:President - A. Richardson Vice President - M. Munro Secretary - S. Armstrong Assistant Secretary – V. Houston Treasurer - T. Cooper Press Secretary - A. Barbour Magazine Secretary – M. Cameron Tea Convenors - H. Mitchell and M. Finnie Raffle - D. Rattray and P. Fraser The summer meal in the Glen Aden Hotel on 1st June was in place of the Christmas meal which had to be cancelled twice because of winter storms.

Ballater Songsters

by Sheila Rumbles As always, we are kept busy entertaining at many venues and also meeting together every week practising new material. At the moment we are working hard on the programme we intend to present at our concert during Victoria Week.

The concert is scheduled to be held in the Albert Hall on Wednesday 10th August commencing at 2.30pm. Your support is always greatly appreciated and we look forward to seeing you all again.

Upper Deeside Art Society

by Moira Mckenzie Here at UDAS we love Summer Painting days out and about on Upper Deeside, trying to do justice to the beautiful scenery around us.

If you spot us, please do say ‘hello’.

The Exhibition at Balmoral Stables is well underway now and we are delighted by the visitors’ appreciation of our work, resulting in a good number of sales, with many paintings winging their way literally to the other side of the world.

Our Summer 2011 Exhibition in Ballater

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opens to the public on Thursday 25thAugust in the Victoria Hall and runs daily from 10am – 7pm until Sunday 4th September, closing then at 5pm.

This Exhibition showcases our members’ many talents and we look forward to showing you our work from paintings, sculpture, 3D installations, leaded glass, textile works as well as lithographs, collographs and etchings produced by some artists using our very own printing press housed in Aboyne. Each year our Exhibition becomes more varied and we look forward to talking with you when you visit this year.

We are delighted to be able to give you our very own website address - www.udas.org.uk It is a very attractive, easy to navigate site and we thank Jean Eades who is a UDAS member for all her work in producing it for us.

Enter the web address and you will find up to date information and contact details about our Society, as well as some photographs of our work.

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Hoping that you all have a very relaxed summer full of glorious sunshine and thanking you all for your continued support of us at our Exhibitions.

R.H.S. Floral Art Group

by Mildred Coull The new session of the Ballater R.H.S. Floral Art Group began on April 21st with a hugely successful meeting attended by almost sixty ladies.

The much anticipated demonstration by John McDonald, the young professional florist who works at Gleneagles Hotel, attracted many members and guests, and was an evening of sheer delight. John had started as a ‘Saturday boy’ helping in a shop, moving on to a qualification in hotel management, then running his own business and now creating spectacular designs in flowers for the prestigious hotel.

His theme for the evening was ‘Flowers with Funk-tion’ which promised innovative and modern designs, and his dramatic displays were

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further enhanced by the use of L.E.D. bulbs and tealights placed under glass. The visual effect of all his designs at the end of his demonstration was magical, and drew gasps of admiration and delight.

(See photo on back cover) Of course his ideas had to be suitable for display in public areas with strict rules on safety and stability but, nevertheless, many of his professional ‘tips’ were useful to those arranging flowers at home. The sustained applause and many questions at the end of the meeting paid tribute to a highly talented and extremely modest young man who kept us enthralled for over two hours.

The committee under the chairmanship of Kathleen McCulloch was delighted to welcome so many to our opening meeting, and look forward to the summer meetings On May 19th we welcomed Judith Lorimer from Aberdeen and, in June, there will be a workshop with Mary Wright.

An outing to Glenbervie House and garden takes place on July 21st, and in August we hope to see entries for the BRHS Show.

Our grateful thanks go once again to Ivy Duncan who prepares and serves the teas and coffees, and who coped heroically with the large numbers at the April meeting.

The dates of the demonstrations are in the diary section of The Eagle, and we extend an invitation to anyone who wishes to come to these. Everyone will be made very welcome.

Lenten Lunches

by Kathleen McCulloch Glenmuick, St Kentigern’s and St. Nathalan’s Churches held their weekly Lenten Lunches again this year in Glenmuick Church Hall over five weeks. The gratifying sum of £1,000 was raised and was divided equally between The Aberlour Trust and the Aberdeen Salvation Army. Organisers would like to record their thanks to all their customers, and the soup makers, helpers and many others responsible for this great success.

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Victoria Week 2011

by Catriona Houston

Ballater looks forward once again to hosting a plethora of fun-filled activities during Victoria Week this summer. Taking place in the village annually since 1987, the event has a special place in many local people’s hearts, as well as providing a worthwhile distraction for the area’s many holiday visitors during Games Week.

This year it runs from Saturday 6 to Saturday 13 August.

The committee has several new members this year and since January the new collective has been finding its feet, coming up with new ideas and contacts and getting things moving.

New events presently on the drawing board for 2011 include a Duck Race, a Pet Show, a Picnic on the Green, an Evening of Clairvoyance, a Scarecrow Competition and a Film Night.

All the old favourites are there too: you

can take part in a 4x4 or Bike Safari, a Ghost or History Tour, try your hand at a new sport or sit back and relax to something musical.

And don’t forget the Book Fair, Messy Play, Photo Exhibition and Car Boot Sale. There’s something for everyone.

It is hoped that the Sunday Classic Car Parade and Fayre event will be bigger and better than ever, with more attractions and stalls in the park where the parade ends, than has been seen previously. Hopes to fulfil many folks’ wishes of reintroducing the floats are hitting the usual stumbling blocks, but Sunday Events Organiser Anne Reid is determined things will go with a swing: “I am hoping to appeal to everybody’s better nature to make this the best day ever. Everybody would like to see the floats back. However, we are in need

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Deeside and Donside Development Project

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The project continues to work with groups from the BOVOF process as well as with groups in Braemar and Strathdon The concept of a learning centre in Ballater continues to progress since a learning needs assessment was undertaken in November 2009.

We are now closer to receiving funding to establish a coordinator for a facility in Ballater.

Discussions continue with Scotia Homes and Invercauld regarding the development of the H1 plot next to Monaltrie Park. By the time this article is published we hope to have confirmation from Scotia whether they intend to progress with the site or not.

Work on Braemar Castle is progressing with significant applications for refurbishment of the castle and professional assistance to promote and manage the facility.

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by Nick Mardall

The community hydro scheme near Braemar is also moving closer to a planning application stage.

There is currently a Food for Life initiative underway in the National Park and interest has been raised regarding allotments in Ballater.

This was something which came out of the BOVOF process initially and I would ask if anyone is interested in joining a group to work with the Food for Life initiative and identify suitable allotment plots, please get in touch.

The Dalmochie Forestry Project has also picked up momentum with the completion of an update of the original feasibility study. There are now several options for the Ballater Historic Forestry Project Association to pursue in developing this site for the benefit of the community.

Finally the Cairngorms National Park Authority is holding an interactive awarenessraising day looking at how people can become involved in shaping the future of the Park.

The event is being held in several locations across the Park with one in Braemar Village hall on Saturday the 11th June 10-12.30pm.

The other locations are Nethy Bridge, Blair Atholl and Newtonmore.

We are promised that the event will demonstrate when and where local issues can be heard to influence more strategic planning. It will also demystify the planning system and banish some of the commonly held misconceptions. It is not just about the ‘house next door’ but larger issues including renewable energy, housing, commercial space and infrastructural developments. Essentially the message is; This is your Park and so learn how to have your say in shaping its future. Once again I would ask folk to contact me if they have any project they would like to pursue Nick.dddp@btconnect.com or tel; 013397 53775

Salvation Army Songs of Praise by Jim

McCulloch Once again, the Salvation Army will return to Glenmuick Church on Sunday August 7th at 6.30 p.m. for a Songs of Praise organised by the Ballater Churches Together.

This service is now firmly fixed at the beginning of Victoria Week and has proved to be popular and uplifting.

If you haven’t been before, be sure not to miss it this time!

There will be an opportunity to donate in a collection to be divided between Victoria Week Funds and the Salvation Army.

Ballater Halls Indoor Bowling Club

by Sheila Rumbles We have had a very successful 2010/11 season. Our Club competitions went well and the results are as follows:Pairs: Winners: Trevor Armstrong & June Donald Runners/up: George Sim & Ian Simpson Triples: Winners: Aileen Gatt, Douglas Mutch & Irene Campbell Runners up: George Sim, Trevor Armstrong & June Donald Our prize-giving/fun night was held on 13th April and a lovely evening was had by all.

The 2011/12 indoor season commences again at the end of September.

Ballater Charitable Chiels by Derek Mutch

It’s hard to believe but this year is the Ballater Charitable Chiels’ tenth anniversary.

To celebrate, we are currently organising a marquee dinner/dance at the golf club on Saturday 18th June. We are using outside caterers and hiring a marquee. The band “Flites” will be providing the entertainment and anyone who has been to

11

any of our October music nights will know they are in for a good night! Hopefully, by the time this edition of the Eagle goes out we will have sold all our tables. The idea is that this will cover the costs of staging such an event but if we manage to raise a little extra money for charity then that would be a wee bonus!

At the beginning of the year, the Chiels’ ranks were swelled by two. Matthew Holley and Scott Thompson were asked to become members of the Chiels and duly accepted. It is hoped that these two younger members can take the pressure off some of our old timers (like me!!)

This year we are not doing a walk challenge but we will get our thinking caps on and come up with something special for 2012. As I have said before, if anyone has any suggestions (keep it clean!!) then please let us know.

Instead we will be organising a sponsored abseil at the Albert Hall tower, Ballater. This will ideally take place during Victoria Week

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but that will be dependent on having all the necessary paperwork (Health & Safety etc..) and safety procedures in place. A few years ago we organised a sponsored abseil at the Pass o’ Ballater which proved very popular.

Our Golf day this year falls on Friday 10th June and as in previous years there is currently a waiting list for this event. It takes the form of a Texas scramble and has always raised a lot of money in the past. It is a very popular event in the North East golfing calendar and helps to put Ballater on the map. The Euan McDonald centre for Motor Neurone Disease and local charities / good causes will be the main beneficiaries. As usual we will have other activities during the year, so keep an eye out for them!

At our AGM we elected a new chairman, Brian Florence, Vice chairman, Stuart Esson and the new post of Public relations/Press officer, Scott Fraser. Money raised to date by the Charitable Chiels is a very creditable “£266,357.

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All the best from the Ballater Charitable Chiels and hopefully we will finally get the long awaited “Barbecue Summer” that folk have been talking about for the last three or four years!!

Ballater Royal Horticultural Society

by Mairi Burgess

As I write this, many Society members can be found in their gardens. It feels as if summer has arrived, and after the bad winter, we are all filled with enthusiasm.

We are looking forward to a busy season and planning the annual Exhibition on 20th and 21st August. The Primary School has been very much in focus, and we have been encouraging the children to plan their own vegetables and flowers. With the help of two “proper” gardeners from Balmoral, and the gift of seed potatoes, we are hoping for a record entry from the young people. They will need help from Mums and Dads, so we will be depending on you all. Members of the Society are helping the children and even the Brownies have been included, by making posies for their Mums on Mothering Sunday.

The Best Garden prize is waiting for one lucky person - £100 and the Copland Rose bowl can be yours, BUT you must enter the competition. The more the merrier and the judges can have a real selection from which to pick a winner. Size does not matter, and if you have a neighbour with a lovely garden, do let us know, and we will consider all-comers!

Just now the bulbs by the War Memorial are looking splendid, with a lovely selection of spring flowers. This display is due to the generosity of Foxlane Garden Centre, which the members will be visiting soon to see the array of locally grown plants, and stock up their flower beds. Remember, these plants are among the few grown locally, and suitable for our area.

Deeside Land Purchase by RSPB Scotland by Carrie Watt RSPB Scotland has purchased 520 hectares of land known as the Crannach, near Ballater in Deeside, to manage for the conservation of native Caledonian pine forest. The new reserve lies within the Cairngorms National Park.

The area comprises open ground with pine and birch regeneration, juniper stands, young Scots pine and birch woodland as well as some small ponds. It is a long term investment by the charity to manage habitat important for priority species such as black grouse, Scottish crossbill and a wide range of other wildlife associated with this special habitat.

Stuart Housden, Director, RSPB Scotland said. “This is an exciting new venture for us. We already own pinewoods in Strathspey and in the Beauly catchment but Deeside is a special place.

We are very privileged to be able to deepen our commitment to the area by playing our part on

49

the Crannach in protecting the Caledonian Forest and the wealth of wildlife it supports”.

Dr Martin Auld, RSPB Scotland’s East Regional Director based in Aberdeen said, “We look forward to working with the community to develop the potential of the site as an asset for people and wildlife on Deeside. We will be advertising for a new staff member to manage the area and represent our interests in the local community.”

Until now the site has been managed privately and there are no plans for any immediate changes. Once a more detailed survey of the area has been carried out a management plan will be developed in consultation with the local community and neighbours.

There will an official launch of the reserve at a later date. Currently there is no formal access, infrastructure or signage on the site.

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on the Dalmuchie burn. He is also remembered for keeping a gill bottle of over proof Lochnagar whisky in the cab of his van. On frosty mornings this spirit was wiped on the windscreen as a ‘never-fail’ demister!

The first man placed in charge of this operation was called Roberts, but he was a coach builder and was soon replaced by a mechanic from Aviemore. His name was Charles Gauld and he and his family lived in the garage house. This mechanic’s son went to school with me and a visit to Alexander Keiller’s old workshop, with its aura of a lost age, made a deep impression on me.

Soon afterwards the McLean Family bought Craigendarroch and turned it into a hotel. The SCWS gave up its garage and the Riverside Garage took up the maintenance contract for its vans. A few years later I came to Riverside to complete my apprenticeship. The SCWS vans took up most of my time every

Thursday, that being the shops’ half day. The Trojan vans, in particular, were tricky things, their two cylinder, two-stroke engines were difficult to keep in tune, and they suffered from a design fault that caused continual failure of their engine mountings. One afternoon whilst changing an engine mounting, I found a spanner locked in a very inaccessible position, where it had obviously been left by a previous mechanic.

On inspection, the little 1/4w by 3/16w open-ended spanner bore the stamped initials: CG. Charles Gauld! This spanner, made by the ‘Williams’ company in the USA, was added to my tool kit. Many years after, the late Mike Sheridan and I often worked together on our growing collections of old vans, tractors and army vehicles, and it was a closed joke between us to ask for ‘Charlie Gauld,’ the old open-ended spanner.

‘Charlie Gauld’ is at hand as I write; still a treasured part of my toolbox, not only for its usefulness but also for the memories handling it brings back.

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On Saturday 11th June we will be holding our Plant Sale on the Village Green. Commencing at 10.00am, there will be a large selection of plants and home baking. Everyone is most welcome to donate or buy plants and home baking donations are very acceptable. The funds raised, plus our annual raffle, help us to finance the Exhibition.

25 lucky members will be visiting Birkhall in July to see the Prince of Wales’ beautiful garden and may be inspired to greater heights.

There will hopefully be another visit next year for those who were not included this time.

We are all looking forward to a lovely summer, and will be pleased to plant and maintain the tubs around the village once again, keeping Ballater beautiful for residents and visitors alike.

Ballater and District Old People’s and Over 50s’ Association

by Ruth Burrows What a year my first one in office has proved to be, with my first challenge being the organisation of the September 2010 outing to the Heather Centre. I don’t think there were any significant hitches, apart from my inability to remember people’s names, and I don’t really expect to improve on that score – sorry!

It was certainly a steep learning curve for me, as indeed the past year has been. I have however received invaluable support from “the old hands” who have pushed, shoved and reminded me of things I should be doing.

Our AGM was held on 28th March this year and the first thing you will have noticed is that membership is now open to the over 50s, so come on out of the woodwork and join us! New, younger faces are always welcome, not least of all for the new ideas they bring with them.

You may also have noticed that the Hut has been undergoing a facelift. This has proved to be a bigger and costlier undertaking

13

than we initially anticipated. As the Association does not have a very big bank balance, it will be necessary to have a fund raising push this year. You could help us by joining the Association and taking up 100+Club membership. I think your odds of winning a prize from the 100+ Club are probably greater than those of winning the Lottery.

You will know by now that the Association took a table at the Big Sale in the Victoria Hall on 21st May, and it is hoped this will have done well.

In spite of the current economic climate at the time of writing, a big Thank You is owed to Ballater’s Business Community. They have dug deep for us and exceeded my expectations with their donations. Maybe they felt sorry for the frown lines on my forehead, or just wanted to see the back of me! Who knows, but they deserve a big pat on the back. Any fundraising ideas, and help from members of

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the community will be welcome.

At the moment, several other avenues are being investigated.

It is hoped that in the coming months, we will be able to offer members more than the twice yearly outings. During the course of the AGM, this year’s outings were decided upon, the first to Inverness on 4th May, which I hope proves to be an enjoyable one, since the date will be long gone by the time this reaches Eagle readers. The second, shorter trip, as the Diary will tell you, is to Pitlochry on Thursday 8th September. Look out for details at the Hut on the Green, in posters around the village and in the Press – i.e. P & J and Deeside Piper. Should members not take up the full quota of seats on the coach, these will be made available to non-members at a cost of £6.

Well, I think I have covered everything and my apologies if I have not (Poor old soul!) and DO come and join us – you will be made very welcome.

Deeside Carers Support Group by Anne

Hammond For any carers who would just like a few hours for themselves now and again, come along and enjoy a chat over a nice cup of tea/coffee or something stronger if preferred. No fundraising, no paperwork – just a little time for us.

Deeside Carers support group would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to K&D Enable for their contribution towards our Christmas Lunch at The Auld Kirk - everyone enjoyed a delicious meal and in fact were so impressed with the presentation that photos were taken of each dish before we tucked in!! (Sorry for taking so long to say thanks - better late than never). A big thank you also to everyone at The Auld Kirk.

Our group is now included in the VSA Carers in Touch monthly newsletter giving dates of our meetings and any other relevant information.

Some of our members have taken up offers from

After ‘Plant and Roots’ I decided to write a Trilogy: ‘Two Years’, about my time in National Service with the British Army. Then, ‘Forestry Days’ recalling my eight years with the Forestry Commission. Although this work is mainly completed but not yet published, I wrote this little ‘Albert Road’ book to keep the Ballater theme alive.

The Citroen Car Company teamed up with one Adolphe Kegresse to produce halftrack vehicles that could cross the Sahara, drive on snow and extreme slopes. Three cars sponsored by Andre Citroen even went on a paleontological expedition to China with French Jesuit scientist, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.

Every grouse moor owner in Scotland wanted a Citroen-Kegresse, but Alexander Keiller, with his fascination for all things motor, was the first. ‘The Caterpillar’, as she was known locally, took Alexander Keiller on his archaeological expeditions to the top of Morven.

Registration SA 6623 ‘Caterpillar’ was later taken south to be used on Alexander Keiller’s great work at Windmill Hill, Avebury.

The vehicle was destroyed in a garage fire there in 1945 at the end of the war.

The last of Alexander Keiller’s vehicles of note, and indeed the last one to leave the Craigendarroch garage, was a miniature

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version of the Bugatti Type 35 racing car. This half scale model was a factory Type 52, drive was by a 12 volt battery through a starter motor acting on a rear wheel. I can remember seeing it being driven around Ballater’s Station Square by Billy Forbes.

Fast forward to the late 1940s. The SCWS had come to Ballater early in the war, and ran a grocer shop, fish shop, draper’s shop, bakery and a dairy. After the war the SCWS fleet of vans grew, and, when Alexander Keiller sold the Morven estate, the SCWS took over his garage and workshops as a maintenance base for their fleet. This fleet consisted of an Austin 3-way bakery van, driven by Sandy Coutts, an Albion grocery van, driven by Dennis Laing, a couple of strange Trojan vans, one of which was driven by ‘SCWS Joe’, and the other was the spare van.

‘SCWS Joe’ is remembered for scorning a hosepipe and washing his van in the old ford

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From Bugatti racing cars to SCWS vans by Ian Cameron

On January 2nd 1899 a nine-year-old boy, born with a silver jam spoon in his mouth, became sole heir to the James Keiller & Son’s Dundee marmalade fortune. As part of his inheritance Alexander Keiller became laird of Morven estate including the sandstone mansion his father had built on Craigendarroch hill.

In 1910, on gaining his inheritance, Alexander Keiller nominated his uncle, John Greig, to be his representative on the board.

We can deduce that the young Keiller had little interest in business affairs. By 1920, the entire operation had been taken over by Crosse and Blackwell’s; Alexander Keiller sold all his shares, and was now free and financially able to do as he pleased.

Alexander Keiller had two over-riding interests in his life: automobiles and archaeology.

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With the turn of the century and the change over from horse-drawn transport to the early automobiles, a garage and workshop was built at Craigendarroch. There are photos of the earliest cars at the front door steps of the mansion house.

Like many other wealthy men in that Edwardian time, Alexander Keiller invested in the young motor industry, and by 1913 was a director in the Sizaire-Berwick Company. The cars were a scaled down copy of the Rolls-Royces of these days, a detail which in later years, led them into trouble with that austere marque.

The early 1920s saw Alexander Keiller at Morven with a new wife. He delighted in the mad, fast runs from London to Scotland, and once here, discovered the abundance of archaeological structures to be found on his own estate. The estate garage soon filled up with fast cars; two Bugattis, one a 2 litre Type 35 and another, 2.3 litres Type 35TC supercharged.

It used to be said that Alexander Keiller saw guests away on the train at Ballater station, then raced down to each Deeside line station in turn to be there before the train. It has been suggested that, with four wives in his life-time, he could well have been making a last minute attempt to entreat some lady friend to return to Craigendarroch with him, rather than leave for the south.

Sharing the garage at Craigendarroch was a beautiful Hispano-Suiza with an engine size of almost eight litres. Registered XX 3883, this was the car the locals called the ‘bumble bee’ on account of the colour of its tulipwood body and the sound from its exhaust. This monster has survived and lives today in a museum in California. Also kept at Craigendarroch was Alexander Keiller’s own Sizaire-Berwick, registration SB 785, which he had used as a staff car during the Great War.

the VSA carers support worker and attend fortnightly yoga & relaxation sessions with the opportunity of receiving reflexology therapy whilst there, from Sylvia Cant - a Banchory therapist who has offered her services free.

