The Alford BULLetin 28 - Winter 2022

The

BULLETIN A Community Magazine for Alford

FREE! issue 28 Winter 2022

STRACHAN’S Serving Royal Deeside for Four Generations

Newsagents Hardware Confectionery

Balloons & Party Gifts

Wines & Spirits

Paints

Lottery

Haberdashery

Stationery

Grocery Malt Whiskies Pet Foods Calor Gas Delicatessen

Toys and Puzzles

Large range of Whiskies, Gins, Wines, and Spirits, including Deeside’s own ESKER and EENOO Gin PLUS the full range of PERSIE Gin from Glenshee Craft Distillers

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all our staff ABOYNE SHOP OPEN CHRISTMAS DAY 10am – 2pm

By appointment to HM The Queen General Merchants

Main St Aboyne AB34 5HT 013398 86121

2 Golf Rd Ballater AB35 5RE 013397 755452

www.georgestrachanltd.com

By appointment to HRH The Prince of Wales General Merchants

Want in the BULLetin?

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

Welcome to Issue 28 of The BULLetin

& Lang May Yer

Contents Doric Film Fest Tullynessle Hall Cllr Contacts Film Season Heritage Museum Wonderful Willow

6 9 10 12 16 18

Adver�sers’ Index GET IN TOUCH | ADVERTISE How to Adver�se Please send all comms, whether for advertising or editorial, to myriadprocat@outlook.com 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. Enjoy!

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A unique event which showcases Doric language and culture through the medium of film is encouraging filmmakers to submit their ideas by December.

The 2023 Doric Film Festival will culminate on May 26th next year, but entrants need to get their thinking caps on ready to submit their film proposals by December 15th before bringing their ideas to life in time for the May finale showcase.

The acclaimed Doric Film Festival, which is supported by the Scottish Government, is the brain-child of award-winning Scots Radio Director Frieda Morrison who created the pla�orm to celebrate the Doric language and its cultural identity.

This year’s theme: “Dinna Pit Aff ” is on track to stimulate another diverse body of creative short films by individuals, groups and schools in celebration of the richness

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and diversity of the region.

Frieda said: “The standard and creativity of entries pushes boundaries every year, and 2023 is set to be no exception.

“With more and more people keen to explore cultural identity, pla�orms such as the Doric Film Festival become ever more important and we are pleased with the level of interest which has already been shown in the next Festival.

“We now encourage prospective participants to get their ideas to us by December 15th.”

Do you work for yourself?

We can help

Pop in or register online for free support, training and events Aboyne - Business Centre, Huntly Rd Huntly - Business Centre, Gordon St www.e3hub.org

W & R MURRAY ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES LARGE AND SMALL STOCKISTS OF: SIRDAR STYLECRAFT KING COLE J BRETT YARNS DMC THREADS Home to the Alford Post Office 019755 62896 27 Main Street . Alford . AB33 8PX call 019755 62366 for opening hours pattywilkie@gmail.com

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Unique Selling Points How much do you know about your Hall? Keep an eye on Tullynessle Hall’s Facebook and Instagram to see a series of Unique Selling Points (USPs) that the Hall is proud to provide to its community.

Questionnaire There will also be a questionnaire in the run-up to Christmas, which has been designed to give our community the opportunity to share their opinions on what they would like to see at Tullynessle Hall.

50/50 Club What a success this is! Every month there are 3 winners. Recent prizes have been £100/£60 and £40. We have just accepted new members so in the future draws the prize money will be more. Each month half the amount paid in goes to Hall funds and half goes out in prize money.

(50/50!). We welcome more members.

Contact the Secretary secretary@ tullynesslehall.org if you would like to join.

It costs £5 per month per draw number.

Blended Meetings Local clubs/organisations continue to benefit from using our blended meetings equipment if some members cannot attend in person. All equipment is provided and help and support will be given.

Tully Bus The Tully Bus has been a busy bus in the last few months. It ferried the Summer Ceilidh dancers to and from the dance, children to the Critter Keeper Event, was busy on Producers’ Market day and we are planning to hire it for the Hint O’ Hairst Concert, the Xmas Wreath workshop and the Hogmanay Ceilidh. It helps cut down on car use/saves fuel and does our bit to help the environment. And it’s

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free for you to use. Donations are always welcome, of course.

Resilience Hub We are delighted to announce that we have been successful in receiving £20k of funding from the SSEN Resilient Communities Fund. The money has been provided to enable the Hall to develop a Resilience Plan towards becoming a Resilience Hub for our rural neighbours in the event of future incidents like Storm Arwen. We are in the early stages of planning so watch this space.

Hiring the Hall The Hall is a busy hall. It is regularly hired out for activities like yoga, boxfit, zumba, bell ringing, gentle exercise classes and old time dancing. Local clubs and organisations use the meeting room, it’s a perfect venue for a party, a ceilidh, funerals and weddings. Blood donors use us as a venue at least twice a year and we love hosting the Tullynesssle Toddler Group. Every village hall needs toddlers!

For more information on booking the Hall, look on the website www. tullynessleandforbeshall.co.uk and/ or email Maureen at bookings@ tullynesslehall.org

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Governance & Representation DCC Community

County

ALL of our meetings are open to the public whether you want to raise an issue or just come along and hear what we are talking about first hand.

