Ballater & Crathie Eagle, Issue 67, Autumn 2012

Ballater & crathie Community magazine no. 67 autumn 2012

The Jubilee Cairn - photo by John Holley

ÂŁ1 donation

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Inside Your Autumn Eagle:

With articles looking back over a momentous summer and anticipating an exciting programme of events and activites, there’s lots to look forward to!

Diary

All the dates for the forthcoming months:

The Crathie Pages News from in and around Crathie:

4-5 24-25

Victoria Week in Words & Pictures

Photos from a special Victoria Week:

30-37

Sluiemohr Jubilee Song

Local Groups: Ballater RHS Floral Art Group: 8 Ballater Songsters: 9 Ballater RHS: 10 Rotary Club: 11 Charitable Chiels: 13

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V&A Halls: 15

Memories of a Virginian in Ballater

Deeside Carers: 18

Betty’s ode to some special people:

Can you help fill in the gaps?:

41

The Fit o’Gairn Kirkyard Ian Cameron reveals the history and lore:

Pottering About

...with a travelling jar of marmalade:

46

50

Ballater Improvements Association Ozzy - Part 4 ‘Airborne’:

Advertising:

Project: 20 Kincardine & Deeside Befriending: 21

Sheila Sedgwick explains our National flag: 48

A record of happenings and changes:

Deeside & Donside Development

42

The Saltire

Policing Deeside

Ballater (RD) Ltd: 19

52 55

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 contact Faye Swan at info@swandesign.uk.com or Tel 55345

Balmoral Estate Events: 22 Mistletoe for Cancer Golf Day: 23 BBA Update: 26 Community Learning & Development: 27

Community Council: 28 V&A Halls Funding: 40 Cairngorms National Park Authority: 44

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” to Sandy Donald for his generous donation

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The Eagle Diary

...so you know What’s Going On

Tue 18 Wed 19

Thu 20 Tue 25 Tue 25 Thu 27 Fri 28

Sun 30

September Crathie Bowling Club commences 7pm Crathie New Hall SWRI meeting in Michael Sheridan Room at 7.30pm. Talk about Raemoir Garden Centre Floral Art Group meeting in Mike Sheridan Room at 7.30pm Indoor Bowling in Victoria Hall commences 2pm-4pm and 7pm - 9pm Mistletoe for Cancer Golf Day, Ballater Golf Club Formal unveiling of Jubilee Cairn on Church Green at 6.15pm One Man Play, “Gotcha”, Victoria Hall at 8pm. Tickets £8 Bring Your Own Nibbles and Refreshments Upper Deeside Music, 4.30 pm at Darroch Learg, Ivan Ilic, piano

Wed 3

Wed 3 Sat 6 Mon 8 Fri 12 Wed 17

Thu 18 Sun 28 Mon 29

October Crathie Opportunity Holidays Afternoon Tea in Manse Courtyard 3pm BBA meeting, Glen Lui Hotel, 2.30pm Table Sale in aid of V & A Halls, Victoria Hall Deeside Carers Group meet 11am Huntly Arms Hotel, Aboyne School Term ends SWRI Meeting in Mike Sheridan Room 7.30pm – Willow Weaving and demonstration by Helen Jackson Floral Art Group meeting in Mike Sheridan Room at 7.30pm Ballater Boules challenge begins. Meet 10.15am, Monaltrie Park School Term restarts

Sun 4

November Upper Deeside Music in St. Kentigern’s Church at 4.30pm.

Travelling by Tuba II - with other brass instruments

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

Mon 5 Mon 5 Mon 5

Wed 7 Sun 11 Thu 15 Wed 21

Sun 25 Fri 30

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Deeside Carers Group meet 11am at Loch Kinord Hotel, Dinnet Upper Deeside Music – Schools Workshops BRHS AGM in Mike Sheridan Room at 7.30pm followed by illustrated talk by Michael Rattray from Tillypronie Garden BBA meeting, Glen Lui Hotel, 2.30pm Boules, meet 10.15am, Monaltrie Park Floral Art Group Charity Event in Victoria Hall at 7.30pm SWRI meeting in Mike Sheridan Room at 7.30pm – talk by Davinia Bissett from Rock Salt and Snails Boules, meet 10.15am, Monaltrie Park St. Andrew’s Night Dinner and Auction in aid of V&A Halls

December Mon 3

Wed 5

BRHS meeting in Mike Sheridan Room at 7.30pm. Talk by Mark Patterson on the Eden project BBA meeting, Glen Lui Hotel, 2.30pm

Wed 5

SWRI Christmas lunch at Ballater Golf Club. Time to be arranged

Sun 9

Boules, meet 10.15am, Monaltrie Park Upper Deeside Music in St. Kentigern’s Church at 4.30pm.

Cuillin Sound – flute, clarinet, bassoon trio

Sun 9

Ballater Library Opening Hours Sun, Mon & Wed: Closed Tuesday: 10am-1pm, 6.30-8pm Thursday: 2-4pm, 6.30-8pm Friday: 2-5pm Saturday: 10am-12noon

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Letter from the Editor

Dear Readers, Despite what has proved to be a very damp, dismal summer, Ballater has over the past few months enjoyed many and various community activities, proving that sunshine and warmth are not essential ingredients for having summer fun.

During a period of several months leading up to the Jubilee weekend, a small group of community-minded villagers planned and organised events and activities to celebrate a historic occasion, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The Jubilee Picnic and Family Ceilidh on 4 June were wonderfully well supported, and everyone had fun, which was the whole point of the exercise. In addition, a Jubilee Cairn was planned, organised and created on the Church green. This superb example of local enterprise came about mainly through the enthusiasm and physical efforts of Gordon Bruce and Alistair Cassie, to whom the village should be extremely grateful. They received considerable support from local businesses and individuals in raising the necessary funding to create such a wonderful, permanent reminder within the village, of a historic event. Certainly, the Jubilee Cairn has been greatly admired, and the object of countless tourist photographs. It will be formally unveiled by a well known person at 6.15pm on the evening of Thursday 27th September.

Exactly a week after the Jubilee celebrations, upper Deeside and Ballater welcomed the Olympic Torch, amid much cheering and flag waving. Both occasions turned out dry and fair, although by no means typically June weather!

August of course, brought Victoria Week, with a wonderful programme of activities for all ages. It is now 25 years since the initial Victoria Week, and this has become a fixture in the social calendar for Deeside as much as any other longer standing event.

Again, an enthusiastic band of local people has worked very hard to produce something special for a special occasion. Who can forget a packed Victoria Hall enjoying the Highland premier of the animation film “Brave” with several small girls dressed as the heroine of that film? Then of course, Ballater Highland Games attracted many people to the village from far and wide.

All of these events and occasions require involvement and commitment by many people, and the success of each of these indicates the enthusiasm, and community spirit which makes Ballater such a wonderful place to live, and enjoy.

Ian Hay

How to contact our Representatives:

Scottish Parliament: Dennis Robertson MSP e-mail:

dennis.robertson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

 0791 955 7152 (mobile)

Westminster: Sir Robert Smith MP  01330 820330, Fax: 01330 820338, e-mail: robert.smith.mp@parliament.uk

Aberdeenshire Council: Peter Argyle:  013398 81180 e-mail: cllr.p.argyle@aberdeenshire.gov.uk Geva Blackett:  013397 41541 e-mail: cllr.g.blackett@aberdeenshire.gov.uk Katrina Farquhar:  07876475403 email: cllr.k.farquhar@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Cairngorms National Park: Katrina Farquhar email: info@katrinafarquhar.co.uk

 013398 81006

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

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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: Cat Houston  55243 Design: Ollie Ross, Stella Potter, Cat Houston, Karen Major Email us at: ballater.eagle@btopenworld.com Eagle Online: http://www.ballatercommunity.com

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

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BRHS Floral Art Group

by Mildred Coull

Local Group News

Although BRHS Floral Art Group has no meetings or demonstrations during June, July and August, nevertheless the members are still occupied with outings and thoughts of the approaching 136th Annual exhibition on Saturday and Sunday 18 and 19 August.

The outing on 14 June to Tillypronie was significant in that it did not rain (very much!) and principally because it was a delightful day out with expert guidance and explanations of plantings by the head gardener, Michael Rattray. Michael cut a superb figure in a kilt, a white Arran sweater and a warm hat. He commented that he was the only one wearing a skirt!

Despite the daily downpours, Michael had produced smooth sweeping lawns, and we meandered through woodland pathways as our

attention was directed to the various plants and superb conifers.

The welcome tea provided at the end of the tour was, as ever at Tillypronie, delicious with various items of first class home baking on offer. Sincere thanks to all who made this a delightful outing.

Beautiful Birkhall

The afternoon visit to HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay’s, garden at Birkhall on 31 July delighted all who attended. Amazingly it was a warm, sunny afternoon. The gardens were lush and luxuriant after the many drenchings and downpours they had endured in the past month.

The sunshine on the wonderful plantings made every aspect of the garden truly spectacular.

The areas of Clary Sage (apparently 3,000 planted each year) were remarkable with their hues of mauve and pink producing a carpet of cascading colour on each side of the steps down to the main part of the garden. A beautiful Arthriscus Raven’s Wing and a Sambucus Nigra in flower were darker hued beauties pointed out by our guides.

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Three lady members with expert horticultural knowledge led us around, pointing out the mature hedging and taking us to the Victorian Stumpery.

Some of us had seen this ‘in its infancy’ and were now amazed and hugely impressed to witness what has happened to the tree roots and stumps of a few years ago. The massive Gunnera and the collection of ferns and shade loving plants created a fantastic landscape - a habitat for wildlife, especially red squirrels if the empty nutshells were evidence of their presence.

The Chairman and members of BRHS Floral Art are grateful to Prince Charles for granting us the privilege of walking around his private garden. The afternoon ended with a delicious tea in the pavilion, and, for once, we were rather too warm in front of the wood fire.

In the opening paragraph the Annual Exhibition was mentioned. Last year there were more

entries in the novice class as well as from the more experienced arrangers. There are many talented flower arrangers in The Floral Art Group who take part every year, but entries from others who love plants and flowers are greatly appreciated.

Perhaps this could be a new experience and a gentle challenge for some of our members? Help and advice are always on hand if required.

The evening meetings in The Sheridan Room start again on 20 September at 7.30pm. A reminder is usually in ‘The Piper’ a week before each meeting.

The programme for the autumn is in place with an especially exciting demonstration organised for the Christmas charity evening on 15 November.

BRHS Floral Art Group is a ‘bunch’ of friendly ladies who not only enjoy watching experts create beautiful floral designs but also appreciate the happy atmosphere which is always evident at our meetings.

Do come and join us.