For dates/ venues of meetings see the Eagle Diary.

Anyone wishing to join us simply come along on the day, or phone Anne 013398 85678 or Chris 013398 87291 for more details.

How to reach K&D befriending

Kincardine & Deeside Befriending provides a valued service to many socially isolated older people in the area. Please note that contact details for the Deeside office have recently changed as follows.

All posted mail should now be sent to: K&D Befriending, Town Hall, 1 Kinneskie Lane, Banchory, AB31 5NA. Visitors can access the office via the High Street. It is

15

advisable to make an appointment or check that Linda isn’t out and about if you plan to visit.

Deeside Co-ordinator telephone contact is mobile 07816 958 839 (no longer a landline as well).

You can also contact the Deeside Coordinator at her new email: linda.taberner@kdbefriending.org.uk and can learn more about the project on our website www.kdbefriending.org.uk The Deeside Co-ordinator has been based at Banchory Town Hall for 2 days/week (Tues/ Wed) since April 2008. Her postal address has finally caught up with her!

Anyone who would like to know more about the service on Deeside, or how to become a befriender, should contact Linda as above.

K&DB’s main office and base for the Kincardine service can be reached on 01569 765714.

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16

Rotary Update

Stop press – more Club Meetings in Ballater!!

Starting in July this year, the Rotary Club of Aboyne and Upper Deeside will be meeting twice each month, on the second and fourth Mondays, at the Glen Lui Hotel, Ballater, 6.30 for 7pm. We hope this will encourage interest in the Club from more Upper Deeside communities. Every other Monday we’ll continue to meet at the Boat Inn, Aboyne, 6 for 6.30pm.

With our last Update having disappeared into the Eagle ether, this Update covers more of our year than usual.

The Club finished 2010 with a fun packed Christmas Dinner Evening at the Huntly Arms Hotel, and started 2011 with another very enjoyable Burns Supper at Douneside House, Tarland.

Excellent speeches at the Burns evening were complemented by a selection of bothy ballads.

We then had a visit to the Scottish Parliament in March, where we were able to attend the First Minister’s Question Time – interesting if not very informative!

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by Ron Drever

Fundraising Our Christmas bag-packing at Aboyne Co-op raised over £1000 over two days, but our Christmas Line of Silver in Ballater was a victim of the severe weather. However, those who save loose change throughout the year for the Line of Silver handed in around £70, so many thanks again to them. We once more provided and manned the Barbeque at the Aboyne Bonfire Night, and our share of the money raised helped our Charity Account by some £620.

Our assistance in selling raffle tickets in the Bon Accord centre in Aberdeen in December helped Rotary in the north east raise around £28,000 gross. The proceeds went to the Children’s Hospital Charity, ARCHIE, although we also receive a contribution to our own Charity Account.

By the time you read this, our annual Fun Run in Aboyne will have taken place on Aboyne Green. This is organised in association with Aboyne Primary School, with the aim of youngsters (and parents if wished) arranging to be sponsored to run, jog, walk or even crawl around defined laps on the Green over a maximum period of 60 minutes. Our Club organises the venue, the Run, a barbeque and refreshments, while the school organises the advertising and sponsorship, and other entertainment, and uses the project in their Citizen Awareness syllabus.

Our Charity Golf Day takes place on Friday 17th June at Aboyne Golf Club. Teams of three are invited to challenge for our Golf Quaich and other superb team and individual prizes, at a cost of £150 per team, this also including a meal at the Golf Club, and other extras. Proceeds this year are going to the local charity Horseback UK. For information about entering a team or any other details contact our Charity Golf Convener, Andrew Brown, on 013397 56351 or email abrown@struancottage.wanadoo.co.uk.

45

Options Appraisal for The Old School by Jack Coull For some years now the Ballater Centre Development Group (BCDG) has been negotiating with Aberdeenshire Council about ways to redevelop the Old School site.

The ideas included affordable housing, adult learning centre, commercial office space, medical outreach centre and some community facilities (such as an arts centre). A Feasibility Study carried out in 2005 reported favourably but the group then met many obstacles and delays. In October 2010 BCDG learnt that Aberdeenshire Council had offered the Old School to the North East Scotland Preservation Trust (NESPT). BCDG has now disbanded but has placed copies of its final report in Ballater Library and the BRD office. BRD has partnered NESPT in commissioning an Options Appraisal study to seek practical ways to redevelop the site given the problems resulting from the buildings ‘listed’ status. In the next few months the local community will be asked for views as to the future of this site and everyone is asked to take the opportunity to comment.

NESPT has released the following information. ‘Renowned, Edinburgh based Conservation Accredited Architects, Groves Raines Architects, have been appointed to carry out a full Options Appraisal on the Former School and Outdoor Centre at Ballater. They will be working with the well-known independent consultancy organisation, Jura Consultants.

The Appraisal will investigate the feasibility of undertaking the conservation, repair and appropriate restoration of the buildings and finding a viable future use for them. The team has been instructed to undertake a full community consultation exercise and they will be keen to hear from anyone who has ideas for the future use of the buildings. New build on the currently undeveloped areas of the site will also be considered if it is considered appropriate and if it makes the overall scheme more viable.’

The NESPT is a Registered Scottish Charity and Company Limited by Guarantee. It was established in 1985 to acquire and restore buildings of architectural and/or historical interest in Aberdeenshire that cannot be restored by normal commercial means. Most recently the Trust successfully carried out the restoration of a category B listed Georgian townhouse in Banff. As well as the Old School the Trust is currently working on projects to save the category A listed Strichen Town House, the category B listed Boyndie Kirk, the category B listed Duff House Vinery and the category B listed buildings at Back Green, Portsoy. The Trust manages the Aberdeenshire Conservation Recycle Store in Mintlaw where a wide range of heritage building materials are for sale. For further information contact the Trust’s Chairman, Councillor Marcus Humphrey, or Project Manager, Paul Higson (tel.: 01569 768289).

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Ballater Boules Defeated

The Ballater Boules Challenge faced three rare defeats during its sixth season between October 2010 and April 2011, - by the weather!

As we all know last winter was not good weatherwise and the ‘Challenge’ had to be cancelled on three occasions due to exceptionally heavy snow falls. Normally, bad weather has not curtailed our meetings and the ‘courts’ are cleared with gusto by our hardy and enthusiastic players, but, alas, we were well and truly defeated this time.

However, as usual, our season was a great success with an average of 35 players attending each meeting. There were several new faces and some very amusing names for newly formed teams, i.e. ‘Scrambouled’, ‘Young & Beautiful’, ‘The Golden Arches’ and the ‘Torphins Two’.

The Christmas and New Year meetings raised £600.00 for a ‘good cause’ when mince pies and hot, special recipe, mulled wine slipped down a treat. It was so nice to see several visiting relatives of our players attend these meetings. The winners of The Golden Boules Trophy were the ‘Northern Lights’ (Derek & Rosemary North) and the winners of the ‘New Year Quaich’ were ‘P&J’ (Peter & Jenny Henry).

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by John Holley

Having been beaten by the weather earlier in the season the weather came to our rescue for our final meeting and BBQ on 3rd April when sunshine shone on 50+ people who enjoyed a morning of boules followed by a superbly cooked meal courtesy of Chris Perrin and Ian Ritchie. The team of ‘Jones Laing’ (Martin Young & Alastair Whitson) was presented with the ‘Most Wins’ trophy.

Our success is due to the enthusiasm of our players who enjoy our main ingredients - Fun, Friendship and Fresh Air. Special thanks must go to Mike & Maria Franklin, Ian Ritchie, Chris Perrin, Alistair Cassie, Terry Gauld, Jean Holley and especially to Martin Young and Sandy Thomson who, importantly, ensure that our ‘courts’ are set up in good time before each meeting.

Sets of boules are now neatly stored away for the summer months until the last Sunday in October when we will begin our seventh season. If you would like to join us for the new season you would be made most welcome. No equipment or previous experience is required, just turn up!

For more information, visit: www.ballaterboules.webs.com or email: ballaterboules@gmail.com

Cindy Adams PG Dip (Coun)

Person Centred Counsellor 1 Netherley Place Tel: 07969 495399

Community Service We made our annual Christmas journey to distribute our Hampers and Christmas cake to Sluiemohr and Monaltrie Court residential homes in Ballater, as well as others in Upper Deeside. Donations have been given locally to the 1st Aboyne Scout Group and Mid Deeside Care Centre, and we have given some financial assistance to enable young people from Ballater to attend the Inspire Cafe Academy, which provides training to assist in finding employment. We also assisted financially with the hardship following a house flooding in Ballater; the cost of a music course for a local person; the expenses of a local girl going abroad to assist a children’s charity; the expenses of a local young man taking part in an Environmental Research Expedition; and a TV for the Day Room at Aboyne Hospital.

Following a talk on behalf of the cancer Charity, Maggie’s Centres, we have given a donation of £250. Once again we shall be providing manpower at various local events, for instance, the Balmoral Races, the MacBeth Fest cross country race at Deeside Activity Park, the CLAN Upper Deeside Tartan Trek, and the Balmoral Bike Ride Day. International Our main donations internationally have been £500 to Medecins sans Frontieres; £500 to the Riders for Health Charity, which provides vehicles to transport health visitors in African countries, and the training of mechanics to maintain the vehicles; and £500 to Dental Project Peru, which has now established a clinic in Peru.

All of these are Charities which we have been supporting for some time. We continue to support the help provided in disaster areas through the ShelterBox Trust and the Life Straws Charity.

We have also supported the world wide Rotary Foundation campaign, End Polio Now, with a donation totalling £1,311, made up of £1,000 from Club funds, £250 raised by club members from sponsorship of a guest Rotarian’s marathon run, and £61 raised by Tarland School through their Purple Pinkie Day.

17

Vocational Our Club participates in the Primary Schools Quiz involving schools in different areas, and organised the Upper Deeside area event this year at Aboyne School. Schools from Aboyne, Ballater, Braemar, Crathie, Finzean, Kincardine O’Neil, Logie Coldstone, Lumphanan, and Tarland took part, and Tarland came out on top, thereby going to the zone final on 21 May at Westhill. We hope to report their success in the next Eagle.

Three pupils from Aboyne Academy will be attending this year’s Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) Camp at Abernethy Outdoor Centre for a week of intensive activities designed to stretch the candidates both physically and mentally and provide leadership training.

We are also again sponsoring the Dictionaries for Life project, where dictionaries are presented to pupils in numerous local schools.

If you are interested in Rotary, please contact Ron Drever at High Trees, Morven Way, or telephone 013397 56224.

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18

Ballater & Crathie Community Council By Robin Blyth

Summer has apparently decided to visit us early this year. Is this it? The weather of late April and early May has been superb, hopefully putting a smile on the retailers’ faces. They certainly need the boost! Whatever, let’s hope the good weather lasts till late autumn! We welcome the re-opening of what was the Loirston Hotel, now the Deeside Inn, and wish the new venture’s owners well. Ballater has lost too much accommodation business of late.

The CC has been working on its Action Plan to bring forward some of the suggestions we received in our survey of last year, and these will be highlighted on the notice-boards and our website as it becomes appropriate.

One of our members, Jane Angus, has been wrestling with the problem of the ongoing slaughter of precious red squirrels on our roads, and has been collecting data for months to enable her to arrange for rope bridges to

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help reduce the slaughter of these animals. Her Eagle contribution will make good reading.

Bees are part of our thoughts as well. The Bumble Bee seems to be having a particularly hard time of it of late and the CC, amongst other bodies, hopes to play a part in the provision of attractive habitat for these small creatures, to which we owe a great deal for their services in crop pollination.

The scrutiny of planning applications takes a lot of effort from our members and our small sub-committee works very hard in this regard.

Every planning application is reviewed and commented upon as appropriate, from window replacements to major projects such as the restitution of St Andrews House. How good it is to see the superb Victorian architecture re-emerge from the remains of the lamented nursing home. Our planning committee has given much comment on this development.

The amount of litter left around our locale is appalling as is the widespread dog-fouling that takes place. The current fashion amongst some dog owners for putting their dogs’ waste into small plastic bags and leaving it on the ground is possibly the least wise course of action. Better to take a hand trowel and bury it in situ – failing which PLEASE take the bag home for disposal, or put it in the dog bins provided. Unfortunately Aberdeenshire Council is unable to keep pace with the filling of the existing dog bins which will also exasperate the ‘good guys’ who clean up. Perhaps larger dog bins [they do exist] are the answer. We can all help in keeping our countryside beautiful, by picking up litter and reporting offenders.

Grampian Heath Board has made available a new texting service, all the information on which can be found on the CC website. www.ballaterandcrathie.org.uk I shall be standing down from the Community Council in June and wish to thank all Eagle readers and the community for the support and assistance I have enjoyed over the recent times.

Ballater Youth Project

by Alison Ritchie

On Thursday 31st March a youth event was held in the Victoria & Albert Halls in Ballater which was attended by 32 P6 & P7 pupils from Braemar, Crathie and Ballater primary schools and included several S1 pupils from Aboyne Academy. The evening started with an hour long session in hip hop dance led by dance expert MC from Aberdeen. Following refreshments the young people then had the chance to decorate their own T shirts and were also given the opportunity to visit “The Cellars”. This is a youth drop-in facility to the rear of the Victoria Hall which runs every Wednesday evening from 7-9pm during term time.

The event itself was very successful and was clearly enjoyed by all the young people who participated. It marks the start of a 2 year project to develop youth work in the Cairngorm National Park Authority area which was made possible due to Leader funding from the Cairn-

gorm National Park Authority. The aim of the project is to provide a range of diversionary activities for young people that will help them to make positive life choices and to avoid anti-social behaviour. Possible activities could include; health education workshops (eg. drug and alcohol issues), outdoor activities, dance, street sports, digital photography, drama, street art, road safety etc. Activities will be decided based on consultation with young people and will be led by them with direct support from Community Learning & Development.

If you would like to become involved with the project or if you wish any further information please contact Alison Ritchie, Community Learning & Development Worker, Deeside Community Centre, Aboyne, (013398) 86222 or email alison.ritchie@aberdeenshire.gov.uk (see the photos on back cover)

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43

42 Any Budding Snappers?

by John Holley

Are you a budding David Bailey and would like to promote your pictures on the internet? If you fall into this category or simply take snaps for fun on your digital camera, then why not get snapping in and around Ballater and send them to a dedicated pool on www.Flickr.com If you visit www.flickr.com/groups/tbcrd you will find almost 1200 pictures covering the local area including Cambus O’May, Tullich, Ballater and Crathie, all sent in by locals and visitors. Why not join them and get your own pictures ‘up in lights’ on the World Wide Web? Don’t think that your picture won’t be good enough, because it will be. There is just one rule that must be followed, - no family, girlfriend, boyfriend, babies, animals or scrapbook type pictures, just general views of Ballater and the surrounding area between Cambus O’ May in the East and Crathie in the West.

Come on, it’s so easy and no one will criticise your efforts, guaranteed! Follow the link given above and join Flickr.com (totally free!). Once you have joined, become a member of the Cambus O’ May, Tullich, Ballater & Crathie Pool , snap away, then let us have your pictures.

The Pool’s host is ‘sgterniebilko’ who will welcome your pictures. Should you have any questions, please contact him at sgterniebilko@gmail.com or through the pool on Flickr.com. Now that summer is with us, get out and about, take your pictures and possibly you will find that you have a talent for it.

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19

Choices, choices

by Jane Angus

What action should be taken while whizzing along one of our local roads and just round a bend, there appears a fuzzy ginger object sized between a lime and a Jaffa, always at the left side of the road, seated contentedly nibbling a nut?

Option 1: Jam on all brakes?

Option 2: Look in the mirror, see nothing, then jam on all brakes?

Option 3: Look in the mirror, remembering having seen five cars in a row behind and they are still there, shut your eyes, hope for the best and drive on?

We are now in a Red Squirrel Refuge Area as well as a National Park where the First Aim is Conservation. There are times of the year when very young squirrels leave the nest and have absolutely no idea of road sense. That is about February - April. Then there are times of year when red squirrels go searching for food/drink/other squirrels and none of them have any road sense. That is usually FebruaryDecember, depending on the weather, but of course we can have quite warm Januarys.

So seeing the evidence of road casualties, the members of Ballater and Crathie Community Council have been exploring possible means of Saving Red Squirrels.

We have now reached the stage when we hope to put up one rope bridge and inveigle some squirrels to use it. Several of these new bridges have been successful in other areas, but in the National Park environs they do not seem to have been accepted by the animals and while every land-owner is enthusiastic, the place, suitable supports and clear road-views are difficult to find together in our area. So we are going carefully for a trial.

In the meantime, individual drivers have to take the immediate decision. How fast do

you travel on the lower part of the Pass of Ballater, the Craigendarroch Brae, the South Deeside road between the Bridge of Dee and the House of Muick gates, or between the end of the Woodend straight and Dalraddie?

These are known killing grounds. Can you stop in safety for you and other drivers and not run down a slow squirrel? Stoats and weasels, which of course are, as the old joke has it, “stoatally” different, run a lot faster and seem to have a greater awareness. But, by taking thought, allowing a few more minutes for our journeys, particularly in the spring and autumn, we can all contribute to the maintenance of a native species, while we leave the game-keepers to defend our borders from the sickness-bearing, alien, aggressive, grey variety.

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20 Monaltrie Park Users Group (MPUG) MPUG is still actively working on improvements to Monaltrie Park, and a recent meeting of the Group was attended by three representatives of Aberdeenshire Council.

The following is an update on various ongoing projects:1. Resurfacing of the playpark has been completed, with rubber tiles replacing the sand. This was at the request of parents concerned about hygiene and the mess caused by sand.

Thanks are due to CNPA, The Charitable Chiels and Aberdeenshire Council for providing the labour free of charge to the community.

2. New bins and tables are being provided by the Council.

BOVOF

by Gillian Sinclair

3. The offer by the Council for the community to take over management of the pavilion was turned down at this time, due to there being seen to be no real benefits to the community with the present limited use by groups, and bearing in mind the running costs which the community would incur.

4. The provision of a public toilet in the Park is still a priority. Apart from modifying the portakabin toilets, a possibility is to install a toilet inside the pavilion near the entry, which could be open to the public without allowing access to the changing rooms. It is envisaged there would be restricted opening times. Control and cleaning would have to be arranged by the community.

name on it an a fite butcher’s hat. He’s like the butchers’ mascot! Ae day he speired far Barry wis, an fit they were makin that day. He wis tellt they were cookin “potted heid” an they’d hid tae cut aff Barry’s heid – that wis fit wis bilin ben the hoose. Weel, that wis the end for Ross!

He came hame in an awfu state, greetin sair at the thocht o’ Barry’s heid hotterin awa in the big pot. He widna calm doon till they showed him that Barry wis aye alive an kickin. Ye can tell an innocent bairn that the meen is made o’ blue cheese an, gin ye keep a stracht face, the peer geet believes every wird. It didna pit him aff the butchers an he aye wints tae be a butcher or a fireman like his faither fan he grows up.

Ill tricket he may be, bit he can come oot wi some “pearls o’ wisdom”. Truth aften comes oot o’ the mouths o’ bairns. Staunin quaet at a bus stop in the toon wi his mam, an a wifie cairryin a muckle pot plant, he wis jist mindin his ain business, fan a car whooshed by an soakit the hale lot o’ them. There wis silence till Ross jist said in a serious voice, “Weel, the

41

plant needed a drink onywey!”

The piece de resistance for me wis a feow wiks back. Ross is a dab haun on the computer an he wis left aleen for a file. Fatal! Fan they did look in on him, he wis sittin fine at the computer, bit the goldfish fae the bowl wis flappin an gaspin on a bit o’ paper aside him. Gweed kens foo lang the peer craitur had been a “fish oot o’ waater”. Efter an o’ergaun fae his mither, he jist said he thocht it lookit lonely in the bowl an wintit tae speak till him. The goldfish wis hastily pit back intae the bowl an swam aboot fine in his ain element. Neist day, it wis floatin, belly-up, on the tap o’ the bowl – it hid been ower much for its peer hert! Ross disnae mean ony ill – he jist likes tae try things oot an files they wirk an files it’s a disaster!

Bairns a hiv their roadies tae rin throwe life an I sweir oor Ross winna stick, for tho’ ill-trickit at times, he’s nae sleekit an richt coorse. Forbye, a bosy fae Ross wid melt even the hardest o’ herts!

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40 The Ballater Nickum by Mary Munro The Scots Dictionary defines a “nickum” as a scamp, a rogue or a mischievous boy, an’ altho’ I’ve aye had a saft spot for him, I suppose that definition does cover my nickum, wee Ross.

Born on the very day my husband was beeried – ae McCallum awa an’ anither ane for this warld – Ross is nae a coorse loonie – in fact he’s a taakin wee sowl fa aye his a hug or a sappy kiss for ye. I think “ill-trickit” is a better wird for him, for wi his bonny, blue e’en an’ fite blond hair, he’s a real cutie. Wi his specs on he jist mynes ye on “The Milky Bar Kid” o’ television fame.

Richt fae the time he wis totterin’ aboot on wee, fat leggies, he wis aften up tae some divelment or ither. An awfu devil tae climb, it wis naethin tae see him on the kitchen table or on the heid o’ the sofa, an’ he hid mony a bump an’ a blue-black bruise. He even climbed o’er the heich back fence ae day an’ awa roon tae see the ferlies at the Toy Shop!

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Ae fine day, I went roon tae see his faimily.

Nae sign o’ the bairn, sae I speired “Far’s Ross the day?” His mither jist noddit her heid o’er tae the back wa’. An’ there he wis in his walkin-seat, haein a gweed sook o’ waater oot o’ the nozzle o’ the gairden hose hingin doon fae the wa. Wi her usual calm sough, Irene jist gied a lauch: “He’ll tak a pick o’ dirt afore he dees”, wis her doon tae earth reply.

Anither day his granny hid taen him tae the Willows tae rin wild aff the beaten track.

