The Banchory Fly 13 - Winter 2021

The Banchory Fly Community Magazine ISSUE 13 – WINTER 2021 – FREE!

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Dental practices in Aboyne and Banchory High quality private dental care in a comfortable environment Children welcome under the NHS Disabled access and easy parking Emergencies treated promptly Payment plans available Call us today for more information and to make an appointment

Aboyne Practice Old Ballater Road Aboyne AB34 5HN Tel: 013398 86177

Banchory Practice Fountain Lodge Station Road Banchory AB31 5YA Tel: 01330 822583

www.fountaindentalgroup.co.uk

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For advertising and editorial, please note the copy deadlines below and use the contacts listed at the bottom of the page DEADLINES . FEB 1 . MAY 1 . AUG 1 . NOV 1 PUBLISHED MAR JUNE SEPT DEC

Contents Welcome to Issue 13 of The Fly. Boom, it’s the festive season!

My new year’s resolution for 2022 is to say less and do more, hence the larger font here!

Thank you all enormously for your support of The BULLetin during 2021, another year of challenges but also tremendous resilience and determination to get everyone and everything back on track and happy.

Remember that community information is FREE to include in these pages, so if you have any news for the Spring edition (out early March), tell me about it by February 1st if you can.

Cat Houston Design/Editor

Cover Story Bike Trails Appeal Care Opportuni�es River Dee Radio Line of Sight Cllr's Contacts Adver�sers’ Index Ad Rates & Copy Dates

5 8 14 17 23 25 26 26

because

not everyone

is on facebook

get in touch via email to catrionahouston@yahoo.co.uk call Cat on 07805 731401 or find us on facebook (cos we are!)

3

INTRODUCING

Lochside of Leys

from award winning homebuilder Bancon Homes

A SUPERB RANGE OF LUXURIOUS 3 & 4 BEDROOM HOMES IN BANCHORY

Reserve today from only £312,495 Combining a secluded woodland setting with fantastic amenities close by, our superb Lochside of Leys development is in an enviable location in Banchory. Here you will discover a beautiful place to live in one of Aberdeenshire’s most sought after towns – and enjoy the freedom of a stunning brand new home in this inspiring rural landscape.

Become part of the Bancon Homes family today Email sales@bancon.co.uk or call 07918 677 891 to speak to our team or arrange an appointment

4

W W W.BANCONHOMES.COM

Do you have something to share?

Group or individual, let The Fly know what you are up to, using the contacts on p3 and 26.

Cover story:

School's facilities enhanced by house-builders' fence funding Banchory-based Bancon Homes has enhanced facilities for Life skills pupils at Banchory Primary School with the installation of a new fence.

The fence will allow children who previously had restricted outdoor access, to play safely and enjoy various outdoor learning activities for the first time in their own fenced playground.

The fence was funded by Bancon Homes and installed in conjunction with Aboyne based, Christie Fencing. The school’s specialist Life Skills Group provides support to pupils who need specialist social and emotional support.

Deputy head John Hughes said: “The new fence now allows for safe outdoor play resulting in the children feeling more independent. From the first day of term the children using the Life Skills room were outside, playing with equipment that gives a range of sensory experiences and enhances their learning. It is an exceptional addition to Banchory Primary School.

We have further plans to brighten this outside area with a range of equipment to stimulate learning.

"Our experience with Bancon was excellent. From the initial point of contact with Diane Stewart to communication with Jim Campbell it was extremely positive. Jim set up a few meetings with Earl Bashforth of Christie Fencing. They made suggestions and listened to what we were ideally looking for. There was nothing that was too much trouble.

"Some would say to put up a fence cannot change a school, yet over the last three weeks we have seen small changes in our pupils that would suggest the opposite. A massive thank you to Bancon and Christie Fencing for their very generous gift of the fence and the impact for all our pupils at Banchory Primary.”

Allan Clow, Managing Director of Bancon Homes, said: “We’re delighted to make this small improvement to the facilities at Banchory Primary School and It is fantastic to hear what a difference it is already making. We hope pupils get many years of enjoyment from their new playground.”