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Ballater Songsters

by Sheila Rumbles

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The Ballater Songsters gave their usual concert during Victoria Week. This was a great success, and the Songsters are delighted to

Bell Macaulay receiving a donation from Sheila Rumbles of the Ballater songsters

announce that they raised £1,000 from this event. This amount has been allocated £500 to the Victoria & Albert Halls Refurbishment Fund, and £500 to Ballater Enhancement Group. The Songsters would like to thank everyone who supported them at this event – it is much appreciated.

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.”

Albert Camus

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10 By the time this issue of the Eagle comes to print, our 136th Annual Exhibition and Flower Show held on the 18 & 19 August will have taken place. It is anticipated it will have had many varied entries and been as enjoyable as last year’s.

The Scarecrow competition held in conjunction with Victoria Week last year proved to be a great success so was repeated. This year a Mini-Scarecrow competition was included in the Children’s section and will hopefully have attracted some fun entries.

Raffle ticket sales on the Green attracted a lot of interest. Thanks must go to Nicki Henderson of Rowan Antiques for kindly displaying the Square Decanter gifted by HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay, and for selling tickets on our behalf. Local businesses and Garden Centres

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Ballater RHS

by Elizabeth Wilson were most generous in their donations; and those were also much appreciated.

Sadly our gardens have suffered greatly this year due to the weather conditions. A wet spring, late frosts and constant rain resulted in a lot of lush growth, often where it was not wanted, not to mention the weeds getting off to a head start!

Aberdeenshire Council was once again generous in its provision of annuals which Jim Clark and Colin Wilson planted in the tubs in front of the Church, War Memorial and Station Square.

One advantage, if it can be called that, is that the heavy rain meant less manual watering!

The sun shone for our annual outing in July to Glenbervie House, near Drumlithie; a traditional Scottish walled garden with roses, herbaceous and annual borders along with fruit and vegetables, a fine Victorian style conservatory and a woodland garden. This beautiful garden was very much enjoyed by all.

Our AGM takes place on Monday 5 November at 7.30pm in the Mike Sheridan Room in the Halls and will be followed by an illustrated talk

by Mike Rattray, on his work as Head Gardener at Tillypronie. Refreshments will be provided afterwards to give members, both new and old, a chance to catch up. All are welcome.

Talks at future meetings will take us around the country from the Cairngorms to Glamis and the Eden Project.

“Autumn is a season followed immediately by looking forward to Spring.”

Anon

Aboyne & Upper Deeside Rotary by Ron Drever The Club has moved into another new year with Gordon Riddler handing over to our new President, Douglas Riach from Aboyne. At the Commercial Hotel, Tarland, this meant another celebration evening, with much enjoyed poems and songs relating to the President’s business life, though it’s rumoured we really need to find a singing teacher as a new Club member!

We are now enjoying another year of service to the community with fun and fellowship led by Doug, and in a good start to his year, we were delighted to welcome a new member, Kerry Ritchie, who lives in Ballogie, and whose husband Ian is already a Club member. Kerry moved to Deeside last year with Ian from Kent where she had a career in primary health care management, and attended various club meetings to see if she wanted to be part of Rotary.

Unfortunately however, due to various reasons, we have also had members leave the Club at the start of our new year; Jim McCulloch from Dinnet, well known in Ballater, and Stuart Hall and Chris Dunn from Aboyne. Jim has given nearly 40 years’ service to Rotary, and is a Past President of our Club. Together with Jim, Stuart and Chris served the Club well over many years.

All were popular members of the Club, and we all thank them for their service to Rotary and the local community.

Fundraising Our Annual Charity Golf Day in June raised a total of around £3600, from which a cheque for £800 was presented to Aboyne Golf Club for their selected charity, in recognition of the Club allowing us the use of the course, and the remaining proceeds were presented to the cancer charity Maggie’s, who are building a centre in Aberdeen.

All who took part enjoyed a great day’s golf and hospitality despite the dodgy weather. The Team winners were Tarland Golf Club.

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Our thanks go to our hole sponsors, including the Inver Hotel from Crathie, Dinnet Garage, the Green Inn, the Glen Lui Hotel, the Deeside Hotel, Murray Deeside Fishing, and Emslie House Furnishings from Ballater, and those who donated prizes, including La Mangiatoia Restaurant, GJB Accountancy, Cassie’s, DP Opticians, and The Co-operative, from Ballater.

At the time of writing, the Club is preparing for its attendance at the Ballater and other local Highland Games with our “Roll the Dice for Whisky” Stall, including our famous bells and horns! Hope we had your support yet again!

Community Service Our annual sponsored Fun Run in Aboyne in May was again well attended, with a good turnout of runners and walkers from Aboyne

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Primary. Together with our BBQ, a total of over £1000 was raised, of which £500 was given to the school for their own nominated Charities.

Thanks to all adults and children who took part on the day.

We are also supporting the Aboyne After School Club, as well as the Aboyne Primary School Garden project.

Youth Opportunities The winners of our local heat of the Primary Schools Quiz, Torphins School, did wonderfully well in the local Final of the Quiz, coming an extremely close second and thereby qualifying for the Area Final. In that final, they again did wonderfully well, just being pipped by one point

by St Peters School from Aberdeen. In summary therefore, Torphins came second out of 550 schools in the north east, and won £300 for the School. Many congratulations from the Club to Torphins – let’s hope one of our schools can go one better next year.

Deeside Books

Quality Books Bought & Sold Antiquarian, second hand & a good selection of new Scottish books and bestsellers New Books by local authors available to order from www.deesidebooks.com A large selection of cuddly toys Lovely gifts for girls & boys Cards, wrap, prints, maps & more Lots of handbags & jewellery galore

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

We have continued to be involved in many different ways with Aboyne Academy, and were pleased to be able to maintain our annual sponsorship of their annual prizegiving.

The Aboyne Academy pupils sponsored to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) event have now had their summer weeks of leadership training including all types of activities. We look forward to their eventual visit to a Club Meeting to tell us how they enjoyed the experience and meeting all the challenges presented to them.

Our first Young Photographer Competition for Academy students has been successfully completed. The standard of the entries in two categories was very high, and the overall winner was Eain Scott. Brad Arthur was runner up in the senior category, while Jennifer Glass was the winner in the Intermediate category with Gavin Robertson runner up. Eain’s photo was framed as the main prize, with gift vouchers as other prizes.

International Service We have given our annual donation to the Rotary Foundation, Rotary’s own charity which sponsors charitable activities internationally.

Rotary of course does more than raise and donate money to charities and good causes: it provides great opportunities for folks to roll up their sleeves, get stuck in, and DO things in support of our communities. That’s what it’s all about really; serving others, and putting something back.

Hopefully you and other readers may feel you want to join and be part of Rotary. If you would like to find out more, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact Ron Drever at High Trees, Morven Way, or 013397 56224.

We meet on the first and third Mondays (and usually any fifth Monday) of each month at the Boat Inn, Aboyne, 6 for 6.30pm, and on the second and fourth Mondays at the Glen Lui Hotel, Ballater, 6.30 for 7pm.

Have a look at us on www.rotary-ribi.org, where you simply type in “Aboyne” and press “GO”.

Ballater Charitable Chiels

by Andrew Thain

The Chiels have had a very busy summer.

Firstly we had our annual golf day on Friday 15 June and despite the adverse weather, we raised nearly £36,800. A big thank you must go out to all the competitors (73 teams took part) and the winning team on the day was Pathfinder Energy Services. We would like to thank everyone who donated items to our auction and raffle and most of all we would like to thank the council and committee of Ballater Golf Club for the use of their tremendous facilities for the day.

The main beneficiaries of the Golf day will be the Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, and Jo’s Trust (Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust) which is the only UK charity dedicated to women and their families affected by cervical cancer and cervical abnormalities.

The Golf day celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2012. It is hard to believe it has been 10 years

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since Sandy Barclay (with the assistance of family and friends), founded the first Texas Scramble Golf Charity Day hosted

by Ballater Golf Club. Due to Sandy’s failing health, in 2005 he joined forces with the Chiels and the Charity Day became even more successful. To date, this event has now raised more than £278,000!!!!

It was not only a special year for the Chiels but the country celebrated The Diamond Jubilee, marking 60 years of The Queen’s reign. To commemorate this remarkable achievement, the Chiels donated a silver commemorative medal to every primary school pupil in Braemar, Crathie and Ballater. Hopefully this will be something they will cherish for a long time. The Chiels have also made a substantial donation towards the Ballater Halls restoration fund and we wish them all the success in reaching their desired target.

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Our next major event will see us go back to our roots. The Chiels are renowned for their sponsored walks, previously completing the Four Peaks Challenge, Mallaig to Ballater and the Munro Compass Challenge.

This year we will be walking the Deeside Way from Ballater to Aberdeen, 45 miles in total. We plan to do the majority of the walk on Saturday 15 September in under 12 hours. Hopefully, a large percentage of the money raised will be donated to the Sick Children’s Hospital in Aberdeen who plan to purchase TSE Units & Tens machines.

These machines provide the children with a Natural Pain Relief – it’s very effective, drug free & non-addictive. Surprisingly and shockingly, if a child in our area requires the use of one of these machines they have to go to Glasgow for treatment, so please dig deep and sponsor a Chiel for what is a truly worthwhile charity/cause and if you see us on route please give us a “toot” for encouragement.

Knitting for the Needy by Sabine Muir Have ewe any wool?

If anyone has unused or surplus odd bits of wool lying around, please pop them into the Library for collection by Marianne Littlejohn, our friendly ice cream van lady.

She collects for the Knitting Circle, whose members knit items all year round for the Blythswood Charity, Elvington.

This charity makes up Christmas boxes and transfers hundreds of them to needy people in Romania.

If you would like to donate wool, or have any enquiries about joining the Knitting Circle, please contact Marianne on 013398 87035 or 07703174932.

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Victoria and Albert Memorial Halls by Bell Macaulay

The Victoria and Albert Halls now have a new management structure – a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation called the Victoria and Albert Halls (Ballater) Trust.

Work is ongoing to dissolve the two former organisations – the Halls Development Association and the original Trust – so that the assets of both can transfer to the new SCIO, allowing us to apply for the funding required for major refurbishment.

This may take some time to accomplish, and in the meantime the Association is working to raise funds to upgrade the Albert Hall kitchen, toilets and entrance.

This, with the Mike Sheridan Room, will form a function suite which has the potential to give a good income stream to provide a sustainable future whilst working through the rest of the refurbishment.

Wedding Success We have already recently held two very successful wedding receptions in the Albert Hall, and this has encouraged us to forge ahead with this element.

There have been highs and lows on the funding front for the Refurbishment Group headed

by Ian Hay, but we are now back on track, and support has been sought from various sources.

We now await the outcome, and plan to have work starting before the end of the year.

How many groups and individuals use the Halls facilities? We need to raise our profile, and make everyone aware of what a wonderful venue we have for celebrations, meetings, conferences – the Albert Hall makes a stunning setting when dressed up for the occasion! (See photo Page 60) We need to reach out to the community and beyond to ensure the halls are used effectively.