The burnie wis in spate in the wid, an’ she socht tae help him o’er tae the ither bank. Her fit slippit an they baith gaed heilster-heid intae the rush o’ icy waater. Nae hairm deen, jist soakin weet an’ cauld. Fan ye askit Ross aboot the mischanter he jist fixed ye wi a stare an a doon-tilt tae his moo. “My granny tried tae droon me in the burn!” Ye couldna bit lauch, bit his granny wis affrontit in case fowk thocht o’ her as a potential “child-killer”.

Naethin wis safe for a file, fan Ross wis on the prowl. Frances wis frantic ae day for her purse wi money an cards wis lost! He wis at the hidin stage, “Jist for a joke!”, an it wis a gweed file afore he produced the purse that hid been stappit weel doon ahin the sofa oot o’ sicht. Mony a row he got, bit he aye lookit sae innocent wi his big blue e’en that it took me onywey a my time nae tae lauch oot lood.

Ilka day, I wid speir fit he’d been up till. Ae day he’d found an auld tin o’ silver paint in the sheddie oot bye. They thocht he wis o’er quaet, an sure eneuch, he’d clarted the hale front o’ the shed an himsel as weel, bit Ross jist thocht he’d made a bonny job o’it – in his mind, it wis a lot better than the feuchy-broon it wis afore he’d started.

Across the road, is the Butcher’s Shop.

Fae a young loon, he eased tae ging tae the back door an newse an speir questions at the butchers wirkin in the back shop. They likit the loon fine, bit they aye pit him hame if there wis ony element o’ danger like bilin pots or knives.

He’s even been given a butcher’s apron wi’ his

Opinions of anyone in the community in relation to this project would be appreciated, and as soon as possible, allowing them to be taken into account before any decision is reached.

5. MPUG supports a proposal by Ballater Highland Games to construct a hard surface area extending between the Park entry and the Games Sheridan Shed, allowing vehicles to travel safely to the Shed and the car park on Games Day, whatever the weather.

Again, anyone in the community should take this opportunity to voice an opinion.

6. It is proposed to erect a more welcoming sign at the Park entrance, referring to the Highland Games and incorporating the Games Crest. A design has been approved, and the Council has again offered labour free of charge to take down the existing sign and erect the new one.

We are looking for funding to enable repair of the floodlights, the cost of which could be around £1000.

Motorbike scrambling / quad bikes Two possible locations have been investigated without success. One was Aberdeenshire Council land, and control of the use of the land is seen by the Council as a potential problem.

BOVOF has offered to meet with those in the community involved with the sports, to see how progress might be made, but the offer has not yet been taken up. It seems important to discuss the control point before researching any further sites.

Temporary cinema facilities in the Halls There has been a considerable amount of material collected about how to organise, run and cost the provision of a temporary cinema facility, including websites of other local film clubs and societies.

We are now looking for a local volunteer to research and report on the possibilities for Ballater, preferably someone computer literate, in view of the number of websites requiring research, and someone keen for Ballater to have such a facility.

Anyone interested in helping should contact Ron Drever at thedrevers@btinternet.com or on 013397 56224.

21

Our current Ballater Accommodation clients on Google: Guest House Ballater Page 1 Self Catering Ballater Page 1 Hotel Ballater Page 1 Hostel Ballater Page 1 B&B Ballater Page 1

Where is your website? call Ian MacIntosh on 078181 53121 for help www.deesidedesign.co.uk

22

Ballter (RD) Ltd

by Paddy Wright

Ballater (RD) Ltd. (BRD) continues to expand its support for community development projects, and some of the updates are given below. In view of this, we are continually looking for additional Board Members to help with this important work.

Please feel free to drop in and find out what BRD is doing and how you could help!

Walking Week. This year’s Walking Festival is full to capacity. Look out for our budding ramblers during the week beginning 21st May. Community Bus. Remember! The community bus is available to all community groups for outings. Please book through Gillian on 013397 55467.

Old School Site. BRD, in partnership with the North East Scotland Preservation Trust, has commissioned an Options Appraisal Study looking at possible future uses for the Old School site. (For more details see p45).

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B(RD) Website. The BRD supported website www.royal-deeside.org.uk maintains its popularity and there was a significant increase in the numbers of visitors in the period leading up to the Royal Wedding.

Seven Bridges Walk. About two years ago, it was suggested that this walk might be improved. The part which follows the A93 from Bridge of Gairn to Polhollick involves crossing main roads several times and walking close to traffic noise. It was proposed to install a footbridge over the Gairn, using the abutments of the former railway bridge. From there, the walk would follow the right bank of the Gairn to its confluence with the Dee, and then to Polhollick. This is a very pleasant route, well away from road traffic.

Negotiation took place with all interested parties and agreement was reached. The Cairngorm Outdoor Access Trust designed the route and made an application for planning permission. Unfortunately, it has become apparent that Polhollick Bridge is in urgent need of repairs, and Aberdeenshire Council has imposed restrictions on its use. Should the structure deteriorate further, it may be necessary to close it completely.

In view of this, COAT has decided not to proceed with the improvements to the walk until Polhollick has been repaired. In the current financial climate, the Council is struggling to raise the funding required, which is estimated to be close to £400,000.

However, there is some optimism that the money will be found, and the improvements to the Seven Bridges Walk will proceed in the not too distant future.

Welcome Sign/Fingerposts. See the separate article by Jack Coull on this subject.

(See page 57)

Bowls is a game for ‘oldies’ – wrong! by Mike Franklin It is often thought that bowls is a game just for ‘old’ people. However, while it is true that older people enjoy bowls because of the gentle physical exercise, to play the game well requires clear thinking and good coordination. The basic idea is simple: a small white ball or ‘jack’ is placed about 30 yards away and each player has to roll his or her bowls so that they finish closer to the jack than the opponents’ bowls. So, as long as you can roll the bowl in the right direction and for the right distance, all is very easy. However, there are four things that make bowling more interesting: 1. The distance to the jack can change and grass surfaces differ so you have to judge the speed of the ‘roll’.

2. The bowls are ‘biased’ and they travel in a curve, not a straight line, so you have to judge the right direction to aim the bowl.

3. Because the jack is some distance away, the bowler sees a ‘foreshortening’ effect. To the bowler, a bowl stopping, say, six feet to the left or right of the jack may appear to be a bad shot but one finishing the same distance in front of (or behind) the jack may seem an excellent shot. (Why? Because the distance between bowl and jack looks much smaller in the second case than in the first.)

4. There is an opponent who is trying to make life difficult for you.

The picture shows a fairly typical ‘end’. The bowler wishes to get as close to the jack as possible and decides that the left side offers the best chance and aims left of the jack. The dotted line shows how the bowl would arrive at the jack. However, there is also a gap on the right which may be an easier shot. In that case the bowler would play with the bowl curving from right to left.

So, simple: all you have to do is judge the distance, judge the angle of delivery, curl your bowl through a suitable gap between the other bowls and you’ve won. But then again, the wind may be blowing, the grass may be wet and freshly cut this morning.

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Bowls is a gentle test for mind and body. It is great fun and it is played in a friendly spirit with good company. It is not expensive, the main needs being a set of bowls and a pair of flat shoes which can be borrowed from the local club. Here in Ballater we are lucky we have a fine established Bowling Club which recently celebrated its centenary. The club welcomes new members and visitors of all abilities. Come along and give it a try, - you’ll find a warm welcome.

Club sessions are Tuesday evenings starting at 7.00pm and Sunday afternoons starting at 2.00pm. But the green is also open all week.

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Balmoral Estate Summer Events by Glyn Jones

Saturday 2nd July - Magical moorlands Off-roading adventure to visit the Whitley bomber air-crash site! Meeting point: Spittal of Glen Muick visitor centre. Time: 9:30 - 3:30pm Distance: 14kms (9 Miles), ascent 524m.

Cost: £5. Booking essential 013397 55059.

Mountain walk. Bring lunch.

Monday 1st August – Lochnagar traverse A spectacular mountain traverse across one of Scotland’s most famous peaks. Walk from Keiloch to The Spittal of Glen Muick via the summit of Lochnagar. A long mountain day.

Hill walking gear and a good level of fitness and stamina are required to complete this walk. Meeting point: Keiloch car park. Cost: £10 Distance: 25kms (16miles). Ascent: 900m Time: 9:00-6:00pm Booking essential– 013397 55059 (book early to avoid disappointment).

Wednesday 10thAugust - Walk in the Footsteps of Queen Victoria Join the Rangers as they walk around Loch Muick. Learn about the unique Royal and cultural history of this remote highland glen.

Meeting point: Spittal of Glen Muick Visitor Centre. Time: 10.30am – 3.30pm. Bring a packed lunch. Cost: Free. Distance: 12kms (8 miles) on fairly level tracks. Booking essential- 013397 55059.

Saturday 10th September- Meet your ancestors A guided tour around the Spittal of Glen Muick Township. Meet the township residents along the way and hear some of their tales and find out how they live. Organised as part of Scottish Archaeology month. Meeting point: The Spittal of Glen Muick visitor centre. Distance 1km, ascent 30m. Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm. Cost: Free.

Booking essential– 013397 55059.

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Home Security and Road Safety by PC Steve Lafferty With summer upon us and the days longer, it’s a good time to consider home security arrangements. It must be stressed that domestic housebreakings are very rare in the upper Deeside area. However we should not be complacent.

Owners of older properties should consider upgrading locks on door and windows. Three and five lever locks are currently recommended and all external doors should have three points of locking (ie one good quality mortise lock and bolts top and bottom). This greatly reduces the risk of anyone gaining access to your property.

Window locks should also be considered. These are effective, relatively inexpensive and easy to fit.

Similar thought should also be given to garages, outbuildings and sheds, which are likely to contain vehicles and expensive gardening equipment. The same advice applies, - all external doors should have three points of locking and if your outbuilding has windows, fit a blind or curtains, to obscure a view within. Another consideration when the gardening season commences is to secure away all gardening equipment, tools and ladders etc, which can be used to gain entry to your property.

If you are working or enjoying time in your garden, lock the doors of the house to prevent anyone slipping in and out unnoticed. External lighting is also important and there are many products on the market from spotlights to lights fitted with movement sensors. Alarm systems are a consideration and have good deterrent value.

We should also be considering what would be attractive to a thief inside the home or outbuildings.

All property can be security marked using a UV pen. Simply write the postcode and house name/ number on each item. Valuable items should also be photographed and if using a digital camera, the memory card should be retained securely...don’t down load them onto your computer.

It won’t help if your computer is stolen!

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Finally if you think your home security is lacking, there is a myriad of information available on the internet. Grampian Police Crime Reduction Department can also carryout Crime Prevention Surveys free of charge and will advise householders of necessary steps to greatly improve security.

Road Safety is always an issue on Deeside during the summer months, with our roads seeing a particular increase in the numbers of motorcycles. Local officers in partnership with the Roads Policing Department are again involved in Operation Zenith, which is targeted at educating motorcyclists regarding the dangers of excessive speed etc on the roads. Last year this Operation, which is Force wide, was a great success and greatly reduced the number of collisions and injuries involving motorcyclists in our area. Car drivers also need to be aware of motorcycles, which in general are less visible.

Take care at junctions and if overtaking, and again, let us know if you have any particular issues you feel we can assist with.

As always if you require advice or have any information regarding a crime, call at the Police Office in Ballater or call the Grampian Police Service Centre on 0845 600 5 700.

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The Albert Memorial and Victoria Halls - the late Victorian Years by Janet Riddler

Once the Victoria Hall and Gordon Institute had been opened, the Trustees had the usual problems incurred after major building works. There were disputes with Mr Duguid (who was still feeling aggrieved about not having his contribution to the plans properly recognised) over his final bills, sorting out the plumbing left unfinished when Mr Emslie was made bankrupt, deciding on the best floor coverings and seating arrangements and fitting out the new library. Part of the storage in the basement was let to Mr Rose of Ford House, so long as he stored no inflammable goods, used no fire or naked lights and only moved his goods by handcart or barrow through the south lane. The rest of the basement was at this time reserved to the trustees for storage of seats with access via a hatch from the Hall. Later,

this space was let to a fishmonger. A cleaner to sweep and scrub the rooms, Elsie Fyfe, was employed at £10 per year. The Hall-keeper, Robert Cameron, was in charge of keeping the lamps clean and he was instructed do this in a special corner and not to leave rags etc. lying about and causing a disagreeable smell. He was also ordered to keep the lavatories scrupulously clean by using brush, cloth and water. One wonders what he had been using previously!!

Mr Alexander Littlejohn who had done some of the masonry work on the new buildings was accused of having careless workmen allow spirits of salts to stain the white dressed stones.

He denied this and it was agreed to see how the stone weathered before pursuing the matter further. As nothing else was ever said about it, the Ballater climate must have sorted the

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Royal Deeside & the Cairngorms DMO by John Carnie “Scenery to soothe the soul, adventure to invigorate the spirit, food and drink to sustain the body - Royal Deeside really does have it all.”

Those aren’t our words but the words of a recent travel writer who found the combination of stunning scenery and adventurous activity to his taste on a recent trip. We are increasingly marketing the Royal Deeside and the Cairngorms area as ‘Scotland’s crowning glory’ and inviting visitors to step inside one of Scotland’s most enchanting landscapes and explore the timeless beauty of this refreshingly different destination.

This year is officially Scotland’s ‘Year of Active Scotland’ and in terms of Royal Deeside this presents us with an opportunity to showcase the wealth of activities available in the area to UK and international visitors as well as Scots residents. Although it is just on the edge of Aberdeen, the scenery here truly soothes the soul and captures the imagination, and the landscape is the perfect backdrop for walking, cycling and other outdoor pursuits.

We recently took part in Visit Scotland’s Expo at the AECC and focused on outdoor activity packages. We were very pleased with the interest in the Ballater and Royal Deeside area from the 500 or so international buyers from all corners of the world. The aim is to showcase Deeside as a great destination for walking, wildlife watching, horse riding, running and fishing etc and to link this to accommodation packages. Hotels and B&Bs have a key role to play in this and we look forward to working on this in 2011.

One hotel near Ballater is reporting that April’s turnover has been double that of last year. Part of this may be due to the Spring marketing campaign undertaken by the DMO on behalf of its Partners. Those that took part in this free campaign saw their spring offers marketed to 180,000 potential visitor

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e- mail addresses through a series of e-flyers. As part of this, we received spring packages and offers from a large number of businesses and which were to be included in the e-flyers and mailers which were sent to external databases as well as the DMO’s own database. These were also included on the DMO website and in PR for the campaign. They included everything that a visitor to the area would want from 4x4 safaris to local food, and from photography courses to luxury accommodation.

The marketing campaign will be fully evaluated in time and the results made available.

For more information on the DMO, please contact info@discoverroyaldeeside.com or telephone 013397 55283. Please check out the website www.discoverroyaldeeside.com which is the key tourism web site for all visitors to the area. Please also check our Facebook page and join it to discuss anything of interest in the Ballater area. The url is www.facebook. com/DiscoverRoyalDeeside

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A GP referral is not a requirement for private physiotherapy. Patients are very welcome to self refer.

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Carn Na Cuimhne, Crathie

(OS 241942) (The Stone of Remembrance) by Sheila Sedgwick

Just west of the 51st milestone from Aberdeen, along the A93 road to Braemar is the Carn-na Cuimhne, anglicised to the Cairn-na-Quheen. It lies on the south of the road near the Dee, opposite the site of the original Monaltrie House. This heap of stones, somewhat disorganised, is the Cairn of Memory, the Gaelic words representing the Farquharson war-cry. It is the Farquharson place of Remembrance, almost surrounded by trees.

This was the rallying place for Clan Farquharson. When men were called to arms, the cry ‘carn-na-cuimhne’ brought them. The situation was excellent, for it was within reach of all the passes in Upper Deeside.

There is no documentary evidence about the purpose of the cairn but the traditional story says on going to war every man laid

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a stone on a small heap. On his return he removed a stone. The remainder then acted as a memorial to those who did not return and these were transferred to the big pile. Hence the name Cairn of Remembrance.

The date of the original cairn is uncertain but the pile was in existence well before the Jacobite risings but it was no doubt used during the ’15 and ’45 and the pile considerably increased. Monaltrie House had been at Crathie before the ’45 and when it was burned by Redcoats and Francis Farquharson returned from 20 years as a prisoner in England, he built a new house in Ballater, known as Ballater House, then Monaltrie House although there is no real evidence that he actually resided there.

William Farquharson of Monaltrie, nephew of the Baron Ban and last of his line enclosed the ground round the stones and planted larches with the help of a representative youth from every house on the Monaltrie estate.

On 10th May 1972 the Clan Farquharson Association under its President, Miss Margaret Farquharson, with about 20 members from all over Scotland, in the presence of the 16th chief Alwyne Arthur Compton Farquharson and his wife, visited the site. The President spoke of the history of the Clan Society, its declining membership and the desire to erect a commemorative stone. The Chief spoke of the purpose of the Cairn, saying that in case in the future the reason for the cairn’s existence should be forgotten, the stone now dedicated would be a lasting reminder.

The stone, covered by Farquharson tartan was then dedicated.

problem. Six months after the Halls were opened, Mr Duguid still had not finished the library. In September 1896 the great excitement was the forthcoming visit of the Tsar and Tsarina of Russia to Balmoral. The Trustees noted the elaborate decorations being planned by the railway company and determined to spend £2 for bunting and flags to make sure that the Halls would not look inferior. A Polish lady was allowed to store a piano on the premises for some weeks at 6 d ( 2 ½ p ) per day. No further mention is made of the lady, what she was doing in Ballater or how she transported her piano. The hall-keeper asked for an assistant but the trustees did not see fit to grant the request at this time. A fireproof safe was installed in the Committee Room so that documents relating to the Hall’s investments could be stored on the premises.

In January 1897 the library was finally finished and the books, over 2000 of them, placed on the shelves. The Trustees made a rough calculation of the value of the moveable property in the Halls to be £600 and resolved to

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have it insured for that sum. The investments held by the Trustees were the £1000 bond over the lands of Newe and £1000 on property in Causewayend, Aberdeen arranged by a Mr Gonsalvo. The interest rates on both bonds were to be reduced slightly in the coming months but due to the general low rates available anywhere the Trustees accepted the changes. By 1902 the bond for the Causewayend property had been transferred to the Aberdeen Harbour Board.

Ballater School was granted permission to use the Albert Memorial Hall for Standards 3 and 4 during the 1897 summer term while the school premises were undergoing alterations.

The Draughts Club applied for permission to play at the Halls but despite the Trustees setting up a sub-committee to inquire in minute detail about the rules of the game and how the players would conduct themselves, it does not appear that the Club ever met at the Halls.

The Trustees were invited to join a procession from the Hall buildings to the

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Established Church to mark the Queen’s diamond jubilee and they unanimously agreed to accept. A further £7 was spent on flags and pennants to decorate the Halls on festive occasions so that they would not suffer in comparison to other buildings in the burgh.

These were first used when the Queen came to Balmoral that year. By now, the hall-keeper had his assistant, his son William, a boy of 14 whose hours were from 12.00 noon to 10.00pm with two half hours allowed for his dinner and tea. There was an odd disturbance involving this boy in May 1898 when he was “treated in a very disrespectful way“ by Alexander Coutts and A. W. Duguid.

They took him into the W.C., stripped him of his nether garments and then paraded him in the crowded billiard room. No reason is given for their action but they refused to apologise and so they were prohibited from entering the rooms until an apology was submitted in writing. They were repaid the unexpired portion of their subscriptions.

It was more than two years before Mr Coutts made

his apology. William quit his post when he was apprenticed to a shoe maker.

The following years continued with constant arrangements for redecorating the premises, keeping the billiard tables in good order and enforcing no smoking rules and general good behaviour of subscribers. Some subscribers had their membership suspended or terminated unless they could promise in writing to obey the rules. George Stevenson, Viewfield, said to be a rough and reckless player, was fined one guinea for cutting the table cover with his cue.

In 1901 Adam Sturton who had lately been in prison for theft was found to have been loafing about the rooms on a daily basis and he was given three months to prove himself employable before he could be granted entrance. By 1905 he had still not amended his ways. The Post Office asked for more accommodation and was given the old billiard room on the north-east corner of the Albert Memorial Hall, presently being used by the Police Commissioners, as a sorting office, with a door made into the North Lane.

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Singsong Fun We sing songs everyday such as Lilly the Pink (which is my favourite), Lord of the Dance, and On Top of Spaghetti which is funny. I like singing.

Zak P4 Spring picture by Sarah Mother’s Day For Mother’s Day, we made cards and decorated pots with sunflowers with favourite things about our mums written on each petal. We put compost and three real sunflower seeds in them too.

Rhianna P7 Skiing Success We woke up full of beans because we were going skiing at Glenshee.

We all had great fun skiing on a ski cross course with lots of bumps and jumps.

We were very lucky with the weather and everyone enjoyed it.

Harriet P6 Red Nose Day Fundraising The children of Crathie School dressed up in their pyjamas to go to school to raise money for Red Nose Day. We sent away £89.01 to the Red Nose HQ. Cameron P7 K’nex Competition In March, a lady from the Junior Engineering Company came to test our engineering skills.

She set everyone a task and gave us all a box with K’nex in it. Kieran won the competition.

He will be going through to the next competition which will take place in Aberdeen in May with all the other winners from Aberdeenshire schools. Rachel won the chance to go with him.

Kieran & Rachel P6

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Crathie School have been really busy over the past few months. Thank you for telling us all about what you’ve been up to.

Badminton Challenge Before the holidays Mrs McKain took P 3, 4 & 5 to a badminton challenge at Aboyne Academy. Lots of schools were there. In the relay races, Braemar was first and Crathie and Ballater were last. But we had a very fun day.

Eve P4 Cycle Highland Visit Richard from Cycle Highland came to tell us how to look after our bikes. He showed us

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how to pump up an inner tube for a tyre and how to put a chain back on a bike. Joseph got dressed up in protective clothing with a big biker’s helmet. He looked like a robot and it was funny because he couldn’t move his arms and legs. It was really good fun and the best bit was pumping up the tyres.

James P5 & Joseph P2

Riverside Garage We went to the garage and George showed us how to take the tyre off a wheel and how to test the brakes. We had a great time and it was very interesting.