5

“So often, a visit to a bookshop has cheered me, and reminded me that there are good things in the world.” ~ Vincent van Gogh

YEADON’S BANCHORY

of

Come and do your Christmas shopping with us Customer Wish List available | Open 9.30am-5pm Find us online at uk.bookshop.org/shop/yeadons_of_banchory “I have gone [to this bookshop] for years, always finding the one book I wanted – and then three more I hadn’t known I wanted.” ~ Mary Ann Shaffer

Books | Cards | Gift Wrap | Ordering Service | Gift Wrapping | Dogs Welcome

20 Dee Street | Banchory | AB31 5ST | 01330 822221 | banchory@yeadons.co.uk

ABERDEENSHIRE ELECTRICAL SERVICES LTD T: M: E: F:

013398 85355 07855 678677 / 07583 834174 aberdeenshireelectricalsrvs@btinternet.com AberdeenshireElectricalSrvs

All aspects of electrical work undertaken by professionally qualified tradesmen for residential, commercial & industrial customers e.g. : • • • • • • • • •

PAT, EICR, Electrical Safety Reports etc.

Wiring of new builds and complete & partial rewires of existing buildings.

Scottish Building Standards approved for single signature sign off of installations.

Property Maintenance.

Supplier/Installer of renewables e.g., electric vehicle charging points, solar panels etc.

SMART home installation.

TV wall mounting installations.

Creating electrical plans.

Out of hours emergency call-outs. free estimates – all work guaranteed – no job too small – local business

New initiative's doors open to showcase local artists

Present Artists + Makers Hazeedazeedesigns Ivy Matilda Bright Star Jewellery Sooki Coo Candles Heather's Wood Crafts Trina Stark Angela Bolt Christine McLennan Deb Munro Hugh Ferguson Elsa Brown

From Number One to Studio 1!

Following the former's move to another part of Scott Skinner Square, the new initiative aimed at supporting local creatives and providing affordable retail space opened its doors at the beginning of November.

Featuring original art by local artists, individual and handcrafted items, local information and guide books, Studio 1 also has a range of Banchory themed gifts, including dram glasses, postcards, photo and map mounts, calendars, Heritage Walk books, and Farmers' Market jute bags to carry them in! Perfect present for the Banchory ex-pat in your life, or any resident fans.

Pictured on the easel above is one of two exclusive designs by V and Me Paperie, both of which feature an elegant illustrative style that hits all of Banchory's highlights!

The gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm. www.visitbanchory.com/things-to-do/ shopping/studio-1/ email studio1sssq@gmail.com

7

years 30we’ve on...

moved!

Original outdoor clothing Made in Scotland.

Used worldwide.

Community support is rife for bike trails (but we always need more!) writes Dr Gillian Archibold

Deeside Bike Collective is a registered charity passionate about delivering purpose-built mountain biking trails to Banchory.

We are currently involving the community in fundraising for the trails and have had a very good response.

Following on from our Ride & Seek event at Easter, in which over 100 families took part, the group launched Ride 4 Deeside, which saw children, families and friends setting their own cycling challenges throughout the month of October to raise

8

At Hilltrek we’ve been hand cra ing performance outdoor clothing on Royal Deeside for 30 years. Our story now continues in larger premises at

Deeside Activity Park.

hillgear.s

cot

Hilltrek clothing • Páramo shop • Outdoor clothing repairs

www.hilltrek.co.uk

01339 886062

funds for the trails. Among others, groups set up to do challenges varying from riding the Deeside Way, riding 10 laps of the Tarland trails, or just riding as many kilometres as possible.

Our position with trails is that we have a Community Asset Transfer Scheme purchase set up with Forestry and Land Scotland and have planning permission from the council for the trails.

We have large funding applications under way with the Scottish Land Fund and Scottish Cycling.

The community fundraising shows how important the project is to many people in the town and we are keen to widen our reach and inform more of the community about it.

The campaign can be seen at www. justgiving.com/campaign/Ride4Deeside Our website includes further information on the project. www. deesidebikecollective.co.uk

Watson’s Veggies + Fine Foods Fresh fruit and vegetables and lots of other essentials delivered to your door Delivery available to: Banchory | Strachan | Aboyne | Crathes Peterculter | Milltimber | Cults | Westhill | Kingswells | Countesswells Plus you can Click and Collect from The Veg Shed in Drumoak 5 days a week

to place an order visit http://watsonsveggies.co.uk/ 07399 873899 | watsonsveggies@gmail.com

01975 571775 07792 830780

•

Local family business

•

Aga Servicing

• •

Oil and biomass boiler servicing and repairs New boilers sold and installed with 5 and 10-year warranties

�lameboilerservices@gmail.com

www.�lameboilerservices.co.uk

Get relaxed about tax Local, expert tax and accountancy services you can trust.