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We have purchased a community website package, and are in the process of setting it up with the help of Faye Swan and Ballater Library. You will be able to see all the Halls’ bookings online, information and photographs about each.

You will of course still be able to receive a booking form and make a booking as at present.

Stage Facilities We await the release of some funding from Aberdeenshire Council which will allow us to purchase the second set of lighting for the Victoria Hall, which will also see improvements to the main hall lighting – no more waiting for the bulbs to heat up!

Community Learning Extensive community research has been carried out, and there is now a picture of what courses

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might be supported – we hope to use the Beaton Craigie Room as a multi purpose space and will be joining a partnership with several other community led groups on Deeside to pool resources and expertise.

Saturday Films Our Saturday Film Shows have not been as well attended as expected.

The showing of Brave during Victoria Week saw a full house, but we will have to review the situation if the Saturday films are not what the community wants – if you have any suggestions or thoughts about this, or if your group would like to organise a film as part of your winter programme, please get in touch and we will see what can be organised.

Fundraising

The Halls 300+ Club didn’t make the 300 mark this year, but will still give a good profit of

almost £2,500. Fundraising sales have shown a profit of over £5,000.

We are most grateful to all groups who have supported the refurbishment programme - some donating annually, attending events and showing their appreciation of what we are trying to achieve. In particular, Victoria Week and Ballater Songsters have between them donated more than £7,000, and the Ladies Probus Silent Auction £2,647.

Many groups such as Golf Club, Bridge, Indoor Bowling, Men’s Probus, Betty Wilson with her popular series of quizzes, give a little extra along the way, and the Ballater Charitable Chiels have also helped Halls users by providing funding for one First Aid Course three years ago.

We hope to run this course again before the end of September which will give further threeyear cover for participants. After that date it becomes an annual requirement. The Chiels have also kindly donated £3000 towards upgrading of the Albert Hall kitchen.

Victoria Hall Events

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13 September – Banchory Strathspey and Reel Society – a popular return for a well-loved foot-tapping event 28 September – Gotcha! is the brand new one man play from Charles Barron and Paul Hughson that made audiences at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe fall in love with a Traffic Warden!!

Based around prickly central character Wee Ernie, Gotcha! aims to tell the good, the bad, and the ugly that make up modern day Scottish life.

The play humourously and boldly tackles sectarianism, alcohol, the current conflict in Afghanistan and Independence.

Actor Paul Hughon says: “This play guides us ruthlessly and unerringly towards what virtually defines our Scottish-ness – our resoluteness of character in the face of the most crushing

adversity. “Here’s tae us, wha’s like us, nae mony an they’re a deid!”

This play will make you laugh, make you cry, and make you richer for the experience.

6 October – Autumn Sales Tables - book your place now to make space for Christmas!

30 November - A St Andrew’s Dinner and Auction – come and celebrate Scotland’s patron saint with a sumptuous meal, sparkling wit and repartee from speaker and host Robert Lovie.

Time to dig out the tartan and sporrans, and take pride in our national heritage!

AND FINALLY! My heartfelt thanks to all who already give support by turning up to meetings, and take responsibility for keeping the Halls running from day to day whilst working towards a better future.

We will be holding a public meeting to recruit new Trustees and members once all the

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legal formalities are concluded.

Much more help is needed if we are to realise the aspirations of the community for a first class facility serving the needs of all. It is hard work, and everyone will be expected to roll up sleeves and get stuck in! This is your real chance to make a difference. The meeting will be well publicised beforehand.

“Life should not be a journey with the goal of arriving in heaven looking attractive and with a well preserved body.

Rather, we should slip in from one side, chocolate in one hand and a martini in the other, yelling “Wow!! What a trip!”

Anon

Glen Lui HOTEL Relaxation with a View Lunches served 12 - 2pm Dinners 6pm - 9pm Booking advisable to avoid disappointment Glen Lui Hotel Invercauld Road, Ballater

013397 55402 www.glen-lui-hotel.co.uk

Licensed for Weddings Large Parties and Office Outings welcome

18

Deeside Carers Group

by Anne Hammond

The group has been running now for over 6 years and is open to anyone who provides unpaid care for a family member, friend, neighbour or someone else in the community.

We are still a very informal group, no minutes, paperwork, committees, fundraising or anything else expected from any of the members.

All you need is enough money to cover your own drink/snack.

We meet up usually on the first Monday of each month, with the exception of Bank Holidays, at various hotels between Ballater & Aboyne. Dates and venues are contained within the Eagle Diary.

If any carer joined from further up Deeside, we would obviously extend the travelling to include Crathie or Braemar areas, - just get in touch.

We meet mainly to give us, the carers, a little ‘me’ time, a time to chat, laugh, moan, cry, and

share our thoughts or use the time to get something off our chest. It’s nice to have others around who share and understand your feelings.

All newcomers will be made ver y welcome. Please contact Anne Hammond on ahammond999@btinternet.com or phone 07974 375 185 if you’d like more information.

The VSA Carers Support and Development Worker, Chris Cairns, comes along to our meetings when he can and is able to provide professional support/advice if needed. He can be contacted by email chris.cairns@vsa.org.uk or by telephoning 013398 887291.

Occasionally we get a subsidy from the VSA Carers or Kincardine & Deeside Enable to help towards costs. This year K & D Enable are giving us £5.00 each towards our summer lunch and for that we are very grateful.

SHORT, BARK & SIDES dog grooming

19

Ballater (RD) Ltd Caravan Park

by Paddy Wright The team which operates the caravan park consists of seven voluntary directors of Ballater Community Enterprise Ltd. (BCE), an Administrator and two wardens.

We are very pleased that James Wood has again accepted the position of relief warden to help out during the peak summer period.

In spite of the weather and the general financial situation, bookings for the touring section have held up well, while there is a waiting list of 60 for static stances.

The feedback from customers has been very positive. Both touring and static caravanners feel that the management, being local, is much more approachable than formerly.

Much hard work has been carried out by the team and a lot of learning since the start of the season. The BCE website ballatercaravanpark. com is up and running and there is now an online booking system available.

After an initial hectic few months, and in anticipation of a healthy trading surplus, the directors are now prioritising improvements and maintenance to be carried out before next season.

photo by Jack Coull

Welcome Stone

by Jack Coull At long last Ballater has a proper welcome for visitors to the village by way of a granite engraved block situated on the A93. The boulder was kindly granted by The Invercauld Estate and is of local granite coming from the Pass of Ballater.

It is the smallest of 3 fragments of a major rock fall which occurred in 2004 when a huge block was dislodged - so big that it was detected by seismograph in Glasgow.

The stone is the outcome of lengthy preparations by Ballater (Royal Deeside) Ltd and Ballater Community Council with financial contributions generously given by Marr Area, LEADER and Victoria Week.

The organisers are also grateful for assistance from Castle Plant for arranging the transportation of the 4½ ton stone to and from Tarland Granite for the engraving.

It is hoped to provide a similar welcome sign at the west of the village at the turn-off for the Pass.

20 Deeside Donside Development Project by Nick Mardall Ballater Learning Centre

Currently, the learning centre initiative is looking at coming under a Royal Deeside Partnership with Aboyne, Ballater and Braemar as partners contributing to the way a centre in Ballater may take shape within the Victoria and Albert Halls. It is likely that a funding bid will be made at the end of September to at least prepare the equipment.

Dalmochie

The Forestry Commission is considering an application under the National Forest Land Scheme for the Dalmochie site to be purchased on behalf of the community. By the time this Eagle arrives through your door we hope that a decision will have been made and the site then purchased.

If all goes well a formal development plan will be prepared for the area.

Philipp N. Stellmach Plumbing & Heating Engineer

Broadband The project is working with Aberdeenshire Council and the Cairngorms National Park Authority to bring broadband to areas of poor or no coverage.

At the moment, Aberdeenshire Council are committed to bringing a level of service to all households over the next few years. It is expected that the Government will be announcing how much money will be available to all the regions of Scotland shortly and this will inform what level of coverage may be available.

Braemar Action Plan Braemar held a community day on the 24 July outlining the responses to the action planning questionnaire which had a very good response rate. A working group will collate the information and then prepare a draft plan for the community.

Housing Partnership The Prince’s Trust is helping put together options for a site on Balmoral for self build opportunities. Currently the self build group is in discussions with Balmoral Estate, Grampian Housing Association and the Cairngorms National Park Authority who have been very positive in trying to make something happen for the community.

Community Website Assistance 6 Craigview Place, Ballater, AB35 5PJ Telephone:

013397 55565 Mobile:

07801 947528 Email:

philipp.stellmach@btconnect.com

Finally, a reminder about the small fund available from the Cairngorms National Park Authority to help local groups establish or improve their group or project websites. If anybody is interested in applying for this fund please contact me on the details below as I have the guidance and application forms.

As always I would ask folk to contact me if they have any project or funding they would like me to help them pursue. Nick.dddp@btconnect. com or telephone 013397 53775.

“It’s Raining Men - Hallelujah! 21 It’s Raining Men” by Sheena Watt Unfortunately for us at Kincardine & Deeside Befriending, it is not ‘raining men’ in so far as we have very few of them interested in becoming a Befriender.

We do, on the other hand, have male clients who would much prefer a male befriender as opposed to a lady and we also have lady clients who would prefer a male befriender!

So, you wonderful gentlemen in Ballater and Crathie, if you are reading this article and feel you are a “people person”, get in touch with us for a chat about joining our team.

H elp make an isolated older person’s life happier by visiting them once a week or fortnight for a chat or by taking them out. Just pick up the phone and call 01569 765714 for Kincardine and 01330 823368 or

07816958839 for Deeside. We will help you thereafter with training and support.

Ladies, do not feel you are missing out – we are also always looking for more lady volunteers and would welcome you into our team with great enthusiasm.

Check out our website www.kd-befriending. org.uk or pop into our offices at Barclay Street, Stonehaven or at the Town Hall, Banchory.

Mileage and out of pocket expenses will be paid.

“By all these lovely tokens, September days are here. With summer’s best of weather and autumn’s best of cheer.”

Brian Smith Funeral Services Ltd

The only family run and owned funeral director in Aboyne, Banchory and Peterculter

Pre-Paid Funeral Plans Available 317 North Deeside Road, Peterculter Tel: 01224 732530 Huntly Road, Aboyne Tel: 013398 86625 85A High Street, Banchory Tel: 01330 825400

Contact Brian or Angela Smith (24hrs)

Anon

22

Balmoral Autumn Events

by Glynn Jones

The following events have been organised by the Balmoral Estate Rangers:Sunday 23 September ‘Coyles of Muick Walk’ A very varied route, from the secluded Loch Ullachie to the summit of The Coyles of Muick with spectacular views across Deeside, Glen Muick and Lochnagar. We then descend through the forest for an encounter with one of the residents of the lost township of Loinmuie.

Meeting Point – Car park in Ballater.