Murdo P5 & Alfie P1 Chess Tournament

New editions of Lochnagar (1891) and Loch Kinnord (1910) now published by Deeside Books

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Open: Mon-Sat 10am-5pm Sun 12-5pm 18-20 Bridge Street Ballater Tel. 013397 54080 Email: deesidebk@aol.com

Before the holidays the school went to Lumsden.

P1, 2 & 3 visited Lumsden School, P 4, 5, 6 & 7 took part in a Chess Tournament in Lumsden Hall with pupils from Strathdon, Towie and Lumsden Schools.

After the tournament a lady came in to tell us some stories. She was a great story teller and made a lot of people laugh.

Josh P4

Elected member of the Cairngorm National Park Authority

by Katrina Farquhar My name is Katrina Farquhar, formerly Finnie. I spent the first ten years of my life with my sister and two brothers at Balintuim, Braemar, attending Braemar Primary School.

My father Ronald was the Head Shepherd at Invercauld Estate, when the estate still had a flock of its own. My mother Margaret, besides bringing us up, worked part time in Strachan’s shop and also as a guide at Braemar Castle.

When my Granda, Jock Finnie retired from The Bush Farm, my Dad moved us down to Crathie on a cold and frosty February morning.

I then went to Crathie Primary School. At the age of twelve, I went to Aboyne Academy leaving at the end of fourth year with 8 “O” Grades. From the age of twelve I worked every weekend and my holidays at Gordon’s Restaurant in Braemar, then Leith’s Bakery for Mr & Mrs Murdoch.

After leaving school I worked for a short time for Jack and Frances Crawford at The Inver Hotel, then in 1986 began working for Mike Sheridan at the butcher shop in Bridge Street, Ballater. In 1993, I married Donald Farquhar, a farmer’s son from Logie Coldstone, and we have resided there since.

Donald works full time for an oil company but also helps his father and brother on the farm.

We as kids were brought up to appreciate our countryside and environment, but it has taken me a bit longer than some to realise how lucky we are to live in the area and to appreciate the fact it is now a National Park.

This is one of the main reasons I decided to stand for election in March.

Local businesses are ver y important to our villages, providing valuable service and employment. We should encourage

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regeneration of such businesses and try to help those struggling in the current economic climate. We must all work together regarding any development plans and building proposals, ensuring the countryside is managed and maintained, while at the same time providing amenities for residents and visitors alike. We also need to do all that we can to create job opportunities and provide accommodation for our youngsters who wish to stay and work here.

I would like to think that anyone with any questions regarding The Cairngorm National Park Authority will find me approachable and I will try to answer any questions to the best of my ability. I may be contacted by telephone on 013398 81006 or by email at info@katrinafarquhar.co.uk

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New Support Group For Carers by Joan Cowie

CLAN Cancer Support has started a new group for people supporting family members or friends affected by cancer.

The group meet monthly at the VSA Carers Centre, Unit 9, Aboyne Business Centre, Aboyne. CLAN is keen to hear from anyone who would be interested in taking part.

This support group will offer people a chance to share, in confidence, their experiences of caring for others. Having others to talk to who understand some of the issues involved in caring can greatly help to reduce stress and anxiety that carers may have.

Many people don’t consider themselves to be carers; they are just looking after their partner, parent, son, daughter, friend, relative, or work colleague. Often they don’t choose to take on this role, it just happens. Support can take many different forms – physical, emotional, or practical for example being at the end of the phone, gardening or looking after the pet of

someone who is ill. Carers often under-estimate the support they are giving and sometimes it is helpful to have the opportunity to have a quiet chat with someone who has faced similar challenges.

The carers’ support group will complement the existing Second Chancers group, which is for those who have had a diagnosis of cancer.

The Second Chancers meet in the upstairs meeting room of Ballater Golf Club at 4.00 pm on the last Wednesday of each month.

In addition anyone affected by cancer whether as a patient or carer is welcome to come along to CLAN’s Walking group. Walkers meet at 1.30 pm on the second Tuesday of each month at the CLAN Centre in Ballater, for a gentle walk of approximately two miles.

To find out more about CLAN’s support groups please contact the CLAN centre in Ballater on 01339 756 318. For general information about CLAN Cancer Support and support in your area visit www.clanhouse.org

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had chosen it. The successful applicants would then receive 40 copies of their chosen book to distribute to friends and neighbours.

Anna, one of our founder members, received from her sister, who had put in a successful application, copies of “Case Histories” by Kate Atkinson to distribute to Crathie Book Group.

We were delighted to become part of such an innovative and exciting event and decided to make the book our “read” for the month of May. (By a coincidence, in April, we had read and had a lively discussion about “Behind the Scenes at the Museum” by the same author).

A million copies of the books were printed specially for World Book Night, and after they have been read by the first recipients, the idea is to pass them on to as many people as possible – a great way to spread the joy of reading!

Crathie Bowling Group Over the summer, the Crathie Bowling Group will meet on Tuesday evenings only, from 7pm to 9pm in the Crathie New Hall. as always, new members will be made very welcome.

Distillery News Alex Philip recently celebrated 15 years service at Royal Lochnagar. The event was marked by a lunch at the distillery after which Alex was presented with a bouquet of flowers, a framed photograph and a certificate for long service. As well as guiding at the distillery, Alex is also an excellent cook and has prepared many meals for the Malt Advocate Courses. She is also famous for her delicious shortbread! (see photo on back cover) An even longer serving member of the Lochnagar team is Joe Conner who is about to retire after 33 years service! He joined the distillery in December 1978 as a labourer and has witnessed many changes over the years, the biggest being the amount of responsibility that the distillery operators now have. Joe is looking forward to spending his time hill walking and golfing and would like to do some travelling once his partner May has also retired.

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Cara at the Fog House The Fog House, Invercauld, is so called not because it is permanently wreathed in mist but in reference to its mossy thatched roof, a local word for moss being “fog”.

A rustic wooden summer house, open at one of its six sides, it was constructed around the middle of the 19th century at which time there would have been uninterrupted views of the beautiful scenery down the valley towards the hills in the west.

The Fog House

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Crathie News

Coffee at the Distillery A huge thank you from Margaret and Marion to everyone who so generously supported the Coffee Morning at Royal Lochnagar Distillery on Saturday 9 April and helped us raise an amazing £1010.20 for the Anchor Unit Aberdeen and CLAN Upper Deeside. (see photo on back cover) A special thank you goes to the hard working team who baked, served coffees and teas, cleared tables and washed dishes, not to mention those who sold raffle tickets and manned the various stalls, Margaret Hay who donated all the proceeds from the sale of her hand made cards, and those who brought along contributions for the baking stall, the raffle, and the bottle stall As usual, we are very grateful to the Distillery for providing such a great venue (including the tea, coffee and Alex’s great shortbread), for donating a Rare Malt whisky as the star prize in the raffle and a bottle of their

by Marion MacIntyre

own 12 year old malt whisky for the Bottle Stall.

We hope you all enjoyed the morning and that we will see you all again next year!

Coffee at the Kirk The Coffee Ladies of Crathie Kirk have resumed their very popular Coffee Mornings in the Church hall. The first one this year took place on 11 April when they got off to a flying start with a packed house.

Come along to Crathie Church Hall on a Monday morning between 10am and 12.30pm for fine home bakes and good company in a friendly welcoming atmosphere.

Crathie Book Group Many of you will have heard about World Book Night which took place in March 2011.

To promote the pleasure of reading, the event published a list of 25 books and invited members of the public to choose a favourite and send in an appreciation of it and an account of why they

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Ballater School

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Spring Poems by P1/2 Snakes come out Poppys come out Rain comes down Insects Nets for tennis Get a stick Singing birds Piglets come out Rabbits Insects Nice Get flowers

Jozef

Spring Pigs come out Rain coming down Ivy growing Nectar from flowers Get a stick

Snakes come out Puddles come Rabbits come out Insects Nectar from flowers Green grass growing Claire Snakes Piglets Rabbit Insects Nets for tennis Getting cards Zack Snakes Park Rabbits Insects Nettles Green grass Calum

Hinds make a warning sound when there is danger.

Alexander

Dear Mr Fernie Thank you for all the lovely things you told us. I liked listening.

Robyn The red deer is a large, hoofed animal.

Only the elk and moose are bigger.

Joshua

Sun comes out Pink flowers come out Rabbits hop around Insects Nice Insects Green grass Annabel

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They come down from the high ground to Dear, dear, deer!

Robyn’s Dad came to school to tell P2 get food when the weather is poor.

Megan & 3 about the deer on the Balmoral estate and about his job as a gamekeeper

Otto Singing birds Puddles Rabbits play Inky comes to flowers Nectar from flowers Grass growing Dillon

Ella

Thank you P1, 2 & 3 for your poems and super pictures. Not only have the Eagle team learned lots of new facts about our local red deer population, but your Spring verses have got us positively blossoming in the April sunshine.

Male deer are called stags and females are called hinds.

Lizzie Only males have antlers.

Rosa

In summer their coats are reddish brown, They have one young per year. Very changing to brownish grey in winter. rarely they have two.

Calum Harvey They eat bark in winter and grass and They can be the same size as Megan heather in summer.

Jack between 1.1 and 1.2 metres high.

Cameron In the rutting season the stags fight over the hinds Harvey The stags lose their antlers once a year.

It’s not sore.

Maddison deer!

Deer’s best sense is smell.

Ciaran Louise

Ballater School

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Spring Poems by P1/2 Snakes come out Poppys come out Rain comes down Insects Nets for tennis Get a stick Singing birds Piglets come out Rabbits Insects Nice Get flowers

Jozef

Spring Pigs come out Rain coming down Ivy growing Nectar from flowers Get a stick

Snakes come out Puddles come Rabbits come out Insects Nectar from flowers Green grass growing Claire Snakes Piglets Rabbit Insects Nets for tennis Getting cards Zack Snakes Park Rabbits Insects Nettles Green grass Calum

Hinds make a warning sound when there is danger.

Alexander

Dear Mr Fernie Thank you for all the lovely things you told us. I liked listening.

Robyn The red deer is a large, hoofed animal.

Only the elk and moose are bigger.

Joshua

Sun comes out Pink flowers come out Rabbits hop around Insects Nice Insects Green grass Annabel

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They come down from the high ground to Dear, dear, deer!

Robyn’s Dad came to school to tell P2 get food when the weather is poor.

Megan & 3 about the deer on the Balmoral estate and about his job as a gamekeeper

Otto Singing birds Puddles Rabbits play Inky comes to flowers Nectar from flowers Grass growing Dillon

Ella

Thank you P1, 2 & 3 for your poems and super pictures. Not only have the Eagle team learned lots of new facts about our local red deer population, but your Spring verses have got us positively blossoming in the April sunshine.

Male deer are called stags and females are called hinds.

Lizzie Only males have antlers.

Rosa

In summer their coats are reddish brown, They have one young per year. Very changing to brownish grey in winter. rarely they have two.

Calum Harvey They eat bark in winter and grass and They can be the same size as Megan heather in summer.

Jack between 1.1 and 1.2 metres high.

Cameron In the rutting season the stags fight over the hinds Harvey The stags lose their antlers once a year.

It’s not sore.

Maddison deer!

Deer’s best sense is smell.

Ciaran Louise

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Crathie News

Coffee at the Distillery A huge thank you from Margaret and Marion to everyone who so generously supported the Coffee Morning at Royal Lochnagar Distillery on Saturday 9 April and helped us raise an amazing £1010.20 for the Anchor Unit Aberdeen and CLAN Upper Deeside. (see photo on back cover) A special thank you goes to the hard working team who baked, served coffees and teas, cleared tables and washed dishes, not to mention those who sold raffle tickets and manned the various stalls, Margaret Hay who donated all the proceeds from the sale of her hand made cards, and those who brought along contributions for the baking stall, the raffle, and the bottle stall As usual, we are very grateful to the Distillery for providing such a great venue (including the tea, coffee and Alex’s great shortbread), for donating a Rare Malt whisky as the star prize in the raffle and a bottle of their

by Marion MacIntyre

own 12 year old malt whisky for the Bottle Stall.

We hope you all enjoyed the morning and that we will see you all again next year!

Coffee at the Kirk The Coffee Ladies of Crathie Kirk have resumed their very popular Coffee Mornings in the Church hall. The first one this year took place on 11 April when they got off to a flying start with a packed house.

Come along to Crathie Church Hall on a Monday morning between 10am and 12.30pm for fine home bakes and good company in a friendly welcoming atmosphere.

Crathie Book Group Many of you will have heard about World Book Night which took place in March 2011.

To promote the pleasure of reading, the event published a list of 25 books and invited members of the public to choose a favourite and send in an appreciation of it and an account of why they

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New Support Group For Carers by Joan Cowie

CLAN Cancer Support has started a new group for people supporting family members or friends affected by cancer.

The group meet monthly at the VSA Carers Centre, Unit 9, Aboyne Business Centre, Aboyne. CLAN is keen to hear from anyone who would be interested in taking part.

This support group will offer people a chance to share, in confidence, their experiences of caring for others. Having others to talk to who understand some of the issues involved in caring can greatly help to reduce stress and anxiety that carers may have.

Many people don’t consider themselves to be carers; they are just looking after their partner, parent, son, daughter, friend, relative, or work colleague. Often they don’t choose to take on this role, it just happens. Support can take many different forms – physical, emotional, or practical for example being at the end of the phone, gardening or looking after the pet of

someone who is ill. Carers often under-estimate the support they are giving and sometimes it is helpful to have the opportunity to have a quiet chat with someone who has faced similar challenges.

The carers’ support group will complement the existing Second Chancers group, which is for those who have had a diagnosis of cancer.

The Second Chancers meet in the upstairs meeting room of Ballater Golf Club at 4.00 pm on the last Wednesday of each month.

In addition anyone affected by cancer whether as a patient or carer is welcome to come along to CLAN’s Walking group. Walkers meet at 1.30 pm on the second Tuesday of each month at the CLAN Centre in Ballater, for a gentle walk of approximately two miles.

To find out more about CLAN’s support groups please contact the CLAN centre in Ballater on 01339 756 318. For general information about CLAN Cancer Support and support in your area visit www.clanhouse.org

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had chosen it. The successful applicants would then receive 40 copies of their chosen book to distribute to friends and neighbours.

Anna, one of our founder members, received from her sister, who had put in a successful application, copies of “Case Histories” by Kate Atkinson to distribute to Crathie Book Group.

We were delighted to become part of such an innovative and exciting event and decided to make the book our “read” for the month of May. (By a coincidence, in April, we had read and had a lively discussion about “Behind the Scenes at the Museum” by the same author).

A million copies of the books were printed specially for World Book Night, and after they have been read by the first recipients, the idea is to pass them on to as many people as possible – a great way to spread the joy of reading!

Crathie Bowling Group Over the summer, the Crathie Bowling Group will meet on Tuesday evenings only, from 7pm to 9pm in the Crathie New Hall. as always, new members will be made very welcome.

Distillery News Alex Philip recently celebrated 15 years service at Royal Lochnagar. The event was marked by a lunch at the distillery after which Alex was presented with a bouquet of flowers, a framed photograph and a certificate for long service. As well as guiding at the distillery, Alex is also an excellent cook and has prepared many meals for the Malt Advocate Courses. She is also famous for her delicious shortbread! (see photo on back cover) An even longer serving member of the Lochnagar team is Joe Conner who is about to retire after 33 years service! He joined the distillery in December 1978 as a labourer and has witnessed many changes over the years, the biggest being the amount of responsibility that the distillery operators now have. Joe is looking forward to spending his time hill walking and golfing and would like to do some travelling once his partner May has also retired.

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Cara at the Fog House The Fog House, Invercauld, is so called not because it is permanently wreathed in mist but in reference to its mossy thatched roof, a local word for moss being “fog”.

A rustic wooden summer house, open at one of its six sides, it was constructed around the middle of the 19th century at which time there would have been uninterrupted views of the beautiful scenery down the valley towards the hills in the west.

The Fog House

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Crathie School have been really busy over the past few months. Thank you for telling us all about what you’ve been up to.

Badminton Challenge Before the holidays Mrs McKain took P 3, 4 & 5 to a badminton challenge at Aboyne Academy. Lots of schools were there. In the relay races, Braemar was first and Crathie and Ballater were last. But we had a very fun day.

Eve P4 Cycle Highland Visit Richard from Cycle Highland came to tell us how to look after our bikes. He showed us

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how to pump up an inner tube for a tyre and how to put a chain back on a bike. Joseph got dressed up in protective clothing with a big biker’s helmet. He looked like a robot and it was funny because he couldn’t move his arms and legs. It was really good fun and the best bit was pumping up the tyres.

James P5 & Joseph P2

Riverside Garage We went to the garage and George showed us how to take the tyre off a wheel and how to test the brakes. We had a great time and it was very interesting.

Murdo P5 & Alfie P1 Chess Tournament

New editions of Lochnagar (1891) and Loch Kinnord (1910) now published by Deeside Books

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Before the holidays the school went to Lumsden.

P1, 2 & 3 visited Lumsden School, P 4, 5, 6 & 7 took part in a Chess Tournament in Lumsden Hall with pupils from Strathdon, Towie and Lumsden Schools.

After the tournament a lady came in to tell us some stories. She was a great story teller and made a lot of people laugh.

Josh P4

Elected member of the Cairngorm National Park Authority

by Katrina Farquhar My name is Katrina Farquhar, formerly Finnie. I spent the first ten years of my life with my sister and two brothers at Balintuim, Braemar, attending Braemar Primary School.

My father Ronald was the Head Shepherd at Invercauld Estate, when the estate still had a flock of its own. My mother Margaret, besides bringing us up, worked part time in Strachan’s shop and also as a guide at Braemar Castle.

When my Granda, Jock Finnie retired from The Bush Farm, my Dad moved us down to Crathie on a cold and frosty February morning.

I then went to Crathie Primary School. At the age of twelve, I went to Aboyne Academy leaving at the end of fourth year with 8 “O” Grades. From the age of twelve I worked every weekend and my holidays at Gordon’s Restaurant in Braemar, then Leith’s Bakery for Mr & Mrs Murdoch.

After leaving school I worked for a short time for Jack and Frances Crawford at The Inver Hotel, then in 1986 began working for Mike Sheridan at the butcher shop in Bridge Street, Ballater. In 1993, I married Donald Farquhar, a farmer’s son from Logie Coldstone, and we have resided there since.

Donald works full time for an oil company but also helps his father and brother on the farm.

We as kids were brought up to appreciate our countryside and environment, but it has taken me a bit longer than some to realise how lucky we are to live in the area and to appreciate the fact it is now a National Park.

This is one of the main reasons I decided to stand for election in March.

Local businesses are ver y important to our villages, providing valuable service and employment. We should encourage

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regeneration of such businesses and try to help those struggling in the current economic climate. We must all work together regarding any development plans and building proposals, ensuring the countryside is managed and maintained, while at the same time providing amenities for residents and visitors alike. We also need to do all that we can to create job opportunities and provide accommodation for our youngsters who wish to stay and work here.

I would like to think that anyone with any questions regarding The Cairngorm National Park Authority will find me approachable and I will try to answer any questions to the best of my ability. I may be contacted by telephone on 013398 81006 or by email at info@katrinafarquhar.co.uk

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Established Church to mark the Queen’s diamond jubilee and they unanimously agreed to accept. A further £7 was spent on flags and pennants to decorate the Halls on festive occasions so that they would not suffer in comparison to other buildings in the burgh.

These were first used when the Queen came to Balmoral that year. By now, the hall-keeper had his assistant, his son William, a boy of 14 whose hours were from 12.00 noon to 10.00pm with two half hours allowed for his dinner and tea. There was an odd disturbance involving this boy in May 1898 when he was “treated in a very disrespectful way“ by Alexander Coutts and A. W. Duguid.

They took him into the W.C., stripped him of his nether garments and then paraded him in the crowded billiard room. No reason is given for their action but they refused to apologise and so they were prohibited from entering the rooms until an apology was submitted in writing. They were repaid the unexpired portion of their subscriptions.

It was more than two years before Mr Coutts made

his apology. William quit his post when he was apprenticed to a shoe maker.

The following years continued with constant arrangements for redecorating the premises, keeping the billiard tables in good order and enforcing no smoking rules and general good behaviour of subscribers. Some subscribers had their membership suspended or terminated unless they could promise in writing to obey the rules. George Stevenson, Viewfield, said to be a rough and reckless player, was fined one guinea for cutting the table cover with his cue.

In 1901 Adam Sturton who had lately been in prison for theft was found to have been loafing about the rooms on a daily basis and he was given three months to prove himself employable before he could be granted entrance. By 1905 he had still not amended his ways. The Post Office asked for more accommodation and was given the old billiard room on the north-east corner of the Albert Memorial Hall, presently being used by the Police Commissioners, as a sorting office, with a door made into the North Lane.

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Singsong Fun We sing songs everyday such as Lilly the Pink (which is my favourite), Lord of the Dance, and On Top of Spaghetti which is funny. I like singing.

Zak P4 Spring picture by Sarah Mother’s Day For Mother’s Day, we made cards and decorated pots with sunflowers with favourite things about our mums written on each petal. We put compost and three real sunflower seeds in them too.

Rhianna P7 Skiing Success We woke up full of beans because we were going skiing at Glenshee.

We all had great fun skiing on a ski cross course with lots of bumps and jumps.

We were very lucky with the weather and everyone enjoyed it.

Harriet P6 Red Nose Day Fundraising The children of Crathie School dressed up in their pyjamas to go to school to raise money for Red Nose Day. We sent away £89.01 to the Red Nose HQ. Cameron P7 K’nex Competition In March, a lady from the Junior Engineering Company came to test our engineering skills.

She set everyone a task and gave us all a box with K’nex in it. Kieran won the competition.

He will be going through to the next competition which will take place in Aberdeen in May with all the other winners from Aberdeenshire schools. Rachel won the chance to go with him.