Book a Free Consultation Today Offices now in Aberdeen, Banchory & Inverurie 01224 637100 www.taxassist.co.uk/aberdeen 01330 700580 www.taxassist.co.uk/banchory 01467 469011 www.taxassist.co.uk/inverurie

Excellent Based on 2,000+ reviews

The Banchory Mural Trail through the back lanes and alleyway’s was created by DUFI-ART. New murals and art by local artists have been added to the trail recently.

A leaflet which introduces you to the artist and their work is available from Studio 1 and Banchory Library.

11

Our Community Fridge is now open Wednesdays and Saturdays 9am-2pm (except Farmers' Market days).

Most of the produce in our shop is surplus from supermarkets which has been given to the Fareshare organisation.

11

Improvisation Theatre Relaxed, fun movement exercises No stage acting, everyone welcome Mid-Deeside Church, Torphins Thursdays 7-8pm, from 9.12.21 £5, please book in advance email: tamara@zann.de

because

not

Compu-Care PC and Laptop Repairs Hardware Repairs and Replacement Tune-up and Virus Removal New Systems available

Call Neil on 07929 860721

new size!

just £15 including design see EXamples Above single colour | max 7 lines

everyone

is on facebook

The Fly relies on advertising to pay for design and printing and it means a lot that so many regular customers have continued to advertise during the Covid calamity.

Always delighted to welcome new advertisers, I have opened up opportunities with a new value ad size, see p26.

At Myriad Pro Publishing, advertisers are not just a space on a page. All advertisers benefit from featuring in a Facebook album every quarter, and where advertisers’ own posts are seen on that social media platform, they will be shared.

Feel free to tag The Fly to make sure.

New customers can also benefit from introductory features, and there are perks to being a long-term advertiser too, as well as discounts for featuring in the Alford and Aboyne publications.

The business landscape and publicity methods are changing all the time, and especially at the moment! So if you have any ideas on how The Fly can further support you, do let me know.

No matter if you are on the main street, out in the sticks, working from your spare room or just operating online, I can help.

When times are tough, don’t stop ADVERTISING!

Have you started a new business in the Banchory area? Want a mention? Get in touch.

your name in print!

The Fly represents a unique opportunity for you to promote your business to a targetted area at reasonable cost. Ad rates start at just £28 for a quarter page.

Around 2,000 copies are distributed every quarter in prominent spots in the local community and within businesses willing to stock it (500 go into Tesco Banchory).

Geographically it covers Banchory centre and surrounds.

All Myriad Pro Publications are also available to read online at issuu.com

13

Fancy this for an office view?

It’s not every workplace that provides a historic country house setting, extensive landscaped grounds and magnificent views.

But at Alastrean House that’s just what you get. A former retreat for Royal Air Force veterans, and before that the family home of the MacRoberts, the impressive building is now a care home set in the tranquil countryside of Tarland, Aberdeenshire.

A £160,000 refurbishment of the property after fire damage in 2016 set a gold standard in the area, and today the home provides care across 51 ensuite rooms and five spacious lounges.

Uniquely, Alastrean also offers free accommodation to staff, and a mileage allowance. It is also offering £2,000 signon payments for certain roles. With its spectacular rural setting, it’s ideal for people who want a change of pace or a move to the country.

Staff at the home got their ‘fifteen minutes of fame’ this year when a corporate video for Balhousie Care Group, which manages the property, was filmed there. “There was no question that Alastrean fit the bill for us. It’s a stunning building and the staff were brilliant at displaying our values, goals and high quality care, all of which were captured on camera,” says Gillian Drummond, Brand & Communications Manager at Balhousie Care Group.

Alastrean’s popularity, and the hard

work of its staff, is shown by its excellent reviews and family feedback. In one recent letter to the Home Manager, a relative raved: “We have seen a big improvement in my granny’s wellbeing since moving to Alastrean. The carers and nurses look after her so well and also reassure us as a family that she is OK. Knowing she is safe and cared for is a huge reassurance to us as a family.”

It helps that the home has a great reputation in the community too. Earlier this year it hit the headlines when Anne Ellington, a woman from Aberdeen, made a bundle of beautiful ‘fidget quilts’ specially designed for people with dementia. They proved so popular there were requests from more care homes across the group!

14

Alastrean is currently adding to its team. The care home is looking for people to fill carer and domestic roles, with hours that are flexible to suit applicants’ needs.

Interested?

Email careers@balhousiecare.co.uk, call 01339 881235 or visit Balhousie Care Group’s job board at www.balhousiecare. co.uk/careers/careers-job-board

WE’RE HIRING

YEARS

in Aboyne!