Time 10am. Duration 5½ hours. Cost - Free.

Bring Lunch Booking Essential – 013397 55059 Saturday 27 October ‘Dallyfour Circuit’ This walk takes us through mature pine trees, along the banks of the River Dee passing the

Queen Mother’s fishing hut. We will also visit the secluded shores of Loch Ullachie, the farmland surrounding Birkhall and finally the historic Knock Castle. Meeting Point - To be confirmed.

Time 10.30am. Duration 4 hours. Distance 10.5 km. Cost – Free.

Booking Essential – 013397 55059 Saturday 8 December ‘International Mountain Day Winter Ascent’ Climb a winter peak with the Balmoral Rangers. A high winter walk, the exact route will be decided on the morning of the walk and will mainly depend on weather conditions. A good level of fitness required. Meeting Point – Spittal of Glen Muick Visitor Centre.

Time 9.30am. Duration 6 hours. Cost £10 per person.

Booking essential - 013397 55059

STATION Popular Informal Restaurant in the Old Royal Station

Open daily from 10am Station Square, Ballater AB35 5PB Telephone 013397 55050

John Edrich’s Mistletoe for Cancer Golf Day

23

Local resident, John Edrich MBE, a former opening batsman for England who played in 77 Test matches, is organising a fundraising golf day at Ballater Golf Club on Tuesday 25 September to raise funds for the cancer charity which he credits with helping him overcome leukaemia.

John was diagnosed with Waldenstrom’s Leukemia in 1999 and was given a maximum of seven years to live.

In 2005, he started with mistletoe therapy, under guidance from the Camphill Wellbeing Trust in Aberdeen and has continued with it ever since, enjoying good health, and a full life.

The Camphill Mistletoe for Cancer Appeal is aiming to raise £100,000 to fund a medical trial of the treatment.

Entries for the golf day cost £200 for a team of

John Edrich MBE

four, and £50 for individuals. Entry forms can be downloaded from www.mistletoeforcancer.org.uk or by calling Camphill Wellbeing Trust on 01224 869833 (Tuesday to Friday mornings).

The Oven Valet Oven Cleaners

Doing the jobs you hate!

Bringing the Sparkle back to your oven.

Using Non Toxic, Non Caustic Products in Your Home T: 01330 823079 www.theovenvalet.com

M: 07920483233 info@theovenvalet.com

24

Coffee at the Kirk

The Coffee Ladies of Crathie Kirk have been carrying out their usual sterling work in providing a warm and friendly welcome combined with wonderful home baking - much appreciated by those who come along on a Monday to the Coffee Mornings in Crathie Church Hall from 10am to 12.30pm!

Book Group Recent titles discussed by the group have included “Saints and Sinners” by Edna O’Brien, a collection of short stories, and “South Riding”

by Winifred Holtby, an extremely long novel!

Despite the fact that the group felt that it was, in truth, too long, and could have benefited from some pruning, “South Riding” had a lot to commend it. There was a spirited heroine, some

Crathie News acute observation of character and of the role of women in 1930s North of England, particularly in the sphere of local politics, and a lively sense of humour.

Currently we are reading “Rules of Civility”

by Amor Towles and “The Paris Wife” by Paula McLain.

Since the previous edition of the Eagle, Anna and Jackie have successfully distributed their World Book Night copies of “The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox” by Maggie O’Farrell and it would be fascinating to know where all the books end up.

Some which started off with local recipients have already begun to travel, with at least one copy heading off to Australia.

25

by Marion MacIntyre Crathie Opportunity Holidays Crathie Opportunity Holidays is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

Over the last decade they have welcomed over 550 disabled people, their friends and family to their award-winning holiday accommodation.

Shaun and The Torch When Anna and Chris Cairns went along to watch the Olympic Torch coming through Crathie, they were disappointed that son Shaun was missing the historic occasion as he was at school at the time.

The local community has been hugely supportive of this project and can rightly be proud that so many people have been able to enjoy a holiday in Royal Deeside.

They are starting a group, “Friends of Crathie Opportunity Holidays”, to enable them to continue to improve the facilities and services they offer. If you are interested in joining please come along to an Afternoon Tea on Wednesday 3 October at 3pm.

For more information please contact Maggie MacAlpine on 013397 42100 or maggie@ crathieholidays.org.uk

Bowling Club

After a brief summer break, the Crathie Bowling Group will be back together again on 18 September and you can join them on Tuesday and Friday evenings from 7- 9pm in Crathie New Hall. For more information, call Jean Young, on 42415.

ROY MITCHELL JOINER 76 Golf Road Ballater TELEPHONE:(013397) 55378 MOBILE: 07792 117963

photo by Jean Farquharson They needn’t have worried however. On his way home Shaun spotted the Torch as it was being carried through Ballater and managed to get much more close up and personal with it than his parents did! (see photo)

26

BBA Autumn Update

by Faye Swan

Ballater Businesses have done reasonably well in spite of poor weather earlier in the year! The Queen’s Jubilee celebrations and a fantastic Victoria Week brought the visitors to Ballater for all the events and activities.

A good summer even if it did start a bit late this year.

BBA Chair, Bryn Wayte, attended a meeting organised by the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce at the end of July.

John Swinney MSP for Perthshire North and currently Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth in the Scottish Government also attended the meeting which discussed business rates and the tone (agreement) date for the revaluation in

KALLOS beauty Emma Murphy A friendly and professional beauty therapist, formerly of the Marcliffe.

Beauty treatments carried out in your home or tourist accommodation.

Call 077345 43554 for an appointment. www.kallosbeauty.com

2013 which takes effect in 2015.

The BBA has been asked to contribute its views. Check the Business Association page of

The ice rink entices youngsters in 2011

www.visitballater.com for further information which will be posted as soon as it becomes available.

The BBA is happy to support the Winter Festival once again at the end of November 2012.

Anyone wishing to assist Val Norton, BBA Entertainments Coordinator and Winter Festival organiser, may contact her on 013397 55018.

The Ice rink that has been ordered will be much larger this year so we need to get our skates on (Sorry - hard to resist that one) and raise the funds!

A donation from the Ballater Jubilee celebrations has been received.

There will be a Jumble Sale at the beginning of October so check the notice boards and www.ballatercommunity.com for details nearer the time.

Community Learning and Development By Lindsay Lumsden Tutoring Adults

Have you ever thought about how difficult daily life might be if you had difficulties with reading or writing, or if you struggled with basic calculations?

In Scotland around a quarter of the population have some difficulties in these areas and a small number experience severe challenges.

Through Aberdeenshire Council’s Community Learning & Development team, volunteer tutors work with individual learners, usually meeting them once a week for an hour in a neutral venue.

If you are interested in finding out more about tutoring, with no obligation, contact Lindsay Lumsden, Community

Learning & Development at Lindsay.Lumsden@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or 013398 86222 or 85033.

Thinking of starting up a business?

Business Gateway, in association with Aberdeenshire Council Community Learning & Development and BOVOF, are offering to run either a half-day course or one-to-one advice sessions in Ballater for those looking to start up a new business or those in their first 3 months of trading.

If this would be of interest to you, please contact Lindsay Lumsden at Lindsay.

Lumsden@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or 013398 85033 as soon as possible.

MAN, DOG, STROKE

by Eric Sinclair £8.99 Available in all good bookshops and as an e-book or paperback from Amazon.

Or post-free from the publisher – send an email with your name and address to Deeside Press: deesidepress@btconnect.com All profits to the charity The Stroke Association

27

28

Community Council

The Jubilee Picnic in June was a great success. We had an excellent turnout and the weather was kind on the day!

All the events went well, and the King and Queen for the day from the primary school enjoyed their “royal progress” with Marcus Humphrey in his vintage car. There were many excellent picnics, some very elaborately staged, and all thoroughly enjoyed!

The young highland dancers put on a fine display, and the Guarana Street Drummers were great entertainment – and booked again for Victoria Week on the back of their popular performance.

The centre piece - the Jubilee Cairn - was much admired. It took a lot of very hard work by a few people but was well worth it when you see the end result with stones from the local hills,

Aboyne Van Hire

Mobile 07808 568434

by Graham Adams

heathers and some excellent sculpture. The day was ended with a great Family Ceilidh in the halls.

So, a big thanks to all who helped to organise the day, or donated time or prizes. Thanks also for all the contributions to the Cairn. A small surplus raised from various sources has been donated to help this year’s Winter Festival which should be even better than the last one!

Affordable Housing The CNPA approach to provision of affordable housing has not worked in Ballater and is unlikely to work.

This assertion has not been contested by CNPA. Moreover, the results of the public responses to the Main Issues Report indicate that 85% of respondents (Park wide) want new developments in the Park area to be wholly affordable. Similarly, in response to the proposed ‘spatial strategy’ for Ballater, 85% of respondents rejected the proposal by CNPA to build large numbers of open market houses north east of Monaltrie Park.

In accordance with the B&CCC philosophy on this topic, we are investigating some of the potential infill and brown field sites in Ballater that we identified in our response to the Main Issues Report in December 2011.

We have published details of some of these sites on the Community notice board (on the corner of Golf Road and Bridge Street - opposite the bus station).

There is a lot of work to do if we are going to turn any of these potential opportunities into reality. Part of this entails getting a clear message from the community across to CNPA about what people want. So, please get informed about the sites, talk to a community councillor and let us know what you think, or give us any new ideas that come to mind. The deadline for giving feedback to B&CCC is 26 September.

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30

Victoria Week’s Silve

Below laid

Below - winners of the Victorian Fancy Dress competition at Lady Jennifer’s Picnic, with judge Yue Hong of the Red Squirrel Boutique, Ballater.

Brave Premiere mascot Katie Hendry treads the red carpet

Above - Pet Show; Iona Kellas and Snowdrop, 2nd in Sensational Small Pet

Right the Pet Ladies

Dad tackles a construction problem at Messy Play

Ab

31

er Jubilee In Pictures

w - lots of friendly expert help on at Ballater Bowling Club’s Open Day

Above - Thomas and George Stephens of N Yorks and Matthew and Daniel Gibson of Alford show off their magic wands at The Magic Forest

- Roxy the Dog comes 2nd in Show Fancy Dress (Lords and s of the Queen’s Garden Party)

bove - Amy Muir’s Victorian Photo Studio

Ryan McLeod jumps ahead at Potted Sports

Domestic & Commercial Crown Thinning & Reduction 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

Firewood for sale

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

Sparkles Beauty Home Salon appointments available during the Day, Evenings and Weekends.

Treatments include:

Manicures, Pedicures, Nail Art, Rockstar Toes, Gelish, Make-up, Spray Tans, Waxing, Pamper Parties, Princess Parties, Glitter Tattoos and more!

For more information and photos - please see our website:

www.sparkles-beauty.com

or phone Jenna on

07929967915

Victoria Week’s Silver Jubilee 33

by Cat Houston

Ballater Victoria Week celebrated its Silver Jubilee in style as the sun came out on much of the packed programme of events for all the family to enjoy.