Kieran & Rachel P6

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Carn Na Cuimhne, Crathie

(OS 241942) (The Stone of Remembrance) by Sheila Sedgwick

Just west of the 51st milestone from Aberdeen, along the A93 road to Braemar is the Carn-na Cuimhne, anglicised to the Cairn-na-Quheen. It lies on the south of the road near the Dee, opposite the site of the original Monaltrie House. This heap of stones, somewhat disorganised, is the Cairn of Memory, the Gaelic words representing the Farquharson war-cry. It is the Farquharson place of Remembrance, almost surrounded by trees.

This was the rallying place for Clan Farquharson. When men were called to arms, the cry ‘carn-na-cuimhne’ brought them. The situation was excellent, for it was within reach of all the passes in Upper Deeside.

There is no documentary evidence about the purpose of the cairn but the traditional story says on going to war every man laid

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a stone on a small heap. On his return he removed a stone. The remainder then acted as a memorial to those who did not return and these were transferred to the big pile. Hence the name Cairn of Remembrance.

The date of the original cairn is uncertain but the pile was in existence well before the Jacobite risings but it was no doubt used during the ’15 and ’45 and the pile considerably increased. Monaltrie House had been at Crathie before the ’45 and when it was burned by Redcoats and Francis Farquharson returned from 20 years as a prisoner in England, he built a new house in Ballater, known as Ballater House, then Monaltrie House although there is no real evidence that he actually resided there.

William Farquharson of Monaltrie, nephew of the Baron Ban and last of his line enclosed the ground round the stones and planted larches with the help of a representative youth from every house on the Monaltrie estate.

On 10th May 1972 the Clan Farquharson Association under its President, Miss Margaret Farquharson, with about 20 members from all over Scotland, in the presence of the 16th chief Alwyne Arthur Compton Farquharson and his wife, visited the site. The President spoke of the history of the Clan Society, its declining membership and the desire to erect a commemorative stone. The Chief spoke of the purpose of the Cairn, saying that in case in the future the reason for the cairn’s existence should be forgotten, the stone now dedicated would be a lasting reminder.

The stone, covered by Farquharson tartan was then dedicated.

problem. Six months after the Halls were opened, Mr Duguid still had not finished the library. In September 1896 the great excitement was the forthcoming visit of the Tsar and Tsarina of Russia to Balmoral. The Trustees noted the elaborate decorations being planned by the railway company and determined to spend £2 for bunting and flags to make sure that the Halls would not look inferior. A Polish lady was allowed to store a piano on the premises for some weeks at 6 d ( 2 ½ p ) per day. No further mention is made of the lady, what she was doing in Ballater or how she transported her piano. The hall-keeper asked for an assistant but the trustees did not see fit to grant the request at this time. A fireproof safe was installed in the Committee Room so that documents relating to the Hall’s investments could be stored on the premises.

In January 1897 the library was finally finished and the books, over 2000 of them, placed on the shelves. The Trustees made a rough calculation of the value of the moveable property in the Halls to be £600 and resolved to

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have it insured for that sum. The investments held by the Trustees were the £1000 bond over the lands of Newe and £1000 on property in Causewayend, Aberdeen arranged by a Mr Gonsalvo. The interest rates on both bonds were to be reduced slightly in the coming months but due to the general low rates available anywhere the Trustees accepted the changes. By 1902 the bond for the Causewayend property had been transferred to the Aberdeen Harbour Board.

Ballater School was granted permission to use the Albert Memorial Hall for Standards 3 and 4 during the 1897 summer term while the school premises were undergoing alterations.

The Draughts Club applied for permission to play at the Halls but despite the Trustees setting up a sub-committee to inquire in minute detail about the rules of the game and how the players would conduct themselves, it does not appear that the Club ever met at the Halls.

The Trustees were invited to join a procession from the Hall buildings to the

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The Albert Memorial and Victoria Halls - the late Victorian Years by Janet Riddler

Once the Victoria Hall and Gordon Institute had been opened, the Trustees had the usual problems incurred after major building works. There were disputes with Mr Duguid (who was still feeling aggrieved about not having his contribution to the plans properly recognised) over his final bills, sorting out the plumbing left unfinished when Mr Emslie was made bankrupt, deciding on the best floor coverings and seating arrangements and fitting out the new library. Part of the storage in the basement was let to Mr Rose of Ford House, so long as he stored no inflammable goods, used no fire or naked lights and only moved his goods by handcart or barrow through the south lane. The rest of the basement was at this time reserved to the trustees for storage of seats with access via a hatch from the Hall. Later,

this space was let to a fishmonger. A cleaner to sweep and scrub the rooms, Elsie Fyfe, was employed at £10 per year. The Hall-keeper, Robert Cameron, was in charge of keeping the lamps clean and he was instructed do this in a special corner and not to leave rags etc. lying about and causing a disagreeable smell. He was also ordered to keep the lavatories scrupulously clean by using brush, cloth and water. One wonders what he had been using previously!!

Mr Alexander Littlejohn who had done some of the masonry work on the new buildings was accused of having careless workmen allow spirits of salts to stain the white dressed stones.

He denied this and it was agreed to see how the stone weathered before pursuing the matter further. As nothing else was ever said about it, the Ballater climate must have sorted the

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Royal Deeside & the Cairngorms DMO by John Carnie “Scenery to soothe the soul, adventure to invigorate the spirit, food and drink to sustain the body - Royal Deeside really does have it all.”

Those aren’t our words but the words of a recent travel writer who found the combination of stunning scenery and adventurous activity to his taste on a recent trip. We are increasingly marketing the Royal Deeside and the Cairngorms area as ‘Scotland’s crowning glory’ and inviting visitors to step inside one of Scotland’s most enchanting landscapes and explore the timeless beauty of this refreshingly different destination.

This year is officially Scotland’s ‘Year of Active Scotland’ and in terms of Royal Deeside this presents us with an opportunity to showcase the wealth of activities available in the area to UK and international visitors as well as Scots residents. Although it is just on the edge of Aberdeen, the scenery here truly soothes the soul and captures the imagination, and the landscape is the perfect backdrop for walking, cycling and other outdoor pursuits.

We recently took part in Visit Scotland’s Expo at the AECC and focused on outdoor activity packages. We were very pleased with the interest in the Ballater and Royal Deeside area from the 500 or so international buyers from all corners of the world. The aim is to showcase Deeside as a great destination for walking, wildlife watching, horse riding, running and fishing etc and to link this to accommodation packages. Hotels and B&Bs have a key role to play in this and we look forward to working on this in 2011.

One hotel near Ballater is reporting that April’s turnover has been double that of last year. Part of this may be due to the Spring marketing campaign undertaken by the DMO on behalf of its Partners. Those that took part in this free campaign saw their spring offers marketed to 180,000 potential visitor

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e- mail addresses through a series of e-flyers. As part of this, we received spring packages and offers from a large number of businesses and which were to be included in the e-flyers and mailers which were sent to external databases as well as the DMO’s own database. These were also included on the DMO website and in PR for the campaign. They included everything that a visitor to the area would want from 4x4 safaris to local food, and from photography courses to luxury accommodation.

The marketing campaign will be fully evaluated in time and the results made available.

For more information on the DMO, please contact info@discoverroyaldeeside.com or telephone 013397 55283. Please check out the website www.discoverroyaldeeside.com which is the key tourism web site for all visitors to the area. Please also check our Facebook page and join it to discuss anything of interest in the Ballater area. The url is www.facebook. com/DiscoverRoyalDeeside

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Balmoral Estate Summer Events by Glyn Jones

Saturday 2nd July - Magical moorlands Off-roading adventure to visit the Whitley bomber air-crash site! Meeting point: Spittal of Glen Muick visitor centre. Time: 9:30 - 3:30pm Distance: 14kms (9 Miles), ascent 524m.

Cost: £5. Booking essential 013397 55059.

Mountain walk. Bring lunch.

Monday 1st August – Lochnagar traverse A spectacular mountain traverse across one of Scotland’s most famous peaks. Walk from Keiloch to The Spittal of Glen Muick via the summit of Lochnagar. A long mountain day.

Hill walking gear and a good level of fitness and stamina are required to complete this walk. Meeting point: Keiloch car park. Cost: £10 Distance: 25kms (16miles). Ascent: 900m Time: 9:00-6:00pm Booking essential– 013397 55059 (book early to avoid disappointment).

Wednesday 10thAugust - Walk in the Footsteps of Queen Victoria Join the Rangers as they walk around Loch Muick. Learn about the unique Royal and cultural history of this remote highland glen.

Meeting point: Spittal of Glen Muick Visitor Centre. Time: 10.30am – 3.30pm. Bring a packed lunch. Cost: Free. Distance: 12kms (8 miles) on fairly level tracks. Booking essential- 013397 55059.

Saturday 10th September- Meet your ancestors A guided tour around the Spittal of Glen Muick Township. Meet the township residents along the way and hear some of their tales and find out how they live. Organised as part of Scottish Archaeology month. Meeting point: The Spittal of Glen Muick visitor centre. Distance 1km, ascent 30m. Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm. Cost: Free.

Booking essential– 013397 55059.

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LOCAL EXPERIENCED AWARD WINNING KNOWLEDGEABLE INDUSTRIOUS EFFICIENT

Home Security and Road Safety by PC Steve Lafferty With summer upon us and the days longer, it’s a good time to consider home security arrangements. It must be stressed that domestic housebreakings are very rare in the upper Deeside area. However we should not be complacent.

Owners of older properties should consider upgrading locks on door and windows. Three and five lever locks are currently recommended and all external doors should have three points of locking (ie one good quality mortise lock and bolts top and bottom). This greatly reduces the risk of anyone gaining access to your property.

Window locks should also be considered. These are effective, relatively inexpensive and easy to fit.

Similar thought should also be given to garages, outbuildings and sheds, which are likely to contain vehicles and expensive gardening equipment. The same advice applies, - all external doors should have three points of locking and if your outbuilding has windows, fit a blind or curtains, to obscure a view within. Another consideration when the gardening season commences is to secure away all gardening equipment, tools and ladders etc, which can be used to gain entry to your property.

If you are working or enjoying time in your garden, lock the doors of the house to prevent anyone slipping in and out unnoticed. External lighting is also important and there are many products on the market from spotlights to lights fitted with movement sensors. Alarm systems are a consideration and have good deterrent value.

We should also be considering what would be attractive to a thief inside the home or outbuildings.

All property can be security marked using a UV pen. Simply write the postcode and house name/ number on each item. Valuable items should also be photographed and if using a digital camera, the memory card should be retained securely...don’t down load them onto your computer.

It won’t help if your computer is stolen!

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Finally if you think your home security is lacking, there is a myriad of information available on the internet. Grampian Police Crime Reduction Department can also carryout Crime Prevention Surveys free of charge and will advise householders of necessary steps to greatly improve security.

Road Safety is always an issue on Deeside during the summer months, with our roads seeing a particular increase in the numbers of motorcycles. Local officers in partnership with the Roads Policing Department are again involved in Operation Zenith, which is targeted at educating motorcyclists regarding the dangers of excessive speed etc on the roads. Last year this Operation, which is Force wide, was a great success and greatly reduced the number of collisions and injuries involving motorcyclists in our area. Car drivers also need to be aware of motorcycles, which in general are less visible.

Take care at junctions and if overtaking, and again, let us know if you have any particular issues you feel we can assist with.

As always if you require advice or have any information regarding a crime, call at the Police Office in Ballater or call the Grampian Police Service Centre on 0845 600 5 700.

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Ballter (RD) Ltd

by Paddy Wright

Ballater (RD) Ltd. (BRD) continues to expand its support for community development projects, and some of the updates are given below. In view of this, we are continually looking for additional Board Members to help with this important work.

Please feel free to drop in and find out what BRD is doing and how you could help!

Walking Week. This year’s Walking Festival is full to capacity. Look out for our budding ramblers during the week beginning 21st May. Community Bus. Remember! The community bus is available to all community groups for outings. Please book through Gillian on 013397 55467.

Old School Site. BRD, in partnership with the North East Scotland Preservation Trust, has commissioned an Options Appraisal Study looking at possible future uses for the Old School site. (For more details see p45).

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B(RD) Website. The BRD supported website www.royal-deeside.org.uk maintains its popularity and there was a significant increase in the numbers of visitors in the period leading up to the Royal Wedding.

Seven Bridges Walk. About two years ago, it was suggested that this walk might be improved. The part which follows the A93 from Bridge of Gairn to Polhollick involves crossing main roads several times and walking close to traffic noise. It was proposed to install a footbridge over the Gairn, using the abutments of the former railway bridge. From there, the walk would follow the right bank of the Gairn to its confluence with the Dee, and then to Polhollick. This is a very pleasant route, well away from road traffic.

Negotiation took place with all interested parties and agreement was reached. The Cairngorm Outdoor Access Trust designed the route and made an application for planning permission. Unfortunately, it has become apparent that Polhollick Bridge is in urgent need of repairs, and Aberdeenshire Council has imposed restrictions on its use. Should the structure deteriorate further, it may be necessary to close it completely.

In view of this, COAT has decided not to proceed with the improvements to the walk until Polhollick has been repaired. In the current financial climate, the Council is struggling to raise the funding required, which is estimated to be close to £400,000.

However, there is some optimism that the money will be found, and the improvements to the Seven Bridges Walk will proceed in the not too distant future.

Welcome Sign/Fingerposts. See the separate article by Jack Coull on this subject.

(See page 57)

Bowls is a game for ‘oldies’ – wrong! by Mike Franklin It is often thought that bowls is a game just for ‘old’ people. However, while it is true that older people enjoy bowls because of the gentle physical exercise, to play the game well requires clear thinking and good coordination. The basic idea is simple: a small white ball or ‘jack’ is placed about 30 yards away and each player has to roll his or her bowls so that they finish closer to the jack than the opponents’ bowls. So, as long as you can roll the bowl in the right direction and for the right distance, all is very easy. However, there are four things that make bowling more interesting: 1. The distance to the jack can change and grass surfaces differ so you have to judge the speed of the ‘roll’.

2. The bowls are ‘biased’ and they travel in a curve, not a straight line, so you have to judge the right direction to aim the bowl.

3. Because the jack is some distance away, the bowler sees a ‘foreshortening’ effect. To the bowler, a bowl stopping, say, six feet to the left or right of the jack may appear to be a bad shot but one finishing the same distance in front of (or behind) the jack may seem an excellent shot. (Why? Because the distance between bowl and jack looks much smaller in the second case than in the first.)

4. There is an opponent who is trying to make life difficult for you.

The picture shows a fairly typical ‘end’. The bowler wishes to get as close to the jack as possible and decides that the left side offers the best chance and aims left of the jack. The dotted line shows how the bowl would arrive at the jack. However, there is also a gap on the right which may be an easier shot. In that case the bowler would play with the bowl curving from right to left.

So, simple: all you have to do is judge the distance, judge the angle of delivery, curl your bowl through a suitable gap between the other bowls and you’ve won. But then again, the wind may be blowing, the grass may be wet and freshly cut this morning.

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Bowls is a gentle test for mind and body. It is great fun and it is played in a friendly spirit with good company. It is not expensive, the main needs being a set of bowls and a pair of flat shoes which can be borrowed from the local club. Here in Ballater we are lucky we have a fine established Bowling Club which recently celebrated its centenary. The club welcomes new members and visitors of all abilities. Come along and give it a try, - you’ll find a warm welcome.

Club sessions are Tuesday evenings starting at 7.00pm and Sunday afternoons starting at 2.00pm. But the green is also open all week.

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40 The Ballater Nickum by Mary Munro The Scots Dictionary defines a “nickum” as a scamp, a rogue or a mischievous boy, an’ altho’ I’ve aye had a saft spot for him, I suppose that definition does cover my nickum, wee Ross.

Born on the very day my husband was beeried – ae McCallum awa an’ anither ane for this warld – Ross is nae a coorse loonie – in fact he’s a taakin wee sowl fa aye his a hug or a sappy kiss for ye. I think “ill-trickit” is a better wird for him, for wi his bonny, blue e’en an’ fite blond hair, he’s a real cutie. Wi his specs on he jist mynes ye on “The Milky Bar Kid” o’ television fame.

Richt fae the time he wis totterin’ aboot on wee, fat leggies, he wis aften up tae some divelment or ither. An awfu devil tae climb, it wis naethin tae see him on the kitchen table or on the heid o’ the sofa, an’ he hid mony a bump an’ a blue-black bruise. He even climbed o’er the heich back fence ae day an’ awa roon tae see the ferlies at the Toy Shop!

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Ae fine day, I went roon tae see his faimily.

Nae sign o’ the bairn, sae I speired “Far’s Ross the day?” His mither jist noddit her heid o’er tae the back wa’. An’ there he wis in his walkin-seat, haein a gweed sook o’ waater oot o’ the nozzle o’ the gairden hose hingin doon fae the wa. Wi her usual calm sough, Irene jist gied a lauch: “He’ll tak a pick o’ dirt afore he dees”, wis her doon tae earth reply.

Anither day his granny hid taen him tae the Willows tae rin wild aff the beaten track.

The burnie wis in spate in the wid, an’ she socht tae help him o’er tae the ither bank. Her fit slippit an they baith gaed heilster-heid intae the rush o’ icy waater. Nae hairm deen, jist soakin weet an’ cauld. Fan ye askit Ross aboot the mischanter he jist fixed ye wi a stare an a doon-tilt tae his moo. “My granny tried tae droon me in the burn!” Ye couldna bit lauch, bit his granny wis affrontit in case fowk thocht o’ her as a potential “child-killer”.

Naethin wis safe for a file, fan Ross wis on the prowl. Frances wis frantic ae day for her purse wi money an cards wis lost! He wis at the hidin stage, “Jist for a joke!”, an it wis a gweed file afore he produced the purse that hid been stappit weel doon ahin the sofa oot o’ sicht. Mony a row he got, bit he aye lookit sae innocent wi his big blue e’en that it took me onywey a my time nae tae lauch oot lood.

Ilka day, I wid speir fit he’d been up till. Ae day he’d found an auld tin o’ silver paint in the sheddie oot bye. They thocht he wis o’er quaet, an sure eneuch, he’d clarted the hale front o’ the shed an himsel as weel, bit Ross jist thocht he’d made a bonny job o’it – in his mind, it wis a lot better than the feuchy-broon it wis afore he’d started.

Across the road, is the Butcher’s Shop.

Fae a young loon, he eased tae ging tae the back door an newse an speir questions at the butchers wirkin in the back shop. They likit the loon fine, bit they aye pit him hame if there wis ony element o’ danger like bilin pots or knives.

He’s even been given a butcher’s apron wi’ his

Opinions of anyone in the community in relation to this project would be appreciated, and as soon as possible, allowing them to be taken into account before any decision is reached.

5. MPUG supports a proposal by Ballater Highland Games to construct a hard surface area extending between the Park entry and the Games Sheridan Shed, allowing vehicles to travel safely to the Shed and the car park on Games Day, whatever the weather.

Again, anyone in the community should take this opportunity to voice an opinion.

6. It is proposed to erect a more welcoming sign at the Park entrance, referring to the Highland Games and incorporating the Games Crest. A design has been approved, and the Council has again offered labour free of charge to take down the existing sign and erect the new one.

We are looking for funding to enable repair of the floodlights, the cost of which could be around £1000.

Motorbike scrambling / quad bikes Two possible locations have been investigated without success. One was Aberdeenshire Council land, and control of the use of the land is seen by the Council as a potential problem.

BOVOF has offered to meet with those in the community involved with the sports, to see how progress might be made, but the offer has not yet been taken up. It seems important to discuss the control point before researching any further sites.

Temporary cinema facilities in the Halls There has been a considerable amount of material collected about how to organise, run and cost the provision of a temporary cinema facility, including websites of other local film clubs and societies.

We are now looking for a local volunteer to research and report on the possibilities for Ballater, preferably someone computer literate, in view of the number of websites requiring research, and someone keen for Ballater to have such a facility.

Anyone interested in helping should contact Ron Drever at thedrevers@btinternet.com or on 013397 56224.

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Our current Ballater Accommodation clients on Google: Guest House Ballater Page 1 Self Catering Ballater Page 1 Hotel Ballater Page 1 Hostel Ballater Page 1 B&B Ballater Page 1

Where is your website? call Ian MacIntosh on 078181 53121 for help www.deesidedesign.co.uk

20 Monaltrie Park Users Group (MPUG) MPUG is still actively working on improvements to Monaltrie Park, and a recent meeting of the Group was attended by three representatives of Aberdeenshire Council.

The following is an update on various ongoing projects:1. Resurfacing of the playpark has been completed, with rubber tiles replacing the sand. This was at the request of parents concerned about hygiene and the mess caused by sand.

Thanks are due to CNPA, The Charitable Chiels and Aberdeenshire Council for providing the labour free of charge to the community.

2. New bins and tables are being provided by the Council.

BOVOF

by Gillian Sinclair

3. The offer by the Council for the community to take over management of the pavilion was turned down at this time, due to there being seen to be no real benefits to the community with the present limited use by groups, and bearing in mind the running costs which the community would incur.

4. The provision of a public toilet in the Park is still a priority. Apart from modifying the portakabin toilets, a possibility is to install a toilet inside the pavilion near the entry, which could be open to the public without allowing access to the changing rooms. It is envisaged there would be restricted opening times. Control and cleaning would have to be arranged by the community.

name on it an a fite butcher’s hat. He’s like the butchers’ mascot! Ae day he speired far Barry wis, an fit they were makin that day. He wis tellt they were cookin “potted heid” an they’d hid tae cut aff Barry’s heid – that wis fit wis bilin ben the hoose. Weel, that wis the end for Ross!

He came hame in an awfu state, greetin sair at the thocht o’ Barry’s heid hotterin awa in the big pot. He widna calm doon till they showed him that Barry wis aye alive an kickin. Ye can tell an innocent bairn that the meen is made o’ blue cheese an, gin ye keep a stracht face, the peer geet believes every wird. It didna pit him aff the butchers an he aye wints tae be a butcher or a fireman like his faither fan he grows up.

Ill tricket he may be, bit he can come oot wi some “pearls o’ wisdom”. Truth aften comes oot o’ the mouths o’ bairns. Staunin quaet at a bus stop in the toon wi his mam, an a wifie cairryin a muckle pot plant, he wis jist mindin his ain business, fan a car whooshed by an soakit the hale lot o’ them. There wis silence till Ross jist said in a serious voice, “Weel, the

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plant needed a drink onywey!”