It’s our people who make Balhousie Care Group amazing - the everyday heroes who are as committed as we are to providing innovative, awardwinning, quality care based on our core company values:

Inspiring

Passionate

• COMPETITIVE PAY • EXCELLENT BENEFITS • FLEXIBLE HOURS AND CONTRACTS

Responsive

Trusted

We’re recruiting for care and domestic roles at our care home in Aboyne.

Here’s what you’ll get: • • • • •

Full and part-time roles available £2000 Golden Hello for some roles Flexible working hours Mileage incentive FREE accommodation

If you’d like to be one of our everyday heroes contact careers@balhousiecare.co.uk

Balhousie Alastrean, Tarland, Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, AB34 4TA T: 01339 881235 T: 01738 254254 www.balhousiecare.co.uk

Deeside’s Community Radio Station Local Presenters

Weekly Shows

More variety than you can imagine Our Shows Include: Classical Connections Jim’s World of Jazz Mike’s Country Club MacRae’s Ceilidh Community Matters Reminiscing the 60s

Banchory Headbangers Saturday Morning Live The Soul Room Bett Bros That Friday Feeling and Much, Much More

Download the River Dee Radio app and listen to us Anywhere, Anytime.

River Dee Radio celebrates!

Most of the regular readers of the Banchory Fly will know about River Dee Radio, Deeside's local community radio station. Last month River Dee Radio celebrated five years as an internet based radio station. Quite an achievement for the group of presenters that have been creating programmes throughout the initial years and the pandemic.

If you're new to River Dee Radio you can tune into your favourite programmes from anywhere in the world, at any time. All you need is a computer, mobile phone or tablet to download the River Dee Radio App. The schedule continues to change on a regular basis with new shows and new presenters. We hope you can find time to listen to our quality programmes.

Presenters have continued to create weekly shows from home and regular listeners to River Dee Radio will know that we provide a wide range of music to suit all tastes from Easy listening to Rock and Roll, Country and Classical. We also provide local information, local interviews and promote events, sports, arts and businesses. Recently we have added weekly shows in Jazz, Rockabilly and Blues music and a programme entitled "A Time to Read".

November and December are busy times for the station and we look forward to celebrating St Andrew's Day and the Festive period. We would encourage listeners to get in touch with RDR. We are offering you the chance to send a message or request a song to thank businesses, organisations and friends for all their hard work during 2021. We will gladly send your best wishes all over the world. We are, also, very happy to promote local businesses, local community events and local activities. Just use our email address

riverdeeradio@gmail.com or our Facebook page to contact us and we'll get in touch and place a message/music request on one of our shows.

We are aiming, by the time you are reading this, that we will have a new website address. This will be www. riverdeeradio.org.uk. There you can listen to the live stream, find the weekly schedule and listen to previous programmes. There is also a regular roundup of programmes if you've missed them and information about downloading the app and links to Facebook and Mixcloud.

We are always looking to extend the team, so if you are interested in joining us whether as a presenter or technical support just use the email address to contact us.

And finally, River Dee Radio wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe and healthy 2022.

17

Crathes Hall in Constitution Change Come and join us, says Moira Hamilton

Crathes Public Hall Trust has changed its constitution to become a membership organisation.

Membership is FREE and open to anyone over 16 who supports the hall and lives in Crathes or the surrounding AB31 postcode area.

Become a member and have a say.

More members will help us with funding applications for the new hall. You can join from the website www.crathes-hall.co.uk In addition to our ongoing work to seek funds for the new hall, we are in discussion with the NTS about the potential purchase of Station wood, 2.2 acres of woodland surrounding the hall (see site plan below).

This would become a community woodland and, with community support, we may be able to access funding for this project. To offer your support

18

Merry Christmas from all the staff and ponies at Belwade Farm!

We will close for Christmas on Sunday 19th December and we will reopen on Wednesday 12th January

World Horse Welfare Belwade Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre Dess, Aboyne, AB34 5BJ

www.worldhorsewelfare.org Registered charity no: 206658 and SC038384

and ideas or to find out more sign up to our mailing list, link also on the website or email mail.cratheshall@gmail.com The hall is very busy with regular groups and activities with two music events and a children’s puppet show in November.

Our famous Crathes Fly resumed after lockdown for the first time in October with 35 folk attending. All details of future events can be found on the website or the hall Facebook page.

The Hogmanay Ceilidh is SOLD OUT but look out for other ceilidhs in the hall in 2022. You could consider getting a table of friends together for our fundraising black tie ball to be held next year on 1st October at the Marcliffe Hotel, with a fabulous band Slinky.