Packed Premiere

The week started with a regional premiere of Disney Pixar’s Brave, which proved a real highlight as the village’s Victoria Hall was packed with excited filmgoers for the summer blockbuster animation, many of them getting into the fun spirit on the red carpet by wearing character or highland dress.

More films will be shown at the halls from October, so look out for posters etc.

Parade, Play, Pets & Photos Monaltrie Park was busy all Sunday afternoon with numerous attractions drawn to the vehicle parade and fayre.

Monday’s Messy Play was well-attended as always and the afternoon’s Pet Show was a highlight for all involved, while Amy Muir’s Victorian Photo Studio on Tuesday and Wednesday morning proved a real hit, as expected. Some of the results can be seen on subsequent pages of your Eagle and more at www.amymuir.com.

It is hoped that this talented young lady will run the studio again at this year’s Winter Festival at the end of November so make sure you get along for some truly unique fun.

Fun & Games A sporty day on Wednesday saw scores of people putting, bowling and snatching a volley at the tennis tournament. Games Day was just glorious and Friday saw numerous children enjoy a trip to the Magic Forest with the Forestry

Commission. Saturday’s Back to ‘87 Discos for kids (Albert Hall) and grown-ups (Glenaden Hotel) were a sight to behold and VW ’s organisers were delighted to finish the week with a duck race on the River Dee.

‘Runaway’ Ducks Around 70 ducks are still at large, quite possibly on their way to Norway, so if you find one or more caught in the banks on your travels please return it to a committee member or contact VW on the contacts below!

Evening events throughout the week were slightly marred by lower attendances than in previous years, and this is thought to be down to a number of factors, including the success of our Olympic athletes in London and the tightening effects of recession.

J.Lanigan Engineer

C.S.M. Aerial Satellite Deeside and Donside sky approved installers

Strathgirnoc Farmhouse South Deeside Road Ballater Tel: 013397 56227 Mobile: 07506951506 Email: C-S-M_Aerials@hotmail.co.uk

34

However, the first CLAN Quiz to be held at the Deeside Inn raised £280 for the cancer charity and the ever-popular Ballater Songsters concert raised £1,000 to be split between the Ballater V&A Halls Development Committee and The Ballater Enhancement Group.

Further local organisations and groups which will benefit from the profits raised during Victoria Week will be announced at the committee’s AGM in November.

Looking Ahead Ballater Victoria Week is organised and run entirely by volunteers, a small committee of around 10 people and countless characters across the area who are good enough to share their time and expertise to make things happen.

More are always needed. Of this year’s festivities, BVW coordinator Adrian Scripps

Celicall Crafts G. Cowie, Workshop,

3 Braemar Road, Ballater Telephone: 013397 55699

By Appointment to H.R.H.The Prince Of Wales The Duke Of Rothesay Picture Framer Celicall Crafts, Ballater

Bespoke Picture Framer established over 25 Years.

Tapestry & Needlework framed.

Supplier of framed Fishing Flies, framed River Maps and local Pen and Ink Sketches.

said: “We all had a ball and made so many new friends this year, both on the ground and in cyberspace.

“We also learned a lot of lessons to take forward to next year to help make VW even better for all involved.

“I quite fancy adding some wheelie bin racing to the mix. Any takers?”

Many more photos from this year ’s events can be found on Facebook or at w w w. ballater victoriaweek.co.uk.

If you’d like to get involved in making Victoria Week 2013 a tr uly vintage year then get in touch with the committee through info@ballatervictoriaweek.co.uk or on 013397 55243 or 55018 and, above all, Be Amused.

“For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together. For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad. ” Edwin Way Teale

School Pages Issue 66 a short explanation Apparently there were a few raised eyebrows at the subject of Ballater School’s tribute to the Queen which formed the middle pages of the Eagle’s Jubilee Issue.

The P1/2 class had been studying an amusing picture book by Nicholas Allen called “The Queen’s Knickers”, in which a little girl wonders what knickers Her Majesty will choose to wear on a school visit. This is what inspired their drawings.

The Editor

Amy Brings the Victorian Age 35 to Life by Cat Houston Sitting pretty, but who’s the little girl with the parasol?

Talented local snapper Amy Muir’s Victorian Photo Studio, which was held in Glenmuick Church Hall over two mornings during Victoria Week, proved very popular and saw around 80 participants dress up and look serious for the camera.

The results were simply stunning - as illustrated over the following few pages of your Eagle - and participants’ donations helped raise more cash for VW causes.

More of the photos will be on display at VW’s AGM in November and it is hoped to perhaps run Amy’s studio again later that month at Ballater’s Winter Festival to give more people the opportunity to take part.

Grateful thanks are due to the Deeside Musical Society for the kind loan of their costumes.

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Telephone Orders Welcome Opening Hours: Open 7 days a week Sunday to Thursday : 4pm – 11pm Friday & Saturday : 4pm – 11.30pm

Graham Brown, Ballater Accountant becomes a strong man for the shoot.

April to October (summer) Sunday to Thursday 4pm – 12am Friday & Saturday 4pm – 12.30pm We only accept cash

36

More of Amy Muir’s Victorian photos Left - Kirsteen Harper; below centre Alec. Opposite page - left, Pat and Alan Russell; right, Megan and Caitlin Lanigan.

U n f o r t u n a t e l y, w e don’t have the names of the young sailor and the elegant Victorian Lady, but thank you to everyone who dressed up and t o o k part.

The Hair Loft Ballater Hairstyling Sarah, Sarah jane, Corrina & Sylvia all stylists have had training at vidal sassoon, London and Cheynes of Edinburgh

Open Tues - Sat Please call for an appointment Netherley Place Tel: 013397 56317

La Mangiatoia Ristorante & Pizzeria

Bridge Square Ballater Tel. 013397-55999

C.S.M. Handyman J.Lanigan All the little jobs you can’t get any1 to do

general maintenance inside and out, gutter cleaning, garden tidying, chimney sweep, etc.

Strathgirnoc Farmhouse South Deeside Road Ballater Tel. 013397 56227 Mobile 07506951506 Email: C-S-M_Aerials@hotmail.co.uk

38

Seasonal Produce Apple Chutney

4lb. apples 1 lb. brown sugar 11/2 pints of vinegar 1 /2 lb. stoneless raisins 2 dessertspoonsful mustard 2 dessertspoonsful of salt A few chillies and mustard seeds 1 /2 oz. garlic Peel and core the apples. Slice them and boil for twenty minutes in the vinegar. Then add all the other ingredients and boil again for about twenty minutes more, or until apples are pulpy. Pour into jars and when cold, cover closely.

Sloe Gin

1 bottle of gin 1 /2 lb. sloes 4 oz. loaf sugar Put all the ingredients into a large jar for three

months stirring and shaking it daily. Then strain and bottle (21st century tip - prick the sloes using a fork - or hairbrush! - to release the essence).

Apple Jelly (fresh fruit)

Apples Lemon Peel Water Preserving Sugar Cut the apples in quarters and boil them in a little water till they become soft enough to be crushed with a wooden spoon. Drain them through a jelly bag and measure the juice which is collected. To each pint allow 3/4 lb. of sugar and the strained juice of a lemon. Boil all together in a preserving pan until the syrup sets quickly when tested. Pour into clean jars and cover when cold.

Recipies by Mary Woodman, taken from Foulsham’s Home Library edition: ‘How to make Jams and Preserves in your own Home’ (published early 1950s).

Wee Jim Landscapes

The I N V E R HOTEL

James Anderson

Crathie, By Ballater

Bridgefoot, Glenmuick, Ballater Aberdeenshire AB35 5SN

Log fires and a warm welcome at The Inver Open to non residents Good food & fine wines Lunches & Dinners Reservations Required Telephone 013397 42345 www.inverhotel.com

Firewood Available Call for details Tel: 013397 55997 Mobile: 07821 746756 Email: weejim03@live.co.uk

Sluiemohr Jubilee Song

by Betty Wilson

This is the day of Jubilee, But Mary isn’t here, But Pam’s about, to meet our needs And fill us with good cheer.

Where is Mary? – in Aboyne?

No, much more out of reach.

She’s gone to give herself a tan, On some sunny Grecian beach.

Eileen’s now in number 12, She’s settled in, it’s true.

At Rummikub she is a wiz, And cryptic crosswords, too, But she has to look at that old trike And misses the scenic view.

Robert had a Birthday tea Invited all the folk; So busy with the food and drink, He’d no time for a smoke!

Bel’s the dowager duchess, Been here for many a day; When she’s around there’s laughter And she has a lot to say.

Ann and John are quiet ones, But they are always there To give support in different ways And show how much they care.

At fly-cup time Jimmy appears, Tall and handsome he; Enjoying all the blether And pouring out the tea.

Kate is partial to a dram!

She likes to walk about, To exercise her plastic knees And wear the carpet out.

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Wullie’s Glasgow humour Is well known in the town, As with his three wheel limousine He wanders up and down.

Bob and Bunty, salt of the earth, Always on the go; Writing letters, feeding pussies, odd-job fixing, Painting pictures, planting flowers, fruitcake mixing And much more, I know.

Cheery Chrissie, local quine, Loves to reminisce Of happenings in the good old days, We all relate to this.

Cathy drives the local bus.

Sandy keeps the flat And tends the garden by the door, Sooty helps with that!

The Queen is of our vintage, Sixty years she’s led the nation, And so we gather here today To join the celebration!

We salute her Majesty, Whatever lies in store.

God keep her safe and healthy, And God bless Sluiemohr.

“Gardening imparts an organic perspective on the passage of time.”

William Cowper

Victoria & Albert Halls Funding by Bell Macaulay

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Victoria & Albert Halls Improvement Project has received a funding boost thanks to players of a charity lottery. The Project was recently awarded £2,000 by People’s Postcode Trust, a grant giving charity, funded entirely by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

The Project Team has used the money towards the cost of obtaining the services of an architect to establish how best to proceed towards improving facilities for all Halls users.

The complexities of the Victorian building in Ballater require professional expertise to provide facilitation and procurement of appropriate costings from qualified contractors. The professional support, industry contacts, technical knowledge and expertise of a firm of architects were felt to be vitally important.

Graham Stuart Plumbing & Heating Engineers

Bathrooms Boiler Replacements Pressurised Systems Oil Fired, Solid Fuel or Underfloor Central Heating

The “scope for work”, would cover the procurement of estimates including preparing descriptions of the work to be done, preparing tender issues, reviewing these estimates when submitted and inspecting the completed work.

Ian Hay, chairman of the Project Team said “ The invaluable assistance given by the People’s Postcode Lottery will enable us to progress more quickly the proposed improvements to our community halls. The generosity of the Trust is greatly appreciated by the Project Team and by the community, which will hopefully soon see the benefits of our progress”.