The piece de resistance for me wis a feow wiks back. Ross is a dab haun on the computer an he wis left aleen for a file. Fatal! Fan they did look in on him, he wis sittin fine at the computer, bit the goldfish fae the bowl wis flappin an gaspin on a bit o’ paper aside him. Gweed kens foo lang the peer craitur had been a “fish oot o’ waater”. Efter an o’ergaun fae his mither, he jist said he thocht it lookit lonely in the bowl an wintit tae speak till him. The goldfish wis hastily pit back intae the bowl an swam aboot fine in his ain element. Neist day, it wis floatin, belly-up, on the tap o’ the bowl – it hid been ower much for its peer hert! Ross disnae mean ony ill – he jist likes tae try things oot an files they wirk an files it’s a disaster!

Bairns a hiv their roadies tae rin throwe life an I sweir oor Ross winna stick, for tho’ ill-trickit at times, he’s nae sleekit an richt coorse. Forbye, a bosy fae Ross wid melt even the hardest o’ herts!

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42 Any Budding Snappers?

by John Holley

Are you a budding David Bailey and would like to promote your pictures on the internet? If you fall into this category or simply take snaps for fun on your digital camera, then why not get snapping in and around Ballater and send them to a dedicated pool on www.Flickr.com If you visit www.flickr.com/groups/tbcrd you will find almost 1200 pictures covering the local area including Cambus O’May, Tullich, Ballater and Crathie, all sent in by locals and visitors. Why not join them and get your own pictures ‘up in lights’ on the World Wide Web? Don’t think that your picture won’t be good enough, because it will be. There is just one rule that must be followed, - no family, girlfriend, boyfriend, babies, animals or scrapbook type pictures, just general views of Ballater and the surrounding area between Cambus O’ May in the East and Crathie in the West.

Come on, it’s so easy and no one will criticise your efforts, guaranteed! Follow the link given above and join Flickr.com (totally free!). Once you have joined, become a member of the Cambus O’ May, Tullich, Ballater & Crathie Pool , snap away, then let us have your pictures.

The Pool’s host is ‘sgterniebilko’ who will welcome your pictures. Should you have any questions, please contact him at sgterniebilko@gmail.com or through the pool on Flickr.com. Now that summer is with us, get out and about, take your pictures and possibly you will find that you have a talent for it.

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Hours of Opening: Mon: 9am - 5.30pm Tues: 9am - 5.30pm Weds: 9am - 5.30pm Thurs: 9am - 12.30pm Fri: 9am - 5.30pm Sat: 9am - 12.30pm Please note we are OPEN over lunchtime

Foreign Currency We now stock Euros, US Dollars & Turkish Lira for immediate purchase.

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Choices, choices

by Jane Angus

What action should be taken while whizzing along one of our local roads and just round a bend, there appears a fuzzy ginger object sized between a lime and a Jaffa, always at the left side of the road, seated contentedly nibbling a nut?

Option 1: Jam on all brakes?

Option 2: Look in the mirror, see nothing, then jam on all brakes?

Option 3: Look in the mirror, remembering having seen five cars in a row behind and they are still there, shut your eyes, hope for the best and drive on?

We are now in a Red Squirrel Refuge Area as well as a National Park where the First Aim is Conservation. There are times of the year when very young squirrels leave the nest and have absolutely no idea of road sense. That is about February - April. Then there are times of year when red squirrels go searching for food/drink/other squirrels and none of them have any road sense. That is usually FebruaryDecember, depending on the weather, but of course we can have quite warm Januarys.

So seeing the evidence of road casualties, the members of Ballater and Crathie Community Council have been exploring possible means of Saving Red Squirrels.

We have now reached the stage when we hope to put up one rope bridge and inveigle some squirrels to use it. Several of these new bridges have been successful in other areas, but in the National Park environs they do not seem to have been accepted by the animals and while every land-owner is enthusiastic, the place, suitable supports and clear road-views are difficult to find together in our area. So we are going carefully for a trial.

In the meantime, individual drivers have to take the immediate decision. How fast do

you travel on the lower part of the Pass of Ballater, the Craigendarroch Brae, the South Deeside road between the Bridge of Dee and the House of Muick gates, or between the end of the Woodend straight and Dalraddie?

These are known killing grounds. Can you stop in safety for you and other drivers and not run down a slow squirrel? Stoats and weasels, which of course are, as the old joke has it, “stoatally” different, run a lot faster and seem to have a greater awareness. But, by taking thought, allowing a few more minutes for our journeys, particularly in the spring and autumn, we can all contribute to the maintenance of a native species, while we leave the game-keepers to defend our borders from the sickness-bearing, alien, aggressive, grey variety.

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Ballater & Crathie Community Council By Robin Blyth

Summer has apparently decided to visit us early this year. Is this it? The weather of late April and early May has been superb, hopefully putting a smile on the retailers’ faces. They certainly need the boost! Whatever, let’s hope the good weather lasts till late autumn! We welcome the re-opening of what was the Loirston Hotel, now the Deeside Inn, and wish the new venture’s owners well. Ballater has lost too much accommodation business of late.

The CC has been working on its Action Plan to bring forward some of the suggestions we received in our survey of last year, and these will be highlighted on the notice-boards and our website as it becomes appropriate.

One of our members, Jane Angus, has been wrestling with the problem of the ongoing slaughter of precious red squirrels on our roads, and has been collecting data for months to enable her to arrange for rope bridges to

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help reduce the slaughter of these animals. Her Eagle contribution will make good reading.

Bees are part of our thoughts as well. The Bumble Bee seems to be having a particularly hard time of it of late and the CC, amongst other bodies, hopes to play a part in the provision of attractive habitat for these small creatures, to which we owe a great deal for their services in crop pollination.

The scrutiny of planning applications takes a lot of effort from our members and our small sub-committee works very hard in this regard.

Every planning application is reviewed and commented upon as appropriate, from window replacements to major projects such as the restitution of St Andrews House. How good it is to see the superb Victorian architecture re-emerge from the remains of the lamented nursing home. Our planning committee has given much comment on this development.

The amount of litter left around our locale is appalling as is the widespread dog-fouling that takes place. The current fashion amongst some dog owners for putting their dogs’ waste into small plastic bags and leaving it on the ground is possibly the least wise course of action. Better to take a hand trowel and bury it in situ – failing which PLEASE take the bag home for disposal, or put it in the dog bins provided. Unfortunately Aberdeenshire Council is unable to keep pace with the filling of the existing dog bins which will also exasperate the ‘good guys’ who clean up. Perhaps larger dog bins [they do exist] are the answer. We can all help in keeping our countryside beautiful, by picking up litter and reporting offenders.

Grampian Heath Board has made available a new texting service, all the information on which can be found on the CC website. www.ballaterandcrathie.org.uk I shall be standing down from the Community Council in June and wish to thank all Eagle readers and the community for the support and assistance I have enjoyed over the recent times.

Ballater Youth Project

by Alison Ritchie

On Thursday 31st March a youth event was held in the Victoria & Albert Halls in Ballater which was attended by 32 P6 & P7 pupils from Braemar, Crathie and Ballater primary schools and included several S1 pupils from Aboyne Academy. The evening started with an hour long session in hip hop dance led by dance expert MC from Aberdeen. Following refreshments the young people then had the chance to decorate their own T shirts and were also given the opportunity to visit “The Cellars”. This is a youth drop-in facility to the rear of the Victoria Hall which runs every Wednesday evening from 7-9pm during term time.

The event itself was very successful and was clearly enjoyed by all the young people who participated. It marks the start of a 2 year project to develop youth work in the Cairngorm National Park Authority area which was made possible due to Leader funding from the Cairn-

gorm National Park Authority. The aim of the project is to provide a range of diversionary activities for young people that will help them to make positive life choices and to avoid anti-social behaviour. Possible activities could include; health education workshops (eg. drug and alcohol issues), outdoor activities, dance, street sports, digital photography, drama, street art, road safety etc. Activities will be decided based on consultation with young people and will be led by them with direct support from Community Learning & Development.

If you would like to become involved with the project or if you wish any further information please contact Alison Ritchie, Community Learning & Development Worker, Deeside Community Centre, Aboyne, (013398) 86222 or email alison.ritchie@aberdeenshire.gov.uk (see the photos on back cover)

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Ballater Boules Defeated

The Ballater Boules Challenge faced three rare defeats during its sixth season between October 2010 and April 2011, - by the weather!

As we all know last winter was not good weatherwise and the ‘Challenge’ had to be cancelled on three occasions due to exceptionally heavy snow falls. Normally, bad weather has not curtailed our meetings and the ‘courts’ are cleared with gusto by our hardy and enthusiastic players, but, alas, we were well and truly defeated this time.

However, as usual, our season was a great success with an average of 35 players attending each meeting. There were several new faces and some very amusing names for newly formed teams, i.e. ‘Scrambouled’, ‘Young & Beautiful’, ‘The Golden Arches’ and the ‘Torphins Two’.

The Christmas and New Year meetings raised £600.00 for a ‘good cause’ when mince pies and hot, special recipe, mulled wine slipped down a treat. It was so nice to see several visiting relatives of our players attend these meetings. The winners of The Golden Boules Trophy were the ‘Northern Lights’ (Derek & Rosemary North) and the winners of the ‘New Year Quaich’ were ‘P&J’ (Peter & Jenny Henry).

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by John Holley

Having been beaten by the weather earlier in the season the weather came to our rescue for our final meeting and BBQ on 3rd April when sunshine shone on 50+ people who enjoyed a morning of boules followed by a superbly cooked meal courtesy of Chris Perrin and Ian Ritchie. The team of ‘Jones Laing’ (Martin Young & Alastair Whitson) was presented with the ‘Most Wins’ trophy.

Our success is due to the enthusiasm of our players who enjoy our main ingredients - Fun, Friendship and Fresh Air. Special thanks must go to Mike & Maria Franklin, Ian Ritchie, Chris Perrin, Alistair Cassie, Terry Gauld, Jean Holley and especially to Martin Young and Sandy Thomson who, importantly, ensure that our ‘courts’ are set up in good time before each meeting.

Sets of boules are now neatly stored away for the summer months until the last Sunday in October when we will begin our seventh season. If you would like to join us for the new season you would be made most welcome. No equipment or previous experience is required, just turn up!

For more information, visit: www.ballaterboules.webs.com or email: ballaterboules@gmail.com

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Person Centred Counsellor 1 Netherley Place Tel: 07969 495399

Community Service We made our annual Christmas journey to distribute our Hampers and Christmas cake to Sluiemohr and Monaltrie Court residential homes in Ballater, as well as others in Upper Deeside. Donations have been given locally to the 1st Aboyne Scout Group and Mid Deeside Care Centre, and we have given some financial assistance to enable young people from Ballater to attend the Inspire Cafe Academy, which provides training to assist in finding employment. We also assisted financially with the hardship following a house flooding in Ballater; the cost of a music course for a local person; the expenses of a local girl going abroad to assist a children’s charity; the expenses of a local young man taking part in an Environmental Research Expedition; and a TV for the Day Room at Aboyne Hospital.

Following a talk on behalf of the cancer Charity, Maggie’s Centres, we have given a donation of £250. Once again we shall be providing manpower at various local events, for instance, the Balmoral Races, the MacBeth Fest cross country race at Deeside Activity Park, the CLAN Upper Deeside Tartan Trek, and the Balmoral Bike Ride Day. International Our main donations internationally have been £500 to Medecins sans Frontieres; £500 to the Riders for Health Charity, which provides vehicles to transport health visitors in African countries, and the training of mechanics to maintain the vehicles; and £500 to Dental Project Peru, which has now established a clinic in Peru.

All of these are Charities which we have been supporting for some time. We continue to support the help provided in disaster areas through the ShelterBox Trust and the Life Straws Charity.

We have also supported the world wide Rotary Foundation campaign, End Polio Now, with a donation totalling £1,311, made up of £1,000 from Club funds, £250 raised by club members from sponsorship of a guest Rotarian’s marathon run, and £61 raised by Tarland School through their Purple Pinkie Day.

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Vocational Our Club participates in the Primary Schools Quiz involving schools in different areas, and organised the Upper Deeside area event this year at Aboyne School. Schools from Aboyne, Ballater, Braemar, Crathie, Finzean, Kincardine O’Neil, Logie Coldstone, Lumphanan, and Tarland took part, and Tarland came out on top, thereby going to the zone final on 21 May at Westhill. We hope to report their success in the next Eagle.

Three pupils from Aboyne Academy will be attending this year’s Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) Camp at Abernethy Outdoor Centre for a week of intensive activities designed to stretch the candidates both physically and mentally and provide leadership training.

We are also again sponsoring the Dictionaries for Life project, where dictionaries are presented to pupils in numerous local schools.

If you are interested in Rotary, please contact Ron Drever at High Trees, Morven Way, or telephone 013397 56224.

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Rotary Update

Stop press – more Club Meetings in Ballater!!

Starting in July this year, the Rotary Club of Aboyne and Upper Deeside will be meeting twice each month, on the second and fourth Mondays, at the Glen Lui Hotel, Ballater, 6.30 for 7pm. We hope this will encourage interest in the Club from more Upper Deeside communities. Every other Monday we’ll continue to meet at the Boat Inn, Aboyne, 6 for 6.30pm.

With our last Update having disappeared into the Eagle ether, this Update covers more of our year than usual.

The Club finished 2010 with a fun packed Christmas Dinner Evening at the Huntly Arms Hotel, and started 2011 with another very enjoyable Burns Supper at Douneside House, Tarland.

Excellent speeches at the Burns evening were complemented by a selection of bothy ballads.

We then had a visit to the Scottish Parliament in March, where we were able to attend the First Minister’s Question Time – interesting if not very informative!

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by Ron Drever

Fundraising Our Christmas bag-packing at Aboyne Co-op raised over £1000 over two days, but our Christmas Line of Silver in Ballater was a victim of the severe weather. However, those who save loose change throughout the year for the Line of Silver handed in around £70, so many thanks again to them. We once more provided and manned the Barbeque at the Aboyne Bonfire Night, and our share of the money raised helped our Charity Account by some £620.

Our assistance in selling raffle tickets in the Bon Accord centre in Aberdeen in December helped Rotary in the north east raise around £28,000 gross. The proceeds went to the Children’s Hospital Charity, ARCHIE, although we also receive a contribution to our own Charity Account.

By the time you read this, our annual Fun Run in Aboyne will have taken place on Aboyne Green. This is organised in association with Aboyne Primary School, with the aim of youngsters (and parents if wished) arranging to be sponsored to run, jog, walk or even crawl around defined laps on the Green over a maximum period of 60 minutes. Our Club organises the venue, the Run, a barbeque and refreshments, while the school organises the advertising and sponsorship, and other entertainment, and uses the project in their Citizen Awareness syllabus.

Our Charity Golf Day takes place on Friday 17th June at Aboyne Golf Club. Teams of three are invited to challenge for our Golf Quaich and other superb team and individual prizes, at a cost of £150 per team, this also including a meal at the Golf Club, and other extras. Proceeds this year are going to the local charity Horseback UK. For information about entering a team or any other details contact our Charity Golf Convener, Andrew Brown, on 013397 56351 or email abrown@struancottage.wanadoo.co.uk.

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Options Appraisal for The Old School by Jack Coull For some years now the Ballater Centre Development Group (BCDG) has been negotiating with Aberdeenshire Council about ways to redevelop the Old School site.

The ideas included affordable housing, adult learning centre, commercial office space, medical outreach centre and some community facilities (such as an arts centre). A Feasibility Study carried out in 2005 reported favourably but the group then met many obstacles and delays. In October 2010 BCDG learnt that Aberdeenshire Council had offered the Old School to the North East Scotland Preservation Trust (NESPT). BCDG has now disbanded but has placed copies of its final report in Ballater Library and the BRD office. BRD has partnered NESPT in commissioning an Options Appraisal study to seek practical ways to redevelop the site given the problems resulting from the buildings ‘listed’ status. In the next few months the local community will be asked for views as to the future of this site and everyone is asked to take the opportunity to comment.

NESPT has released the following information. ‘Renowned, Edinburgh based Conservation Accredited Architects, Groves Raines Architects, have been appointed to carry out a full Options Appraisal on the Former School and Outdoor Centre at Ballater. They will be working with the well-known independent consultancy organisation, Jura Consultants.

The Appraisal will investigate the feasibility of undertaking the conservation, repair and appropriate restoration of the buildings and finding a viable future use for them. The team has been instructed to undertake a full community consultation exercise and they will be keen to hear from anyone who has ideas for the future use of the buildings. New build on the currently undeveloped areas of the site will also be considered if it is considered appropriate and if it makes the overall scheme more viable.’

The NESPT is a Registered Scottish Charity and Company Limited by Guarantee. It was established in 1985 to acquire and restore buildings of architectural and/or historical interest in Aberdeenshire that cannot be restored by normal commercial means. Most recently the Trust successfully carried out the restoration of a category B listed Georgian townhouse in Banff. As well as the Old School the Trust is currently working on projects to save the category A listed Strichen Town House, the category B listed Boyndie Kirk, the category B listed Duff House Vinery and the category B listed buildings at Back Green, Portsoy. The Trust manages the Aberdeenshire Conservation Recycle Store in Mintlaw where a wide range of heritage building materials are for sale. For further information contact the Trust’s Chairman, Councillor Marcus Humphrey, or Project Manager, Paul Higson (tel.: 01569 768289).

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From Bugatti racing cars to SCWS vans by Ian Cameron

On January 2nd 1899 a nine-year-old boy, born with a silver jam spoon in his mouth, became sole heir to the James Keiller & Son’s Dundee marmalade fortune. As part of his inheritance Alexander Keiller became laird of Morven estate including the sandstone mansion his father had built on Craigendarroch hill.

In 1910, on gaining his inheritance, Alexander Keiller nominated his uncle, John Greig, to be his representative on the board.

We can deduce that the young Keiller had little interest in business affairs. By 1920, the entire operation had been taken over by Crosse and Blackwell’s; Alexander Keiller sold all his shares, and was now free and financially able to do as he pleased.

Alexander Keiller had two over-riding interests in his life: automobiles and archaeology.

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With the turn of the century and the change over from horse-drawn transport to the early automobiles, a garage and workshop was built at Craigendarroch. There are photos of the earliest cars at the front door steps of the mansion house.

Like many other wealthy men in that Edwardian time, Alexander Keiller invested in the young motor industry, and by 1913 was a director in the Sizaire-Berwick Company. The cars were a scaled down copy of the Rolls-Royces of these days, a detail which in later years, led them into trouble with that austere marque.

The early 1920s saw Alexander Keiller at Morven with a new wife. He delighted in the mad, fast runs from London to Scotland, and once here, discovered the abundance of archaeological structures to be found on his own estate. The estate garage soon filled up with fast cars; two Bugattis, one a 2 litre Type 35 and another, 2.3 litres Type 35TC supercharged.

It used to be said that Alexander Keiller saw guests away on the train at Ballater station, then raced down to each Deeside line station in turn to be there before the train. It has been suggested that, with four wives in his life-time, he could well have been making a last minute attempt to entreat some lady friend to return to Craigendarroch with him, rather than leave for the south.

Sharing the garage at Craigendarroch was a beautiful Hispano-Suiza with an engine size of almost eight litres. Registered XX 3883, this was the car the locals called the ‘bumble bee’ on account of the colour of its tulipwood body and the sound from its exhaust. This monster has survived and lives today in a museum in California. Also kept at Craigendarroch was Alexander Keiller’s own Sizaire-Berwick, registration SB 785, which he had used as a staff car during the Great War.

the VSA carers support worker and attend fortnightly yoga & relaxation sessions with the opportunity of receiving reflexology therapy whilst there, from Sylvia Cant - a Banchory therapist who has offered her services free.

For dates/ venues of meetings see the Eagle Diary.

Anyone wishing to join us simply come along on the day, or phone Anne 013398 85678 or Chris 013398 87291 for more details.

How to reach K&D befriending

Kincardine & Deeside Befriending provides a valued service to many socially isolated older people in the area. Please note that contact details for the Deeside office have recently changed as follows.

All posted mail should now be sent to: K&D Befriending, Town Hall, 1 Kinneskie Lane, Banchory, AB31 5NA. Visitors can access the office via the High Street. It is

15

advisable to make an appointment or check that Linda isn’t out and about if you plan to visit.

Deeside Co-ordinator telephone contact is mobile 07816 958 839 (no longer a landline as well).

You can also contact the Deeside Coordinator at her new email: linda.taberner@kdbefriending.org.uk and can learn more about the project on our website www.kdbefriending.org.uk The Deeside Co-ordinator has been based at Banchory Town Hall for 2 days/week (Tues/ Wed) since April 2008. Her postal address has finally caught up with her!

Anyone who would like to know more about the service on Deeside, or how to become a befriender, should contact Linda as above.

K&DB’s main office and base for the Kincardine service can be reached on 01569 765714.

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the community will be welcome.

At the moment, several other avenues are being investigated.

It is hoped that in the coming months, we will be able to offer members more than the twice yearly outings. During the course of the AGM, this year’s outings were decided upon, the first to Inverness on 4th May, which I hope proves to be an enjoyable one, since the date will be long gone by the time this reaches Eagle readers. The second, shorter trip, as the Diary will tell you, is to Pitlochry on Thursday 8th September. Look out for details at the Hut on the Green, in posters around the village and in the Press – i.e. P & J and Deeside Piper. Should members not take up the full quota of seats on the coach, these will be made available to non-members at a cost of £6.

Well, I think I have covered everything and my apologies if I have not (Poor old soul!) and DO come and join us – you will be made very welcome.

Deeside Carers Support Group by Anne

Hammond For any carers who would just like a few hours for themselves now and again, come along and enjoy a chat over a nice cup of tea/coffee or something stronger if preferred. No fundraising, no paperwork – just a little time for us.

Deeside Carers support group would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to K&D Enable for their contribution towards our Christmas Lunch at The Auld Kirk - everyone enjoyed a delicious meal and in fact were so impressed with the presentation that photos were taken of each dish before we tucked in!! (Sorry for taking so long to say thanks - better late than never). A big thank you also to everyone at The Auld Kirk.