TICKETS: £1000 FOR A TABLE OF TEN, OR £100 PER PERSON Contact: Neil McHattie on 07980 618890 or neil@crathes.com

... MAN with a VAN ...

House Clearances Licensed Waste Removal Delivery Services Removal Services Friendly | Compassionate Professional | Local

Call Kev

07579 824061 corybegservices@gmail.com

Drama Club continues festive tradition with a Dishy panto...

Banchory Drama Club's panto run is set to go ahead in early December.

The group's Christmas pantomime in Banchory Town Hall is always eagerly anticipated, all the more so for missing out last year.

“And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon” is fantastic family entertainment, loosely based on the famous nursery rhyme.

Dame Dishy lives in a shoe with her many adopted children. They have fallen on hard times and must enter a Clootie Dumpling Competition to help pay their rent. Unfortunately, the dame is a terrible baker and things do not go as planned.

Tickets cost £10 for adults and £5 for concessions and are available from banchory Library. Performances are on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening

from the 2nd to 4th December at 7.30pm with an extra Saturday Matinee at 2.30pm.

Banchory Drama Club is a community group and pledge to give a third of all profits to local charities.

They welcome new members from age 12 to adult. Email banchorydramaclub@ gmail.com www.banchorydramaclub.co.uk

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Established 1998

well

speed

Friendly, Reliable Service

FRAMING

Wide Range of Quality Materials in Stock

Paintings, Photographs & Mirrors Needlework, Sports Shirts & Objects Framing Canvas Stretching and More...

t: 013398 80448 m: 07766 176 186 e: jay.speedwell@intamail.com Inchmarnoch Dinnet Aboyne AB34 5NX

STRACHAN’S Serving Royal Deeside for Four Generations Grocery | Malt Whiskies | Wines & Spirits | Delicatessen

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all our staff ABOYNE SHOP OPEN CHRISTMAS DAY 1000-1400

By appointment to HM The Queen General Merchants

2 Golf Rd Ballater AB35 5RE 013397 55452

Main St Aboyne AB34 5HT 013398 86121

www.georgestrachanltd.com

By appointment to HRH The Duke of Rothesay General Merchants

New business has its sights set on you The opportunity is now available to experience live firing with .22 Calibre semi-automatic and bolt action rifles at a new 25m outdoor range near Tarland.

Since opening in the late summer, “Line of Sight” has conducted introduction shoots and continuation training for over 100 people; some just wanting to experience shooting, others looking for a new sport or to gain experience prior to applying for a Firearms Certificate. If you are over the age of 14 and are looking for something a little bit different, you won’t be disappointed.

What started as a simple idea for a family activity during lockdown soon turned into a plan for a small business.

Over the past 12 months we have worked hard with family and some very good friends to build a safe and friendly environment for learning. The activities

are carried out by an instructor with over 35 years’ experience gained in the UK and overseas.

“Amazing session learning the sport of target shooting at Line of Sight. If you’re looking for a fun, safe activity to do with your friends or family while you’re in the Cairngorms this should be on your list.

“Paul made my wife and I feel comfortable and safe from the get-go, gave us a safety briefing, familiarised us with the rifle, helped us get used to the sighting system and then supervised us while we started to shoot targets in his purpose-built range.

“We enjoyed it so much we debated going back again the next day!”

Trustpilot Review

23

Cllr Rosemary Bruce

07388 956154 cllr.ann.ross@ aberdeenshire.gov.uk

07388 956152 cllr.e.durno@ aberdeenshire.gov.uk

These are your Ward 16 councillors

07388 956151 cllr.r.bruce@ aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Councillors' Contacts

Cllr Eileen Durno

Cllr Anne Ross

This is your MP and MSP W����������

S������� P���������

Andrew Bowie MP 0207 219 2791 andrew.bowie.mp @parliament.uk

Alexander Burne� MSP 0131 348 5642 Alexander.Burnett.msp @parliament.scot

ELLINGTON MENNIE

25

Kitchens & Cookware

Providing full design, manufacture, and installation services for kitchens to the surrounding areas of Aboyne. To arrange a design consultation, you can contact us on the details shown below.

You can also see our full range of premium branded cookware and kitchen tools are available for purchase online and from our showroom.

Station Square, Aboyne, AB34 5HX

sales@ellingtonmennie.co.uk

Remote Consultation

07788316144

ellingtonmennie

www.ellingtonmennie.co.uk

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catrionahouston@yahoo.co.uk | 07805 731401 | Find me on Facebook @ /TheAboyneFountain /TheAlfordBulletin /TheBanchoryFly 26

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