People’s Postcode Lottery is Britain’s charity lottery. Players play with their postcodes to win cash prizes while raising money for good causes.

People’s Postcode Lottery aids charities and community initiatives across the whole country, and money raised by players in Scotland remains in Scotland.

To find out more about applying to People’s Postcode Trust funding and the projects which it supports, visit www.postcodetrust.org.uk If you’d like to be in with a chance to win cash prizes while supporting local charities, then sign up for People’s Postcode Lottery at www. postcodelottery.com or call 0808 10-9-8-7-6-5.

Cindy Adams PG Dip (Coun)

Person Centred Counsellor Tel: 013397 55627 / Fax: 56342 Mobile: 07836 562946

1 Netherley Place

Est. 1975

Tel: 07969 495399

Memories of a Virginian in Ballater Given below is a letter received by the Eagle from a lady in Virginia, U.S.A. We have established that the Ballater Hotel to which she refers was until recently known as St. Andrew’s Nursing Home, and that the shop to which she refers was Richmond’s Stores in Golf Road, now the Vet’s Surgery. The red haired man who worked in that shop was Alfie Adler. These details have been passed on already. However, if any reader has information regarding Miss Roy, the Eagle will be pleased to pass this on.

(The Editor.)

Dear Sir, During 1966, from April to October, I worked as a waitress for Miss Roy at the Ballater Hotel, which was through the village and if I remember correctly, at a turn in the road on the right hand side. It was built right against a mountain and near enough to the little park beside the River Dee, that I could walk the black lab and wee west highland terrier, one of my most enjoyable tasks.

I was an American on holiday and used to ride by bike into town to get cigarettes for Miss Roy’s brother, who had a stroke and was homebound, and anything else we needed at the hotel. They had stopped the trains coming from Aberdeen to Ballater the year before, which greatly harmed the summer tourist trade. People did not want to interrupt their journey by transferring from train to bus at Aberdeen.

There was a little store run by a man with red hair where I also picked up needed supplies.

I cannot tell you what happy memories I cherish of my working holiday in Ballater. The people were warm and friendly and greatly enjoyed my ‘southern’ accent’ and I was equally delighted with their Scottish brogue. On my half day off, I would cycle through the highlands. I vividly re-

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member hearing the bagpipes keening in the early morning as they prepared for the Braemar Games and biking past the train station and catching a glimpse of the - I think - Gordon Highlanders at the station.

I was wondering if the Ballater Hotel was still in service, though obviously under different management? I have searched the different sites for views of downtown Ballater, the main street with the candy shop and the one selling kilts but have been unable to find any photos.

Forgive the ramblings of an old lady. I suppose I was just wondering if anyone remembered anything about Miss Roy and the Ballater Hotel or maybe even a young lass from Virginia, who worked there during the season in 1966?

Sincerely Carolyn Brooks Daly

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The Fit o’Gairn Kirkyard

Saint Mungo is credited with building his early church here, where the rivers Gairn and Dee meet. Mungo must have been a busy monk, as Holy Wells bearing his name can be found all over Scotland. As children, we certainly drank from Saint Mungo’s Well, which, in the 1940s, was an iron mug attached to a chain and fed from a rusty pipe above the graveyard. In recent times this source seems to have disappeared.

One bright, but cold, morning last winter I visited Saint Mungo’s kirkyard and found it a profoundly moving experience. As children, we often cycled up the ‘auld line’ to Mrs Don’s shoppie at the Brig o’Gairn; we would buy chocolate or a soft drink before having a look in at the graveyard. At Easter, our main interest was birds’ nests in the ivy of the roofless chapel, and we would then explore Charlie Lawrence’s farm yard before heading back down the ‘auld line’.

by Ian Cameron

This time things were different. Alone, I took time to walk amongst the gravestones and found myself in a Rip van Winkle world. Here in a corner I found John Stewart, the registrar’s grave, the same John Stewart whose signature is on my Birth Certificate. I can still remember my mother saying how kind he was to her when she went to register my birth.

Further along was Provost Richmond’s grave.

The Provost ran the grocery shop at the corner of Golf Road and Dee Street. He drove a 1937 Dodge delivery van on country rounds and his performance in succeeding to fit this large van into its narrow Dee Street garage each night was quite memorable. Provost Willie Richmond also had the first post-war council houses in Ballater named after him at Richmond Place.

Next I noticed Ian Sheach’s gravestone: Ian lived on Dee Street, only a few yards up from Willie Richmond’s shop. Ian suffered from ill

health that ruled out heavy work, but he had a gift for painting and illustrating, that, in those computer-less times, was much sought after.

Ian produced all the posters that advertised the dances, whist drives, election meetings, WRI meetings, hall meetings, British Legion meetings and Church functions. He used poster paints and his style of illustrating was that of the ‘art nouveau’.

As you walk through the old graveyard at the Fit o’Gairn you notice how the rows of gravestones all face east and to the Holy Land. The last long-ruined chapel in their midst is similarly orientated. The old folk had an empathy with nature and the metaphysical that their pre-Reformation Faith had nurtured with imagery and a grace that endures to keep this a special place still.

Glengairn, along with the Braes of Mar and Glenlivet, supported enclaves of Roman Catholicism that the Reformers passed by, to the extent that the McGregors of Dalfad further up the Gairn, felt sufficiently emboldened to erect a tall crucifix on the slopes of the Mammie Hill to broadcast their persuasion to the world.

Although widely regarded as renegades and cattle thieves, the McGregors were Lairds of Dalfad in their own right living in Glengairn for more than 100 years from 1634 until after the 1745 rebellion. A staunchly Catholic family, they sent their sons to be priests, built a chapel in the Dalfad birch woods, and farmed extensively at Dalfad, Ardoch and Inverenzie on Gairnside, and also at Auchallater beyond Braemar and Wester Micras in Crathie.

Old records talk of the ‘McGregors of the lime’, and bearing in mind the agricultural ‘improvements’ movement of that time, it is interesting to note that the lime-rich Mammie Hill would have been part of their Dalfad ground and the evidence of lime quarrying above Ardoch, still to be seen today, would have been a later and more legitimate McGregor enterprise.

Although the McGregors had built their own chapel at Dalfad, where you can still see gravestones, we find here in Fit o’Gairn kirkyard the

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grave of Father Lachlan McIntosh, long serving priest to the upper Glengairn Catholics. Born in Braemar in 1753, Lachlan McIntosh spent a term at Scanlon in 1770, the Catholic seminary on the Braes of Glen Livet. From there he was sent to the Scots College, Valladolid, in Spain to train for the priesthood. His training there was interrupted when he won a Spanish lottery. There are reports of his leaving Spain and spending time in Madeira where he became seriously ill. After recovering his health, he made his way back to Valladolid and was ordained as a priest in 1782.

Father Lachlan McIntosh returned to Scotland to serve as priest on Glen Gairn for 63 years.

In recent times the Archbishop Conti was instrumental in refurbishing Fr.Lachlan’s gravestone. It is unique in that his gravestone faces west, while all others face east.

I have been told that on Resurrection Day, Fr. Lachlan will rise to face his congregation and guide them thereon.

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Cairngorm National Park Authority by Katrina Farquhar

Following on from my piece in the summer issue of the Ballater Eagle, which was apparently appreciated by readers, I thought I would tell you about another visit the board members have made.

This time we went to Glenshee, Killiecrankie and Blair Atholl. As it is one of my sister’s favourite places to visit I was already quite familiar with Blair Castle, The Caravan Park, and the beautiful golf course with the refreshing club house to finish!

There are numerous walks and cycle paths for all to use around the area. We have even been known to walk from the Linn of Dee, down The Tilt, past Forest Lodge arriving at Blair Atholl caravan site.

However I didn’t realise what other great things that are also available for visitors and locals alike. The Blair Athol area is relatively new to the National Park but a very important one. Our

Board member, Kate Howie, from Blair Atholl, is a great asset to the Board with a font of knowledge for us all to learn from.

Back to our visit. On the Thursday evening some of the Board members stopped off at The Glenshee Pottery & Visitor Centre at the entrance to the Park. There is a vast array of things to look at and a newly created Visitor Centre with information panels and a large stock of free information guides.

There is also a wide range of local crafts, gifts and souvenirs, “paint a pot” and a delicious selection of cakes, teas and coffees. There is also a DVD display with some great film footage of visitors travelling to The Braemar Gathering over the Devil’s Elbow.

We then travelled on to Blair Atholl staying overnight at The Atholl Hotel and had our Board

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meeting there in the morning. In the afternoon we travelled down to Killiecrankie visitor centre which is run by The National Trust for Scotland.

One of the CNPA visions is to enable us to work well together with all our partners, NTS being one of them. The staff met us at the car park and we had a look around a well stocked and attractive shop, we then took a walk along one of the way marked paths.

form is suspended below the Garry Bridge where you free fall 40 metres towards the water at over 50mph!

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Now that is a taster for all you readers. Why not pay the area a visit sometime soon. It is just over an hour’s drive from Ballater.

To finish, there have been some changes recently to the Board. Firstly our convenor David Green is stepping down in September and will be replaced by Duncan Bryden.

We also have a new economic development officer in The Cairngorms Business Partnership, Sandra Middleton from Braemar.

The National Park Partnership Plan was launched at The Royal Highland Show by Richard Lochhead and the Board Members formally adopted it on the 6 July.

If you have any questions, or need to get in touch with me for whatever reason, all my details are at the front of the Eagle.

Katrina Farquhar, CNPA Board Member

The Pass of Killiekrankie is three miles north of Pitlochry and for one mile it threads through the deep, steep, thickly wooded gorge of the Garry, between a spur of Ben Vrackie and Tenandry Hill.

The sheer history leaches out and into you, the haunting battles that have taken place over the centuries giving you a bit of a shiver down your spine! I must also mention there is a Soldiers Leap and you must see it to believe it, I can assure you.

On some of the viewpoints you really appreciate how narrow the Pass is. The NTS staff entertain buses of school children all year round, re-enacting battles and competing in treasure trails. For the bravest of us all these days there is of course the bungee jump which is Britain’s only static jump. A specially constructed plat-

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Pottering About...

Well, dear readers, I promised you an update of the jar of marmalade’s travels to Italy…

As I explained a couple of issues ago, an innocent post on Facebook that I had just made my annual batch of marmalade, led to an invitation to take a jar to a fellow Humanist whom I’d never met but had conversed with through the wonders of the internet.

So off went the jar of marmalade, accompanied by a friend and me, to the Italian Lakes, via Glenshee and Edinburgh airport. There were some odd looks as I carefully photographed the jar in various places en route.

We had to part company for the flight as apparently there’s a possibility I could make explosives from home-made preserves. It survived the trip though. It was a delight to meet my Italian friend and he was delighted with the marmalade.

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by Stella Potter

We had a wonderful few days exploring the stunning area where he lives.

There was a curious cultural thing I discovered. On various railings around Lake Como there were many padlocks, and on further inspection they were all locked and engraved or painted with initials on each side.