Our group is now included in the VSA Carers in Touch monthly newsletter giving dates of our meetings and any other relevant information.

Some of our members have taken up offers from

After ‘Plant and Roots’ I decided to write a Trilogy: ‘Two Years’, about my time in National Service with the British Army. Then, ‘Forestry Days’ recalling my eight years with the Forestry Commission. Although this work is mainly completed but not yet published, I wrote this little ‘Albert Road’ book to keep the Ballater theme alive.

The Citroen Car Company teamed up with one Adolphe Kegresse to produce halftrack vehicles that could cross the Sahara, drive on snow and extreme slopes. Three cars sponsored by Andre Citroen even went on a paleontological expedition to China with French Jesuit scientist, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.

Every grouse moor owner in Scotland wanted a Citroen-Kegresse, but Alexander Keiller, with his fascination for all things motor, was the first. ‘The Caterpillar’, as she was known locally, took Alexander Keiller on his archaeological expeditions to the top of Morven.

Registration SA 6623 ‘Caterpillar’ was later taken south to be used on Alexander Keiller’s great work at Windmill Hill, Avebury.

The vehicle was destroyed in a garage fire there in 1945 at the end of the war.

The last of Alexander Keiller’s vehicles of note, and indeed the last one to leave the Craigendarroch garage, was a miniature

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version of the Bugatti Type 35 racing car. This half scale model was a factory Type 52, drive was by a 12 volt battery through a starter motor acting on a rear wheel. I can remember seeing it being driven around Ballater’s Station Square by Billy Forbes.

Fast forward to the late 1940s. The SCWS had come to Ballater early in the war, and ran a grocer shop, fish shop, draper’s shop, bakery and a dairy. After the war the SCWS fleet of vans grew, and, when Alexander Keiller sold the Morven estate, the SCWS took over his garage and workshops as a maintenance base for their fleet. This fleet consisted of an Austin 3-way bakery van, driven by Sandy Coutts, an Albion grocery van, driven by Dennis Laing, a couple of strange Trojan vans, one of which was driven by ‘SCWS Joe’, and the other was the spare van.

‘SCWS Joe’ is remembered for scorning a hosepipe and washing his van in the old ford

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on the Dalmuchie burn. He is also remembered for keeping a gill bottle of over proof Lochnagar whisky in the cab of his van. On frosty mornings this spirit was wiped on the windscreen as a ‘never-fail’ demister!

The first man placed in charge of this operation was called Roberts, but he was a coach builder and was soon replaced by a mechanic from Aviemore. His name was Charles Gauld and he and his family lived in the garage house. This mechanic’s son went to school with me and a visit to Alexander Keiller’s old workshop, with its aura of a lost age, made a deep impression on me.

Soon afterwards the McLean Family bought Craigendarroch and turned it into a hotel. The SCWS gave up its garage and the Riverside Garage took up the maintenance contract for its vans. A few years later I came to Riverside to complete my apprenticeship. The SCWS vans took up most of my time every

Thursday, that being the shops’ half day. The Trojan vans, in particular, were tricky things, their two cylinder, two-stroke engines were difficult to keep in tune, and they suffered from a design fault that caused continual failure of their engine mountings. One afternoon whilst changing an engine mounting, I found a spanner locked in a very inaccessible position, where it had obviously been left by a previous mechanic.

On inspection, the little 1/4w by 3/16w open-ended spanner bore the stamped initials: CG. Charles Gauld! This spanner, made by the ‘Williams’ company in the USA, was added to my tool kit. Many years after, the late Mike Sheridan and I often worked together on our growing collections of old vans, tractors and army vehicles, and it was a closed joke between us to ask for ‘Charlie Gauld,’ the old open-ended spanner.

‘Charlie Gauld’ is at hand as I write; still a treasured part of my toolbox, not only for its usefulness but also for the memories handling it brings back.

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On Saturday 11th June we will be holding our Plant Sale on the Village Green. Commencing at 10.00am, there will be a large selection of plants and home baking. Everyone is most welcome to donate or buy plants and home baking donations are very acceptable. The funds raised, plus our annual raffle, help us to finance the Exhibition.

25 lucky members will be visiting Birkhall in July to see the Prince of Wales’ beautiful garden and may be inspired to greater heights.

There will hopefully be another visit next year for those who were not included this time.

We are all looking forward to a lovely summer, and will be pleased to plant and maintain the tubs around the village once again, keeping Ballater beautiful for residents and visitors alike.

Ballater and District Old People’s and Over 50s’ Association

by Ruth Burrows What a year my first one in office has proved to be, with my first challenge being the organisation of the September 2010 outing to the Heather Centre. I don’t think there were any significant hitches, apart from my inability to remember people’s names, and I don’t really expect to improve on that score – sorry!

It was certainly a steep learning curve for me, as indeed the past year has been. I have however received invaluable support from “the old hands” who have pushed, shoved and reminded me of things I should be doing.

Our AGM was held on 28th March this year and the first thing you will have noticed is that membership is now open to the over 50s, so come on out of the woodwork and join us! New, younger faces are always welcome, not least of all for the new ideas they bring with them.

You may also have noticed that the Hut has been undergoing a facelift. This has proved to be a bigger and costlier undertaking

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than we initially anticipated. As the Association does not have a very big bank balance, it will be necessary to have a fund raising push this year. You could help us by joining the Association and taking up 100+Club membership. I think your odds of winning a prize from the 100+ Club are probably greater than those of winning the Lottery.

You will know by now that the Association took a table at the Big Sale in the Victoria Hall on 21st May, and it is hoped this will have done well.

In spite of the current economic climate at the time of writing, a big Thank You is owed to Ballater’s Business Community. They have dug deep for us and exceeded my expectations with their donations. Maybe they felt sorry for the frown lines on my forehead, or just wanted to see the back of me! Who knows, but they deserve a big pat on the back. Any fundraising ideas, and help from members of

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but that will be dependent on having all the necessary paperwork (Health & Safety etc..) and safety procedures in place. A few years ago we organised a sponsored abseil at the Pass o’ Ballater which proved very popular.

Our Golf day this year falls on Friday 10th June and as in previous years there is currently a waiting list for this event. It takes the form of a Texas scramble and has always raised a lot of money in the past. It is a very popular event in the North East golfing calendar and helps to put Ballater on the map. The Euan McDonald centre for Motor Neurone Disease and local charities / good causes will be the main beneficiaries. As usual we will have other activities during the year, so keep an eye out for them!

At our AGM we elected a new chairman, Brian Florence, Vice chairman, Stuart Esson and the new post of Public relations/Press officer, Scott Fraser. Money raised to date by the Charitable Chiels is a very creditable “£266,357.

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All the best from the Ballater Charitable Chiels and hopefully we will finally get the long awaited “Barbecue Summer” that folk have been talking about for the last three or four years!!

Ballater Royal Horticultural Society

by Mairi Burgess

As I write this, many Society members can be found in their gardens. It feels as if summer has arrived, and after the bad winter, we are all filled with enthusiasm.

We are looking forward to a busy season and planning the annual Exhibition on 20th and 21st August. The Primary School has been very much in focus, and we have been encouraging the children to plan their own vegetables and flowers. With the help of two “proper” gardeners from Balmoral, and the gift of seed potatoes, we are hoping for a record entry from the young people. They will need help from Mums and Dads, so we will be depending on you all. Members of the Society are helping the children and even the Brownies have been included, by making posies for their Mums on Mothering Sunday.

The Best Garden prize is waiting for one lucky person - £100 and the Copland Rose bowl can be yours, BUT you must enter the competition. The more the merrier and the judges can have a real selection from which to pick a winner. Size does not matter, and if you have a neighbour with a lovely garden, do let us know, and we will consider all-comers!

Just now the bulbs by the War Memorial are looking splendid, with a lovely selection of spring flowers. This display is due to the generosity of Foxlane Garden Centre, which the members will be visiting soon to see the array of locally grown plants, and stock up their flower beds. Remember, these plants are among the few grown locally, and suitable for our area.

Deeside Land Purchase by RSPB Scotland by Carrie Watt RSPB Scotland has purchased 520 hectares of land known as the Crannach, near Ballater in Deeside, to manage for the conservation of native Caledonian pine forest. The new reserve lies within the Cairngorms National Park.

The area comprises open ground with pine and birch regeneration, juniper stands, young Scots pine and birch woodland as well as some small ponds. It is a long term investment by the charity to manage habitat important for priority species such as black grouse, Scottish crossbill and a wide range of other wildlife associated with this special habitat.

Stuart Housden, Director, RSPB Scotland said. “This is an exciting new venture for us. We already own pinewoods in Strathspey and in the Beauly catchment but Deeside is a special place.

We are very privileged to be able to deepen our commitment to the area by playing our part on

49

the Crannach in protecting the Caledonian Forest and the wealth of wildlife it supports”.

Dr Martin Auld, RSPB Scotland’s East Regional Director based in Aberdeen said, “We look forward to working with the community to develop the potential of the site as an asset for people and wildlife on Deeside. We will be advertising for a new staff member to manage the area and represent our interests in the local community.”

Until now the site has been managed privately and there are no plans for any immediate changes. Once a more detailed survey of the area has been carried out a management plan will be developed in consultation with the local community and neighbours.

There will an official launch of the reserve at a later date. Currently there is no formal access, infrastructure or signage on the site.

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The project continues to work with groups from the BOVOF process as well as with groups in Braemar and Strathdon The concept of a learning centre in Ballater continues to progress since a learning needs assessment was undertaken in November 2009.

We are now closer to receiving funding to establish a coordinator for a facility in Ballater.

Discussions continue with Scotia Homes and Invercauld regarding the development of the H1 plot next to Monaltrie Park. By the time this article is published we hope to have confirmation from Scotia whether they intend to progress with the site or not.

Work on Braemar Castle is progressing with significant applications for refurbishment of the castle and professional assistance to promote and manage the facility.

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by Nick Mardall

The community hydro scheme near Braemar is also moving closer to a planning application stage.

There is currently a Food for Life initiative underway in the National Park and interest has been raised regarding allotments in Ballater.

This was something which came out of the BOVOF process initially and I would ask if anyone is interested in joining a group to work with the Food for Life initiative and identify suitable allotment plots, please get in touch.

The Dalmochie Forestry Project has also picked up momentum with the completion of an update of the original feasibility study. There are now several options for the Ballater Historic Forestry Project Association to pursue in developing this site for the benefit of the community.

Finally the Cairngorms National Park Authority is holding an interactive awarenessraising day looking at how people can become involved in shaping the future of the Park.

The event is being held in several locations across the Park with one in Braemar Village hall on Saturday the 11th June 10-12.30pm.

The other locations are Nethy Bridge, Blair Atholl and Newtonmore.

We are promised that the event will demonstrate when and where local issues can be heard to influence more strategic planning. It will also demystify the planning system and banish some of the commonly held misconceptions. It is not just about the ‘house next door’ but larger issues including renewable energy, housing, commercial space and infrastructural developments. Essentially the message is; This is your Park and so learn how to have your say in shaping its future. Once again I would ask folk to contact me if they have any project they would like to pursue Nick.dddp@btconnect.com or tel; 013397 53775

Salvation Army Songs of Praise by Jim

McCulloch Once again, the Salvation Army will return to Glenmuick Church on Sunday August 7th at 6.30 p.m. for a Songs of Praise organised by the Ballater Churches Together.

This service is now firmly fixed at the beginning of Victoria Week and has proved to be popular and uplifting.

If you haven’t been before, be sure not to miss it this time!

There will be an opportunity to donate in a collection to be divided between Victoria Week Funds and the Salvation Army.

Ballater Halls Indoor Bowling Club

by Sheila Rumbles We have had a very successful 2010/11 season. Our Club competitions went well and the results are as follows:Pairs: Winners: Trevor Armstrong & June Donald Runners/up: George Sim & Ian Simpson Triples: Winners: Aileen Gatt, Douglas Mutch & Irene Campbell Runners up: George Sim, Trevor Armstrong & June Donald Our prize-giving/fun night was held on 13th April and a lovely evening was had by all.

The 2011/12 indoor season commences again at the end of September.

Ballater Charitable Chiels by Derek Mutch

It’s hard to believe but this year is the Ballater Charitable Chiels’ tenth anniversary.

To celebrate, we are currently organising a marquee dinner/dance at the golf club on Saturday 18th June. We are using outside caterers and hiring a marquee. The band “Flites” will be providing the entertainment and anyone who has been to

11

any of our October music nights will know they are in for a good night! Hopefully, by the time this edition of the Eagle goes out we will have sold all our tables. The idea is that this will cover the costs of staging such an event but if we manage to raise a little extra money for charity then that would be a wee bonus!

At the beginning of the year, the Chiels’ ranks were swelled by two. Matthew Holley and Scott Thompson were asked to become members of the Chiels and duly accepted. It is hoped that these two younger members can take the pressure off some of our old timers (like me!!)

This year we are not doing a walk challenge but we will get our thinking caps on and come up with something special for 2012. As I have said before, if anyone has any suggestions (keep it clean!!) then please let us know.

Instead we will be organising a sponsored abseil at the Albert Hall tower, Ballater. This will ideally take place during Victoria Week

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Hoping that you all have a very relaxed summer full of glorious sunshine and thanking you all for your continued support of us at our Exhibitions.

R.H.S. Floral Art Group

by Mildred Coull The new session of the Ballater R.H.S. Floral Art Group began on April 21st with a hugely successful meeting attended by almost sixty ladies.

The much anticipated demonstration by John McDonald, the young professional florist who works at Gleneagles Hotel, attracted many members and guests, and was an evening of sheer delight. John had started as a ‘Saturday boy’ helping in a shop, moving on to a qualification in hotel management, then running his own business and now creating spectacular designs in flowers for the prestigious hotel.

His theme for the evening was ‘Flowers with Funk-tion’ which promised innovative and modern designs, and his dramatic displays were

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further enhanced by the use of L.E.D. bulbs and tealights placed under glass. The visual effect of all his designs at the end of his demonstration was magical, and drew gasps of admiration and delight.

(See photo on back cover) Of course his ideas had to be suitable for display in public areas with strict rules on safety and stability but, nevertheless, many of his professional ‘tips’ were useful to those arranging flowers at home. The sustained applause and many questions at the end of the meeting paid tribute to a highly talented and extremely modest young man who kept us enthralled for over two hours.

The committee under the chairmanship of Kathleen McCulloch was delighted to welcome so many to our opening meeting, and look forward to the summer meetings On May 19th we welcomed Judith Lorimer from Aberdeen and, in June, there will be a workshop with Mary Wright.

An outing to Glenbervie House and garden takes place on July 21st, and in August we hope to see entries for the BRHS Show.

Our grateful thanks go once again to Ivy Duncan who prepares and serves the teas and coffees, and who coped heroically with the large numbers at the April meeting.

The dates of the demonstrations are in the diary section of The Eagle, and we extend an invitation to anyone who wishes to come to these. Everyone will be made very welcome.

Lenten Lunches

by Kathleen McCulloch Glenmuick, St Kentigern’s and St. Nathalan’s Churches held their weekly Lenten Lunches again this year in Glenmuick Church Hall over five weeks. The gratifying sum of £1,000 was raised and was divided equally between The Aberlour Trust and the Aberdeen Salvation Army. Organisers would like to record their thanks to all their customers, and the soup makers, helpers and many others responsible for this great success.

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Victoria Week 2011

by Catriona Houston

Ballater looks forward once again to hosting a plethora of fun-filled activities during Victoria Week this summer. Taking place in the village annually since 1987, the event has a special place in many local people’s hearts, as well as providing a worthwhile distraction for the area’s many holiday visitors during Games Week.

This year it runs from Saturday 6 to Saturday 13 August.

The committee has several new members this year and since January the new collective has been finding its feet, coming up with new ideas and contacts and getting things moving.

New events presently on the drawing board for 2011 include a Duck Race, a Pet Show, a Picnic on the Green, an Evening of Clairvoyance, a Scarecrow Competition and a Film Night.

All the old favourites are there too: you

can take part in a 4x4 or Bike Safari, a Ghost or History Tour, try your hand at a new sport or sit back and relax to something musical.

And don’t forget the Book Fair, Messy Play, Photo Exhibition and Car Boot Sale. There’s something for everyone.

It is hoped that the Sunday Classic Car Parade and Fayre event will be bigger and better than ever, with more attractions and stalls in the park where the parade ends, than has been seen previously. Hopes to fulfil many folks’ wishes of reintroducing the floats are hitting the usual stumbling blocks, but Sunday Events Organiser Anne Reid is determined things will go with a swing: “I am hoping to appeal to everybody’s better nature to make this the best day ever. Everybody would like to see the floats back. However, we are in need

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52

of the kindness of people with lorries to make this possible.

It would make for a great day as we have many stalls of interest to appeal to all ages.”

Victoria Week simply would not happen without the support of Ballater’s folk and there’s plenty of time to get involved if you want to. The Sunday Fayre event needs volunteers to run a number of these fabulous stalls, and groups and individuals could use the event to raise money for their own organisation or charity. Could you run a coconut shy, a set of stocks or a chocolate fountain, for example? How about being part of a human fruit machine? If you think you can help, with these or with the provision of a lorry for a float, contact Anne on annereid570@yahoo. co.uk or 53146.

The event as a whole needs an army of “money bucket shakers”, and anyone with a

First Aid qualification and a little spare time that week is asked to volunteer their services so all events can also be covered safely.

As well as being a fun-filled week of events, Victoria Week raises thousands of pounds for local charities and organisations.

Among those to benefit last year were Ballater’s Halls, Pipe Band, School and Enhancement Group. Other monies are ploughed into making the following year’s event as big a success as the last.

A more detailed programme will be available online by the time the summer Eagle hits doormats, with a revamped souvenir programme available in mid-July. For more information contact Val on 013397 55018 (Secretary) or Cat on 013397 55243 (Publicity) or email valvictoriaweek@gmail.com. www.ballatervictoriaweek.co.uk.

Find us on Facebook (Community Organisation).

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event, and the weather was perfect, so all returned happy and satisfied.

On 21st April, we held our AGM which was conducted by Leonel Cushnie WRI, and after some quizzes and amusing poems, the new committee was elected as follows:President - A. Richardson Vice President - M. Munro Secretary - S. Armstrong Assistant Secretary – V. Houston Treasurer - T. Cooper Press Secretary - A. Barbour Magazine Secretary – M. Cameron Tea Convenors - H. Mitchell and M. Finnie Raffle - D. Rattray and P. Fraser The summer meal in the Glen Aden Hotel on 1st June was in place of the Christmas meal which had to be cancelled twice because of winter storms.

Ballater Songsters

by Sheila Rumbles As always, we are kept busy entertaining at many venues and also meeting together every week practising new material. At the moment we are working hard on the programme we intend to present at our concert during Victoria Week.

The concert is scheduled to be held in the Albert Hall on Wednesday 10th August commencing at 2.30pm. Your support is always greatly appreciated and we look forward to seeing you all again.

Upper Deeside Art Society

by Moira Mckenzie Here at UDAS we love Summer Painting days out and about on Upper Deeside, trying to do justice to the beautiful scenery around us.

If you spot us, please do say ‘hello’.

The Exhibition at Balmoral Stables is well underway now and we are delighted by the visitors’ appreciation of our work, resulting in a good number of sales, with many paintings winging their way literally to the other side of the world.

Our Summer 2011 Exhibition in Ballater

9

opens to the public on Thursday 25thAugust in the Victoria Hall and runs daily from 10am – 7pm until Sunday 4th September, closing then at 5pm.

This Exhibition showcases our members’ many talents and we look forward to showing you our work from paintings, sculpture, 3D installations, leaded glass, textile works as well as lithographs, collographs and etchings produced by some artists using our very own printing press housed in Aboyne. Each year our Exhibition becomes more varied and we look forward to talking with you when you visit this year.

We are delighted to be able to give you our very own website address - www.udas.org.uk It is a very attractive, easy to navigate site and we thank Jean Eades who is a UDAS member for all her work in producing it for us.

Enter the web address and you will find up to date information and contact details about our Society, as well as some photographs of our work.

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Upper Deeside Music

by Jane Angus The society’s spring meetings this year have been fortunate. The snow came in the morning after Dr Williams’ exhilarating organ recital and the young musicians and their families had sunshine and clear roads for the stimulating visit of Mr Jamie Barclay’s students to Craig Megan. With Anne Grant accompanying, members of the society and visitors fully enjoyed the experience and musicality of these young people and it is hoped that we may have this opportunity again.

We have been fortunate to benefit from a series of visits from young people sponsored by the Tunnell Trust. The Paitti Quartet gave an exceptional concert in March at St Kentigern’s.

Their performances of late works of Haydn, Beethoven and Debussy will long remain in

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our memories and we shall watch for further broadcasts and news of this talented quartet with considerable interest.

The Strathmore Singers came to St Kentigern’s on May 8th with sacred and secular works by composers from Palestrina to Elgar. In Victoria Week, Friday 12th August at 7.30 p.m. Grant Golding, trumpet and Matt Edwards, organ, will again play as The Trumpet Shall Sound.

At all our meetings, accompanied children and members of H.M. Forces are welcomed without charge.

In the autumn, the society will again meet in the Darroch Learg Hotel, for the Trio Ecossaise, who will also have workshops in the school with the pianist Christine Lawrie from Dundee, Jessica Beeston, viola and Andrew Johnston, piano. We hope for Phillip Highman, cello and Simon Lane, piano, eventually next February but after the problems of last December when they could not even reach their airports, it becomes a question of ‘stand-by-your-phones’.

Ballater SWRI by

Frances Johnstone Recent meetings of Ballater SWRI have been well attended. On 16th February, Barry Florence and Craig Mitchell from H.M.Sheridan’s Butchers, gave an excellent and humorous demonstration on all cuts of lamb. The meeting four weeks later, on 16th March was an Open Night with members from other institutes being invited to see a presentation of slides on birds of prey by Stewart Millar from Blairgowrie. At the end of his talk, Stewart produced a beautiful but shy real owl which he had rescued 14 years ago.