My friend explained that lovers lock their padlock to the ironmongery and throw the key in the lake. What a wonderful gesture! Although I did wonder if there would be hacksaws at dawn if the relationship didn’t work out, I then thought that a ceremonial sawing of the padlock off the railings could actually be a very satisfying break up gesture…

A couple of weeks after our return, my friend plaintively posted that he had finished the jar.

Stella’s marmalade makes it safely over Glenshee and flies via Edinburgh to Italy

I’ve told him that, like all other recipients, he’ll have to wait until the next batch, and suggested he can come here to collect it so I can return the fabulous hospitality.

It was huge fun to take this trip which wouldn’t have been possible without the joys of social media on the internet.

Later in the summer my daughters and I took our approximately bi-annual trip to the US to spend time with my brother and his family. It was a wonderful watery holiday to Thousand Islands and Rhode Island, with much mucking about in and on water.

As usual I particularly enjoyed kayaking and mused about doing it here, as does my eldest who currently lives on the shore of Loch Ness. It’s the cold water that puts me off. Although I’ve never capsized I wouldn’t like to think of my survival chances in, say, Loch Muick. My cuddliness would ensure a longer survival in cold water than those skinnier than me, but then there’s my

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arthritis, only being a handful of years off my bus pass and not as flexible as my leaner fellows. Let alone what a size 20ish –preferably colourful! – wetsuit might cost.

Is there a middle aged kayaking group about?

I’d love to join one… there’s something rather wonderful about gently paddling, being so close to the wildlife and exploring under one’s own steam…

Having availed ourselves of much family hospitality – a concept I think that should always be mutual – we are looking forward to welcoming extended family here soon.

It started with a cousin and her partner, doing a whistle stop tour of the UK and wanting to come north after the Edinburgh Festival. Nae problem.

As these things do, it’s expanded. Now it’s the couple, both sets of parents and two brothers!

Challenging but I’m anticipating much fun.

Isn’t life just grand? I hope yours is too…

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The Saltire

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by Sheila Sedgwick

All around the country, flags have been flying to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee. Ballater has had its fair share. Among the flags were many saltires. In Scots, the Banner o’Scotland, in Gaelic Bratach na h-Alba – it is our national flag.

According to legend, the apostle Andrew was put to death at Patras in Achaia on an X shaped cross. He had converted the wife of the Roman pro-consul to Christianity and this was his punishment.

By 1180 in the reign of William I of Scotland, the image of Andrew on his cross first appears.

It was used on royal seals and a particularly fine example is that used by the Guardians of Scotland in 1286.

The simple cross, the saltire or crux decussata – from the Latin for cross and the shape of the Roman numeral X (ten) - was more generally

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used at the end of the 14th century. In 1385 the Scottish Parliament directed that soldiers should wear a cross on their clothes, behind and in front or on their shields to assist in identification.

St. Andrew’s cross as a flag, first appeared about 1503 in the Vienna Book of Hours. The saltire there appears on a red background. In Scotland the blue background to St.Andrew’s cross appeared in the 15th century but the first illustration was around 1542 in Sir David Lyndsay of the Mount’s Register of Scottish Arms.

The legend of the flag associated with St. Andrew says that in 832 King Oengus II led a force of Picts and Scots to defeat the Angles under Athelstan near Athelstaneford in East Lothian.

According to Walter Bower’s Scotichronicon, a Latin History written about 1440, a Pictish warrior named Unust or Oengus, prayed to St. Andrew for help, promising to make him patron saint of Scotland if he won the forthcoming battle.

In the morning a white cross appeared in the blue sky. Although having a smaller force, Oengus and his men won the battle. They interpreted the crux decussata as the cross on which Andrew died.

Oengus kept his promise and Andrew became Scotland’s patron saint.

According to tradition, Braemar had associations with Andrew long before St. Andrews. The ford over the Dee to the east of Braemar Castle was in early use. The mounded site was Doldencha (Dail dun atha), the fort at the haugh ford.

In the 8th century Hungus or Angus MacFergus, King of the Picts from 731 – 761, was resting after a military campaign, when he was visited by Acca, Bishop of Hexham in Northumbria, who was in exile from his See. He had asked for, and been granted sanctuary by the Picts. Acca had with him some relics of St. Andrew, reputedly brought to the western world, in accordance with usual practice, by Regulus. MacFergus venerated the relics and built a chapel in honour of St.

Andrew. So Braemar had associations with St. Andrew even before St. Andrews! It was probably on the site of the Farquharson Mausoleum.

The heraldic name for an X shaped cross is a saltire, from the French saultoir, derived from Latin saltatorum. This was a country style made of two cross-pieces of wood or metal.

On the saltire flag, shades of blue on the background have varied according to the type of dye used. When the flag was incorporated into the Union Flag, darker blue was a more durable dye for maritime use. Eventually, variations resulted in a desire for some standardisation of colour and in 2003 the Scottish Parliament adopted a specific blue known as Pantone 300, lighter than the blue in the Union Jack.

The ratio of width of bars on the cross is specified in heraldry as one third to one fifth of the width of the field.

The saltire is one of the key components of the Union Jack, formed at the union of the crowns in 1603 when James VI of Scotland acceded to the thrones after Elizabeth’s death. James’ heralds combined the two flags but with St. George taking precedence over St. Andrew, the Scots considered this a slight. Nobles and ship owners complained to John Erskine, !8th Earl of Mar, feudal superior in this area who wrote to the King and the Privy Council. There was however no change. In 1707 Queen Ann and her officials approved the version with the cross of St. George uppermost.

Remembering our history, we can fly the Saltire with pride.

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Tel: 013397 55505 www.ballaterpo.net

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Policing Deeside

by PC Fiona Brown

In addition to dealing with the usual variety of incidents and investigating crime, it has been an interesting summer being a police officer in Deeside.

This started with the memorable Olympic Torch relay when nearly 100 Torchbearers carried the Olympic Flame through Grampian in a two-day relay which stretched from Tomintoul, through Aberdeen and out through Stonehaven.

The Olympic Convoy was welcomed into Grampian by nearly 3,500 people at Tomintoul before arriving for a formal reception at Balmoral Castle.

Nearly 20,000 people filled the streets of Deeside’s towns and villages as the flame passed through Aberdeenshire.

The event highlights how many other departments within the Police force regularly support local Policing in Deeside. We are currently in the

midst of the annual Games and Show season and are committed to Policing these, assisted by Roads Policing, Dog Section and Pro-active teams (plain clothed officers).

With HM Queen Elizabeth II in residence, we are also working closely with Metropolitan Police, the Royalty Protection Officers, Special Branch and Firearms Officers, Search teams and Dog Section.

The Wildlife Crime Unit also has a regular presence in Deeside and we have been involved in the River Watch campaign which was launched in the spring in conjunction with the Crime Reduction Unit.

The initiative has seen us carry out work in relation to reducing poaching and other criminality associated with the river. This was followed by an awareness-raising initiative where Police

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and Bailiffs worked jointly in upper Deeside.

Together, they visited a number of hotels, B&Bs and restaurant premises to give advice on general crime prevention for anglers and information on how to report Wildlife / River crimes.

Keeping Deeside’s roads safe is a priority and as ever, Roads Policing are regularly patrolling Deeside in both marked and unmarked Police cars. Together we are involved in Operation Zenith, an initiative which promotes safer motorcycle riding standards. Continually striving to improve road safety, the Force has launched an initiative to reduce the number of motorists over the age of 60 being involved in serious or fatal collisions.

The ‘Be a SMART Driver’ campaign was rolled out in Aberdeenshire after figures revealed that 23% of those killed as a result of collisions on Grampian roads were people over the age of 60, with 68% of those collisions occurring in Aberdeenshire.

The initiative aims to highlight issues which can affect any driver’s ability, many of which become more pertinent among older drivers.

Drivers who follow the SMART advice should ensure that they are;

Safe, Medically Fit, Alert, Responsible, Taking Control.

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will highlight the need for all drivers to take personal responsibility for their own health and fitness to drive. Any of us can suffer from poor eyesight or health conditions which can affect our driving.

As we get older we need to think more about these issues. The campaign will offer drivers advice and support, which hopefully will allow them to keep driving for longer and to be safer while they are doing so.

Information on the campaign will soon be distributed throughout Aberdeenshire in Medical Practices, Libraries, Police Stations and Council buildings, and Road Safety Grampian staff will be engaging with people in Aberdeenshire at public events and workshops throughout the remainder of the year.

Should you wish to contact any of the above mentioned departments or report a crime, contact Grampian Police Service Centre on 0845 600 5 700.

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The Ballater Improvements Association 1934 – 1936

by Janet Riddler

This association numbered the great and the good of Ballater and district amongst its members.

In 1934 its honorar y president was Colonel Farquharson of Invercauld, honorary vice-presidents were Colonel Sir Victor MacKenzie, A Keiller, Esq of Morven, Colonel Milne of Invermuick, C M Barclay Harvey Esq, MP, of Dinnet and honorary patrons were Lord Glentanar, Sir Malcolm Ramsay, Dr Middleton, Mrs Anderson of Oakhall, H B Anderson of Darroch Learg, J Keiller Greig of The Craggan and C Stewart of Glenbardie.

The committee consisted of Major A Cowe, president, W M Grant, vice-president, G Montgomery, secretary, Mrs A MacDonald, treasurer, and some 20 members who were variously members of the advertising committee, the

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entertainments committee, the seat committee and the ladies’ committee.

The Association issued 16000 copies of a guide book and accommodation list in conjunction with a joint advertising scheme with the railway company. Nearly £30.00 was spent on advertising. There was also a Ballater Bulletin to inform visitors of the various activities offered by the Association for their entertainment.

Walks & Seats In 1934 the Association decided to improve the paths and walks around Craigendarroch and Sluievannachie, place more seats and repair the old path from Garranmohr along the riverside.

More than 50 seats were placed around the burgh and the Association agreed to pay £2.00 extra to have a seat placed on the Hill of Craigendarroch.

The Association also owned a shelter which they proposed to move to the Church Green to serve as a central office.

The Association was granted use of a summer house belonging to the North Bank and situated between the bank and the Victoria Hall as an information bureau free of charge. Health and Safety was obviously a consideration, as the swings were to be locked until it could be ascertained who would be responsible in case of an accident.

A Civic Week was organised for the last week in August, with a dance, a display by the Oakbank Boys Pipe Band, fireworks, a treasure hunt on the Church Green and an ambitious plan for floodlighting Craigendarroch, which does not appear to have happened.

The Association, in co-operation with the Aboyne Improvements Association, lobbied for an earlier postal delivery to Upper Deeside.

Plans for 1935 included obtaining a lease on

land west of Sluievannachie, placing more seats at the foot of Craigendarroch, securing a lease for fishing on part of the Dee, having at least one outdoor entertainment every week during the season and improving the paths round the golf course if the Golf Club would agree.

At the beginning of the year, the Association agreed to support a petition by the Braemar General Purposes Committee to have a road built from Braemar to Kingussie through Glenfeshie.

During the season the Association organised dances in the Victoria Hall, a Sports Day and performances of a play by the Banchory Dramatic Club.

Fishy Business They were unsuccessful in gaining fishing rights for the Dee or the Gairn, although Sir Victor MacKenzie pointed out that trout fishing was free from the mouth of the Muick to the Falls of Muick and he generally gave permission for a day’s fishing on Loch Muick. Also, “an unexpected difficulty” had arisen in connection with removing the fence at Garranmohr so that improvements to the paths there could not be made.

In 1936 the membership fee for the Association was set at 2/- (10pence) with traders and hotel and boarding house proprietors being asked to pay a little more.

There was to be no Civic Week this year but the Association continued to arrange dances and band performances.

The Association’s Bulletin was advertised in various local and national newspapers, the over-

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seas edition of the Daily Mail and, under a scheme carried out by the Railway Company, advertising folders were to be delivered to “selected houses in streets of the best localities in some of the principal towns in the Industrial areas in the North of England.”

The seats belonging to the Association were repaired and repainted at a cost of £10.00.

A few fancy dress dances were to be held this year by various organisations so it was decided to hold a “Fancy Head Dress Only Dance” with 200 dance tickets and 80 spectators’ tickets. 600 sandwiches and 400 cakes were to be provided.

The Association agreed to pay for improvements to the walks on the 3 Church Greens.

Sheep Dog Trials were arranged in June with Mr Reid, Milton of Tullich, helping with the arrangements. A £5 note was offered as first prize.

The Ladies’ Committee, under the guidance

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of Major Cowe, organised a Free Gift Sale and Tea in June and made a profit of over £36. The Sheep Dog Trials brought in more than £39 and Mr Reid was to be presented with an inscribed ash tray mounted with a sheep and sheep dog in recognition of his contribution to the success.

A carnival dance was held in September for which 216 paper hats and 6 rolls of scores of streamers were purchased. Sandwiches, cakes, tea and lager were provided at the buffet, with ice cream supplied by D’Agostinos and aerated waters by Messrs Hay. A whist drive and dance was held in November in aid of the New Infirmary Building Appeal. One of the raffle prizes was a pair of drakes!

At the end of the year Mr Charles Johnston was accorded a tribute of praise both for his

support and assistance as the local press representative and for his meteorological expertise in looking after the barograph and weather reports. At the AGM the committee agreed to continue its activities in the following year.

“Spring passes and one remembers one’s innocence.

Summer passes and one remembers one’s exuberance.

Autumn passes and one remembers one’s reverence.

Winter passes and one remembers one’s perseverance.”

Yoko Ono

Larks Gallery

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Ozzymandias of the Arrigation 55

by Wee Chis Part Four – ‘Airborne’

Eager to get my crank straightened and unaware of this discourse, ‘Loon’ put a spanner in his pocket that would undo the cotter pin securing my crank and made off down the road, where in the distance he could see his pal idly kicking a football against the wall of Seafield Cottage. As we passed Inchgarth, ‘Loon’ said, ‘Dae ye see that Ozzy, he’s been at it again’ and lying on the front lawn in perfect ‘V’ formation were the eight sections of the two heavy ceramic planters that normally stood either side of the front door.

Evidently this mild form of devilment was something his pal just couldn’t resist doing every time he passed that way late at night. As we approached, I could see that the loon to whom he had referred and kicking the football, was none other than his pal with the air gun, against whom ‘One Lug’ had been specifically warned.

It took only a moment for my crank to be straightened in his father’s vice and I was more than pleased to get rid of that irritating knock.

The older loon then borrowed his brother’s bike and on the spur of the moment they set off for a run to the Foot of Gairn. It was quite a hot day and to quench their thirst and wash down the wild raspberries on which they had just spent an hour gorging themselves, they stopped at the small grocer’s shop and managed to scrape together enough small change for two bottles of ginger beer.

‘Fit aboot a rin tae the Cock Peel,’ his pal said and they set off up the country track leading to one of their favourite fishing locations. The other bike, a ‘Marlborough’, was a amiable sort and at the roadside where the loons left us, we swapped yarns in Bikespeak for several hours, while in the distance, the two loons were happy

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trying their best to raise the level of the Gairn, with the many stones that lined the bank.

The sun was just beginning to set when they returned and set a course for home, but we had travelled less than a mile before tragedy struck. Without warning, I felt my chain snap. Neither loon had thought to bring any tools and in any case without a spare link, there was no hope of a repair. Nonplussed, the big one said, ‘You bide here, I mind seeing a good piece o’ rope back there by thon auld coo shed. I’ll nip back and get it and I’ll gie ye a tow hame.’ ‘Loon’ sat down to await his return.

‘Sorry ‘Ozzy,’ he said, ‘I should’ve kent better than to use yer auld chain and I guess the stress yer previous owner pit ye under must hae finally taken its toll.’ How I wished I could have told him how right he was!

Before long the tall loon returned and about fifteen feet of rope was firmly attached to the saddle bar of the Marlborough and to just below my handlebars. Once we were underway

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again, all ‘Loon’ had to do was sit and steer me and, as instructed by the big loon, lightly apply my brakes on the downhill stretches, in order to keep the towrope tight and prevent it getting caught under my wheels.

Soon we were safely back at the ‘Foot o’ Gairn again, where they stopped for a rest and to get their money back on the empty bottles. ‘Well that wis nae bother at a,’ an I gey near forgot ye were there,’ said the big loon. ‘Noo it’ll be easier if we stick tae the main road an eence we get ye tae the tap o the Darroch, we’ll hae a richt good run doon tae the village.

The big loon had strong legs and despite the uphill gradient they had soon left the entrance to the Pass of Ballater behind them and were passing the entrance to Craigendarroch Hotel. At the small gate just over the brow of the hill they paused for a final security check on the rope and ‘Loon’ moved me back until there was no slack left in it. In front of us stretched the tree lined Darroch Brae, with its slight left hand bend at the concrete pillbox and with not another vehicle in sight we had a clear run.

In hindsight, I suppose the rope could have easily been discarded at that stage and I could easily have freewheeled for most of the way home, but as I was to find out later, the brains of young loons do not always work logically and this expedient simply failed to cross their minds.

‘Loon’ gripped my handlebars tightly and with a shout of ‘right’, they leapt into our saddles, got their balance and away we sped Long before we had reached the pillbox on the corner we were travelling faster than I would ever have thought possible. The wind howled through my spokes creating a shrill whine, above which I could hear both loons whooping madly with the thrill of it all and being briefly reminded of the episode with Paddy Logan’s horse, I half expected to see old ‘One Lug’ and ‘BaHeid’ scuttling out of our way.

Darroch Learg passed in a blur and then, a few seconds later, as we approached the bottom of the brae, ‘Loon’ shouted out, ‘No-o-oh’ as

disaster struck for the second time that day.

On reaching the Towers Hotel, his pal, lost in his own world of speed and excitement, completely forgot that he still had us under tow and suddenly decided to turn into the unmade up roadway opposite, leading to the Old Line - a foolhardy move at that tremendous speed and, as it had yet to be tarmaced, even more dangerous because of the loose sandy surface. ‘Loon’ of course had expected him to carry straight on and now had no option but to follow his lead. I stared aghast as the wall of Ravenswood loomed up with startling clarity. After only one day, was this to be the end of my new career?

With great presence of mind however, ‘Loon’ then leaned me over as far as he could to the right, my pedal scraping a furrow in the ground and somehow he remained in the saddle, as pendulum like, the rope, now as taut as a steel hawser, swung us in a wide arc out to the left.

At that stage, my tyres were no longer touching the ground and for a brief second we were airborne. ‘Loon’, his knuckles white, fear

etched on his face, had my brakes held on hard, but of course with no effect. Ahead of us, the back wheel of the Marlborough also left the ground as the other loon fought bravely to keep it upright and as the wall at Ravenswood loomed ever closer, my tyres finally reconnected with the ground and scorched a path through the dandelions, nettles and assorted greenery along its base. ‘Brace yourselves lads,’ I croaked to my components, ‘we are going to miss the wall,’ but it was by a hairsbreadth and we still had to survive the inevitable crash landing.

The back wheel of the Marlborough crashed back to the ground and the big loon braked hard. I realised later, that it had been his strength and skill in keeping his machine powering forward and to the right that had pulled us away from the wall.

The whole episode had taken but a brief few seconds and ‘Loon’ and I skidded along helplessly on the sandy surface, until we collided heavily with the other machine. Both loons were winded

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came a shout, as its lady owner - and the big loon’s neighbour - approached, ‘Come away now and stop pestering the boys, they don’t want to play with you today and I expect they’re just having themselves a wee rest!’ Little did she realise what a great understatement she had just made. She then pulled her disappointed dog away, glancing back curiously, as both loons and us bikes, burst into great fits of relief driven laughter.

and for the moment, unable to move, they lay on the ground in a tangle of arms, legs, old rope and spinning wheels. Covered in a settling cloud of dust they felt themselves all over but miraculously, apart from a few grazes, like us bikes, they were unhurt I heard it then, a strange animal snuffling sound and immediately I thought of the squeakies.

Was I dreaming - surely it couldn’t be? But then the big loon dispelled that notion, for he said, ‘Ah get aff Daisy, ye muckle great slavering brute’ and there, standing over him and tail wagging furiously, as its enormous tongue licked the salty sweat from his face, was an old fat, grinning and very familiar golden retriever.

As we lay there in the dust, I wondered if the shiny new Hercules with all its fancy attachments could have survived such a disaster.

I was proud of the craftmanship that had gone into the making of me and of ‘Loon’ for his hard work in resurrecting me from the depths of that desert of despair.

We were to be great companions and share many adventures over the years and as result of all his care and maintenance, I never had cause to let him down again.

‘Aye! Aye! loons,’ it said in animal speak and between licks, ‘fit are ye daeing lying aboot on the grund, if ye’ve got yer ba, we could hae oorsels a wee game.’ ‘Come away now Daisy,’

AlexAndrA Hotel •

Lunch served 12 to 2pm

•

Evening meals 5pm to 9pm

•

En-suite accommodation

•

Children welcome

•

Local real ales

•

In the Good Beer Guide 2012

12 Bridge Square, Ballater

013397 55376

www.alexandrahotelballater.co.uk

photo by Bell Macaulay

photo by Roger O’Halloran

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Summer Memories...

...clockwise from top left: Jack O’Halloran & Elise Smith celebrate the Jubilee by becoming King & Queen for the day - Page 28; Albert Hall became the perfect Wedding setting - Page 15; Ballater comes together for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with a celebratory picnic; and Tillypronie wows the Floral Art Group Page 8.

photo by John Holley The Ballater & Crathie Eagle is made possible by:

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