On 15 th April, 14 ladies of Ballater WRI went on the Aberdeenshire Federation Holiday to Durham and Beamish. With 2 Whytes Coaches full of ladies from all over Aberdeenshire, this was a very well organised

Victoria and Albert Memorial Halls by Bell Macaulay

53

the thermal imaging exercise undertaken during the Feasibility Study.

In addition, an asbestos survey must be completed before contractors will begin work, to avoid delays later. The complexity of the building makes it imperative that professional assistance is sought to manage and take responsibility for commissioning insulation of the entire building, and the Hurd Rolland team were proposed in view of their knowledge of the Halls and their wide experience in dealing with similar projects. The meeting agreed that funding for these aspects should be sought without delay so that we might benefit before next winter.

In the meantime of course, the day to day running and maintenance of the building

“We will need to consider carefully how we can stage our proposed heating and refurbishment programme so that the community can start to benefit from improvements to the Victoria and Albert Halls at a time when funding is hard to come by”, said Ian Hay, co-ordinator of the Halls Refurbishment Group.

Ian was talking at the first meeting of the Halls Development Association following the recent Annual General Meeting. He recapped on all the information already gathered from the community, culminating in a comprehensive action report which now needs to be broken down into manageable chunks. All advice has pointed to the fact that good insulation of the building should be the first priority to stop the available heat leaking out as demonstrated by

the

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54

continues. We have a very active management team which is gradually working through a programme of small improvements. The key entry system is working well, although this is only for use if booked accommodation is not open for some reason, and is certainly not a substitute for proper bookings through Eileen.

New notice boards have been provided throughout the buildings. These are mainly for the display by the Association of statutory notices and information. There is space on the boards at the entrances to the Albert and Victoria Halls for some notices by user groups, and these are labelled accordingly.

Income from halls rents fell over the winter – many meetings were cancelled because of the harsh weather. This of course has a knock-on effect, and we are ever conscious of having to tighten the purse strings whilst covering day to day maintenance. We also have a ring-fenced

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account for any fundraising and donations which are held specifically for the time when we have to produce some match funding. Many groups have given generously, and we will have a barometer recording all their donations in due course. Please consider how you can help.

In the meantime, the Association is organising some fundraisers – 300+ Club – we have had our first draw – winners - number 71 Doris Barbour £75, Number 224 Sandra Bradley £50, number 251 Mr and Mrs Will £40, number 136 David Kinghorn £30. The next draw will take place on Saturday 4th June.

21st May – Giant Jumble Sale - with teas by the WRI. 5th August – the Aberdeen International Youth Festival visits Ballater with the Emerald Isle Dancers – come along and enjoy a flavour of Riverdance!

26th November – a celebration of Scotland with St Andrews Night event watch out for information and tickets soon!

We would love to welcome representatives of all groups who use the Halls to our monthly meetings. Only a handful take responsibility for this wonderful community resource, and they all do a power of work so that everyone benefits – come along and help!

I may be contacted on 013397 55745 or email marybellmacaulay@btinternet.com The new management team and elected officers are: Bell Macaulay – Chair, Jack Coull – Vice Chair, Willie Meston – Treasurer, Eileen Collins – Bookings Secretary, Veronica Houston – Minutes Secretary, Team – Ron Drever, Douglas Glass, Ian and Margaret Hay, Frances Johnstone, Norma Davies, Wilma Glashan.

Keep in touch with a Subscription UK: £8.00 EC: £10.00 Overseas: £14.00 For the rates above, four issues will be posted.

A subscription can be a very welcome gift to farflung friends and relatives.

Simply provide the name & address to whom the issues should be sent, with a cheque or postal order for ‘Ballater Eagle’ for the relevant amount and drop off your request to the Library. Betty, our Subscriptions person will do the rest. Easy!

Ways to contact the Eagle:

Hand in to the Library  Post to Ballater Eagle, c/o Ballater Library, Ballater, AB35 5QB

 E-mail to:

ballater.eagle@btopenworld.com



Contributions of any kind on PC disc (Word format) always welcome.

How to contact our Representatives:

7

Scottish Parliament: Dennis Robertson MSP e-mail: dennis.robertson.msp@ scottish.parliament.uk

Westminster: Sir Robert Smith MP Tel: 01330 820330, Fax: 01330 820338, e-mail: robert.smith.mp@parliament.uk Aberdeenshire Council: Peter Argyle: Tel: 013398 81180 e-mail: cllr.p.argyle@aberdeenshire.gov.uk Rosemary Bruce: Tel: 013398 89318 e-mail: cllr.r.bruce@aberdeenshire.gov.uk Marcus Humphrey: Tel: 013398 85332 email: cllr.m.humphrey@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Cairngorms National Park: Katrina Farquhar email: info@katrinafarquhar.co.uk Tel: 013398 81 006

Eagle Who’s Who & Where

Editor: Ian Hay  55941 Treasurer: Dr. Sheila Sedgwick  55292 Secretary: Betty Wilson  55791 Advertising Manager: Faye Swan  55345 Distribution: Andy and Julie Bloor Diary Secretary & Typing: Cat Houston  55243 Design: Ollie Ross  42300, Stella Potter  55969 & Karen Major  55026 Email us at: ballater.eagle@btopenworld.com Eagle Online by Tom Potter: www.ballaterscotland.com/eagle

If you would like a large print version of the Eagle, please contact Ballater Library on 55628.

6

Letter from our Editor

has s, tland ical r o c e S d a phys pe of r Re ndsca weeks, the this time Dea a l l a c a politi it was ast few tate f and h the tly in the p virtually as almoral Es but g u o te staf drastic h a y t s B a s n i e Alt ignifican E a M h , m y ft ly erdeen ted an side re ed s part o in ear chang ape on Dee said that, thland fire away as Abmes, preven ay arly M rt landsc ar. Having es of a hea from as far ck on the fla oorstep. e d n a o f l last ye d the ravag Ser vice staf Loch Mui pe on our d of late Apri assle of airp ed a e s p h m c r e suffe orts of Fir g water fro ness lands ul blue skie ith all the t is to be ho ill f the eff ter droppin f the wilder and wonder the Costas w Deeside? I n Deeside wm. p o e o o t t c n r the r on i i l mo a l h e e p h to a ly, the suns eds to trav such weathe ulate touris and amuse nd the e g a t e e m a s i n v e t , dam doubted a r s o h d” to inte high ile we st. Wh ions to Un amuse l a boo ing times wh al organisat h in the area n fact “ Be ntaining the years l a s u gave y and wait arious loc find muc 2011 is i ss in mai ver the 24 ble e v securit e efforts of visitors will Ballater for ever y succ the Week o ve an enjoya t n h m i e t a a h h t k e s t i e a T e u d als alike ha ral beauty. uth Week uit and u disting c oria W bear fr eme of Vict ew Victoria which have sitors and lo onderful nat rts are contincal s i h n o t e v w f i e f t , e s i e nd lo a’ , ne Th wishes th and activ ever yo ent our are of the Eagle for tourists a of hard t s e t a l n h g t e a v m l e E of pages omple at dea rds of e e, both t’s hop standa xistence. Le weather to c d within the in the villag er, but a gre etermination of. of its e r with good you will rea ous facilities taking for ev s, and the d to be proud y i i e summ eanwhile, as improve var of these are luntar y bas bring results Ian Ha o e , v o t M d m en na de so in the ing ma t of it o m that ally be . It may see rtaken, mos goods”, will, people being unde roduce the s p work i nvolved to “ i e s o h t

Pottering about

by Stella Potter

Just over ten years ago I wrote in my column about passport photos, how the passage of time makes the photo I hated when taken seem a really rather nice one ten years later. I have recently renewed my passport and have again had to reluctantly lose the photo I now like. To add insult to injury, one is now not allowed to smile – is it assumed that all travellers are grumpy? – nor wear glasses, even if one normally does all the time. I am horrified at my new photo.

A glum looking, spectacle free wrinkled face that I know is me, but I can’t quite believe, nor want to believe, that I actually look that old. Being very short sighted, I thankfully don’t get the full horror when I look in the mirror without my glasses. Where did those bulging suitcases under my eyes come from?

Why is one eye smaller than the other, my mouth uneven and my nose so huge? I can

see myself this summer scowling and nearly winking at passport control to prove it’s really me. Depressing. Yet, doubtless in ten years time I’ll think it a rather good picture and be sad to lose it. How vanity diminishes over the years…

On a more positive passport pic note, to the delight of my daughters, I found my collection of old passports. Older readers may remember the temporary passports you could get from the post office for a year’s travel in Europe. Three-fold beige card things, with spaces for a picture and the name of your wife. One of the many reasons I embraced feminism was this appalling assumption that the male passport holder somehow owned the wife. There clearly was no option for a woman to obtain a temporary passport and add her husband, though I’m sure many lesbian couples enjoyed sharing

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56

a passport…but I digress.

My first two passports were the temporary sort, when I was sweet-ish 16 and 17. The fact I mostly cut my own hair is self evident, obviously using a large pudding basin on my head. A year later, in my first 10 year passport, albeit in black and white, I was resplendent in blonde curly hair and frilly Laura Ashley – what was I thinking?! Yet it’s me, and I can still feel that me. Looking at the photos I wished the contentedly confident me now could have talked to the rather scared, startled and confused me of that time. But then I realised that the mistakes I have made would have been different and the many joys I have relished would not have happened. I recognised that I have made the best decisions I could on the available evidence and experience. All that from looking at old passports with my daughters. Ain’t life grand?

I’m delighted to recently note that

another bugbear of mine I have written about previously in these good pages is clearly shared by many others, and indeed there is a growing campaign against them.

No, not the flashing road signs the size of a house, nor the plethora of yellow notices on electricity poles telling you they carry electricity and can be dangerous – just how stupid are we supposed to be? – but ridiculously bright and glittery blue car lights that are on whether it’s midday or midnight. It’s worth repeating my feelings on this I think. The only 4 wheel vehicles that need lights on in daylight are emergency ones. No-one else is that important, nor should they be allowed to dazzle the rest of us. If you share my abhorrence of this growing trend too there’s a website to make you feel less alone in your loathing: www.lightmare.org I am going to say nothing about gardening as my head is hung in too much shame... but I’ll lift it just enough to reach my glass to wish all our good readers a wonderful summer. Cheers!

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...so you know What’s Going On

5

Sat 6-Sat 13 Victoria Week, various events, www.ballatervictoriaweek.co.uk Sat 6 Aboyne Highland Games, Aboyne Green, 10.30am onwards Sun 7 Book Fair, Victoria Halls, 10am-5pm, £1 entry

Parade of Vehicles followed by Fair in Monaltrie Park, starts 1pm Tues 9 CLAN Walking Group meet CLAN Centre, 1.30pm

Guild Strawberry Teas and Sales Table, Glenmuick Church Hall, 2.30-4.30pm

Fiona Brandie School of Highland Dancing perform on the Church Green, 7pm Wed 10 Putting Competition, Ballater Golf Club, 11am onwards, Adults £1, u15s free

Ballater Songsters Concert in the Albert Hall, 2.30pm

Thu 11 Highland Games, Monaltrie Park, 12.30pm onwards

Fri 12 Bike Safari, Cyclehighlands, 1pm, www.cyclehighlands.com

Trumpet Shall Sound recital, Upper Deeside Music Society,

St Kentigern’s Church, 7.30pm, £10 adults Sat 13 Car Boot Sale, Church Green, 10.30am-12.30pm tbc Tues 16 Ballater School term begins Sat 20/Sun 21 BRHS Annual Show, Victoria Halls, Sat 1-5pm, Sun 11-3pm Thu 25-Sep 4 UDAS Annual Exhibition Victoria Hall, 10.00am to 7.00pm Mon 29 Ballater Post Office closed Wed 31 CLAN Second Chancers Group, Ballater Golf Club, 4pm September Mon 5 Ballater School Parent Council AGM, 7pm Thu 8 OPA/Over-50s trip to Pitlochry, non-members £6, Ruth 53244

Sat 10-Sun 18 North East Open Studios,

see www.northeastopenstudios.co.uk for details

Tue 13 CLAN Walking Group meet CLAN Centre, 1.30pm Sat 17 Morven Hill Race, Dinnet, 1pm, www.deesiderunners.com Sat17-25 Active Aboyne Outdoor Activities Festival, www.activeaboyne.co.uk Sat 24 Guild Coffee Morning and Sales Table, Glenmuick Church

Hall, 10.30am-12

Are Your Dates Here?

For inclusion in this FREE section of the Eagle, please contact Cat Houston on 55243, 07968 941359 (texts welcome) or catrionahouston@yahoo.co.uk

4

Eagle Eyes... Walkers -

a 999 Text Service

by MCofS

June Fri 10 Ballater Charitable Chiels Golf Day, Ballater Golf Club Sat 11 Nearly New Sale and Coffee Morning, St Kentigern’s Church Hall, 10-12 Sat 11 BRHS Plant Sale, Hut on the Green, 10.00am Mon 13 Ballater and Crathie Community Council, Mike Sheridan Room, 7pm Tue 14 CLAN Walking Group meet CLAN Centre, 1.30pm Thu 16 BRHS Floral Art: “Creating Waves” Workshop, Mary Wright,

Mike Sheridan Room, 7.30pm Fri 17 Rotary Charity Golf Day at Aboyne Golf Club Sat 18 Nearly New Sale and Coffee Morning, St Kentigern’s

Church Hall, 10-12

CLAN Strawberry Tea at Kindrochit Court, Braemar, 2-4pm

Summer Solstice Night Ride, Cyclehighlands, 7pm,

www.cyclehighlands.com Wed 29 CLAN Second Chancers Group, Ballater Golf Club, 4pm July Fri 1 Ballater School term ends Sat 2 Guild Coffee Morning and Sales Table, Glenmuick Church Hall, 10.30am-12 Sun 3 Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve Open Day, Burn O’

Vat Visitor Centre, noon-4pm Mon 4 Deeside Carers Support Group, The White Cottage, Aboyne, 11am Wed 6 Ballater Business Association Meeting, venue TBA, 7.30pm Tue 12 CLAN Walking Group meet CLAN Centre, 1.30pm Thu 21 Floral Art Group Afternoon Outing to Glenbervie

House, Drumlithie, near Stonehaven, 2.30pm (arrival time) Mon 25-Fri 29 The Royal Deeside Golf Classic, various venues,

www.royaldeesidegolfclassic.co.uk Wed 27 Moths in the Morning, Burn O’Vat Visitor Centre, 10am-noon

CLAN Second Chancers Group, Ballater Golf Club, 4pm Sun 31 Ballater 10-mile road race, Ballater School, noon, www.deesiderunners.com August Mon 1 Deeside Carers Support Group, Victoria Tea Rooms, Dinnet, 11am

Classical Guitar Concert, Ian Watt and Kristiina Jalakas from

AIYS, Crathie Kirk, 7.30pm, tickets tel 55745 Fri 5 Emerald Isle Irish Dancers, Victoria Hall, 7.30pm, tickets tel 55745

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) is urging everyone who walks climbs and skis in the Scottish mountains to register with the 999 emergency text service. This service has been set up to allow people to text 999 when voice calls cannot be made, but where there is sufficient signal to send a text.

Heather Morning, the MCofS Mountain Safety Advisor, is urging mountaineers to register for the new service. She said: “You can now contact the 999 emergency services by SMS text from your mobile phone. This is going to be particularly useful for those needing 999 assistance in the hills when mobile phone reception is often intermittent and there is not enough signal to make a call.”

However, you will only be able to use this service if you have registered with emergencySMS first. The MCofS is urging mountaineers to register now rather than wait for an emergency. To register, text ‘Register’ to 999. You will get a reply and will then need to follow the instructions you are sent. The text system is meant to be used only when voice calls cannot be made and the system does not guarantee that texts will be delivered, so users should wait until they receive a reply from the emergency services before assuming help has been summoned. The system was originally set up to help deaf and hard of hearing people.

Further details, including guidelines on how to register, can be found at www.emergencysms. org.uk.

For further information contact Mike Dales on 01738 493 942 or go to the MCofS website at: http://www.mcofs.org.uk.

Ballater 57 Entrance Sign by Jack Coull In view of the deteriorating state of the roadside signs for Ballater, currently located at Tullich before the Pass of Ballater turn off, a number of Ballater organisations, supported by the Community Council, propose to erect a more attractive granite ‘Welcome’ sign on the A93 on the approach to the village. The suggested site would be on the left of the road opposite the Pannanich estate. Banchory has such a sign as do a number of villages in Speyside.

A possible design would have lettering in either gold or black on a central polished area surrounded by rough, undressed local granite.

Both the height and width would be 2 metres.

The organisers would welcome comments and suggestions from residents, submitted in writing, for attention of J. Coull at Ballater (RD) Ltd, Bank Building, 7 Bridge Street, Ballater AB35 5QP.

Moira Melrose Kiltmaker since 1992 Quality Hand Sewn Kilts

013398 800 74 8007 Email: kiltmaker@hotmail.co.uk

58

Poetic Correspondence

3

Inside Your Summer Eagle:

by Ian Hay For some years now, Arthur Chisnall has contributed articles to the Eagle when he has reminisced about his childhood living in the Barracks in Ballater. Arthur has also been a regular subscriber to the Eagle.

Late last year however, our Subscription Secretary failed to note in her records that Arthur had renewed his subscription, and as a consequence Arthur received no copy of Issue number 60. A very polite letter was sent to the Subscription Secretary explaining the position, and it contained the following short poem, described as “With apologies to McGonagall o’ Dundee”.

Ay doot, Ay doot, it’s yer records that’r oot An it’s nae jist me that’s a daft auld coot For the siller Ay sent on January ten Wis paid tae yer bankie in April ye ken.

An so Ay trust ye’ll kindly agree The “senior moment” wis’na doon tae me An’ Eagle issues saxty one tae fower Can fly eence mair tae my welcome door.

Ever the perfect secretary, Betty Wilson penned a suitably contrite poetic reply as follows.

Firewood

Tel: 013397 55997 Mobile: 07821 746756

Ye’re richt, ye’re richt, there is nae doot It’s me that is the daft auld coot.

Ye keep yer records guid and fine, Not in an orra mess like mine.

I can but hang my heid in shame For blackening your own good name And sure, if it was down to me, You’d get all future Eagles free.

During the course of the correspondence, Betty mentioned that Arthur’s memories of life in the Barracks where his father was the keeper, as contained in several Eagle articles, reminded her that her own grandfather had been keeper at the Barracks from 1866 to 1896. It is a small world right enough!

Diary

The dates you need:

Choices, choices Thinking about the red squirrel

Ballater School

The latest activities and news:

The Crathie Pages Groups, School and more:

Retail Pharmacy and Veterinary Chemist Group Delivering Quality Healthcare since 1897

PRESCRIPTIONS COSMETICS PHOTOGRAPHIC Over-the-Counter MEDICINES & ADVICE Mon - Fri 9am - 5.30pm Sat 9am - 5pm

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19 30

Thoughts and tips on how to stay safe:

32

23

New Support Group for carers Bowls - a game for oldies?

Think again:

The Old School

Options for its future:

Pottering About The passage of time:

Contact us:

All the ways YOU can contribute:

Local Groups: Ballater Boules: 44 Ballater (RD) Ltd: 22 Ballater RHS Floral Art Group: 10 Ballater Royal Horticultural Society: 12 Ballater Songsters: 9

Home Security and Road Safety

Help for those who help others:

Davidsons Chemists

4-5

28

BOVOF: 20 Charitable Chiels: 11 Churches: 10 Community Council: 18 Deeside Carers Support Group: 14 Indoor Bowling Club: 11 K&D Befriending: 15

39

Old People’s and over 50’s Association: 13 Rotary Club: 16 SWRI: 8

45

Upper Deeside Art Society: 9 55

Upper Deeside Music: 8

3

Advertising: Full page: £60; Half page: £30; Quarter page: £20; Eighth page: £10 Book and pay for 4 issues: series discount of 10% - copy can be changed each issue

Donations:

Donations are gratefully received, and acknowledged. You can also put money into our tins in the Library or Yules Newsagents.

A big “Thank You” this issue to David Wright

Domestic & Commercial Crown Thinning & Reduction

Balmoral SCOTTISH HOME

TO

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T H E R O YA L F A M I LY

Dismantling & Felling Hedge Pruning & Maintenance Dangerous Tree Control Stump Grinding & Removal

Professional Tree Surgeon N.P.T.C. Qualified

Fully Insured

Free Estimates

call: 013398 80823 e: deesidetreecare@gmx.co.uk

m: 07786 756078 w: www.deesidetreecare.co.uk

The McEwan Gallery Bill Yule PGA Golf Professional Tuition available £20 per 1/2 hour - 5 Lessons for £80 Non Members Welcome! *Gift Vouchers Available*

Stockist of:

Ping / Titliest / Nike / Glenmuir / Srixon

Ballater Golf Shop

Archibald Kay Harvest

Oil on canvas

*Open 7 Days a Week* Ballater Golf Club

Ballater (200 metres off A93) AB35 5UB

Email: shnyule@aol.com

Tel: 013397 55429 E: dot@mcewangallery.com www.mcewangallery.com

Victoria Road, Ballater AB35 5QX Tel. 013397 55658

Open April 1st - July 31st 2011 Castle Ballroom and Royal Dress Exhibition, Gardens, Audio Tour, Coffee Shop, Balmoral Collection and Gift Shop For further information telephone: Tel: 013397 42534

www.balmoralcastle.com

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Elf’ and ‘Safety’ at the Boules BBQ

Ballater & crathie Community magazine no. 62 Summer 2011

The kids in action at the Youth Event held in March.

John McDonald with one of his ‘Flowers with Funk-tion’ displays The Ballater & Crathie Eagle is made possible by:

Advertising, Donations, Sponsorship, Fundraising, “Awards for All” Lottery funding, and Cairngorms Leader +European Funding. Thank You. We deliver FREE from Crathie to Cambus O’May. Thanks to Friends of the Eagle for delivering to some outlying areas.

‘Rainbow at Crathie’ by Ian Murray Snr.

News from Lochnagar Distillery - the busy coffee morning (below) the long service award presented to Alex Philips (above))