The meetings are attended by our local area Community Council representatives (who are all volunteers) and by Aberdeenshire Councillors for Wards 14 and 15.

We meet every second Tuesday of the month, except for July and December.

Most of our meetings are held at Alford Community Campus but we will be holding at least two meetings in other parts of our area during the year.

Donside Community Council 10

Scotland

UK

Follow us on Facebook to keep up to date. If you have a question or want any information, contact us by email: chair@ donsidecommunitycouncil.org.uk

When do we meet?

Every 2nd Tuesday of the Month (except July and Dec) What Time?

7.30pm – 9.30pm Tea/coffee from 7.15pm Where?

Alford Community Campus

These are your Ward 14 councillors Cllr Lauren Wright cllr.l.knight@ aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Cllr Jeff Goodhall

Cllr Gwyneth Petrie

07891 296064 cllr.g.petrie@ aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Cllr Robbie Withey

07388 956147 cllr.r.withey@ aberdeenshire.gov.uk

cllr.j.goodhall@ aberdeenshire.gov.uk

There are already lots of businesses, community groups and organisations listed on www.enjoyalfordanddonside. com. Check out the Explore page to see what’s there.

You can list YOUR organisation on the site, which aims to promote all aspects of Alford and Donside to residents and visitors. All you need to do is complete a form online via the Facebook page /enjoyalfordanddonside or email info@ enjoyalfordanddonside.com

Your MSP in Holyrood S������� P��������� Alexander Burnett MSP 0131 348 5642 Alexander.Burnett.msp @parliament.scot

Your MP in Westminster UK P���������

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

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Tullynessle Hall Film Club

with Annette Wright The Film Club committee were thrilled with the good attendance for the showings of their first films of the season: Belfast, and Operation Mincemeat. They are looking forward to welcoming audiences to the remainder of the programme in December and in the New Year and into 2023.

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8th December: The Last Bus (12) With Timothy Spall 29th December: Downton Abbey: A New Era (PG) Directed by Simon Curtis 12th January: Little Miss Sunshine (15) Directed by Jonathan Dayton 26th January: Animal Kingdom (15) Directed by David Michod 9th February: The Duke (12) Directed by Roger Michell 23rd February: After Love (12) Directed by Aleem Khan 9th March: Licorice Pizza (15) Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson 23rd March: Boiling Point (15) Directed by Paul Barantini On 16th February there will be a special evening of Short Scottish Films.

The Film Club Committee have kept the entrance to their films at £5 per film.

Film showings start at 7.30pm, refreshments are available but the audience is welcome to BYOB. The Club will also host, on behalf of the Tullynessle Hall Committee, Community Films on 20th January and 17th March.

The choice of films is still to be confirmed.

For further details about the film programme please go to www. tullynessleandforbeshall.co.uk/filmclub.asp

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Dine & Swim - A day out in Deeside •

Enjoy a two course lunch in our Conservatory Restaurant with its beautiful views of the terrace garden.

•

Visit the Health Club for a pre or post lunch swim or spend time in the jacuzzi, steam room, and sauna.*

•

Finish with a stroll around our Royal Horticulture Society partner gardens.

Purchase your voucher online at www.dounesidehouse.co.uk.

*Dine & Swim voucher includes two courses from our Conservatory lunch menu and a full day pass to our on-site health club.

Supplement charges not included. Advanced booking is required for the Health Club and Conservatory Restaurant.

Offer available until 31st March 2023 (subject to availability).

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The BULLetin relies on advertising to pay for its design and printing and I am so grateful to our regular advertisers.

I am also always delighted to welcome new ones, and you can see details of costs and deals etc on p30.

At Myriad Pro Publishing, advertisers are not just a space on a page. Your investment allows the publications to promote the activities of local groups and event organisers at no cost to them.

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 Aboyne publication, The Fountain.

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 BULLetin 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.

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

your name in print!

The BULLetin represents a unique opportunity for you to promote your business to a targetted area at reasonable cost.

Ad rates start at just £30 for a quarter page Around 1,000 copies are distributed through the doors of residences in the village, prominent spots in the local community and within businesses willing to stock it. Geographically it covers Alford and the surrounding areas. All Myriad Pro Publications are also available to read online at issuu.com

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When times are tough, don’t stop ADVERTISING!

The BULLetin LOVES Business!

...and offers a warm welcome to all our new advertisers this issue, a selection of which are featured here >>> The very best of luck to all new businesses starting up.

Have you started a new business in the Alford area?

Want an ad?

See p3 and p22 for more details.

Got a story to tell?

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Thanks to the varied range of events which took place this year, visitor numbers were higher than in 2019 – the last full year when the museum was open.

From open air markets to toddler storytelling and craft sessions; from the return of the Hamewith school concerts to the special Night at the Museum; from bale decorating to leather tattooing, all events were well supported and enjoyed by the local community.

Behind the scenes, some volunteers worked on conserving objects and recording the collections, whilst others concentrated on more administrative tasks such as negotiating for future developments and improvements to the building.

The Architectural Heritage Fund have awarded the museum a grant

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to enable further building surveys and architect input to support this project.

Work will continue over the winter closure period as the museum looks forward to opening again in April 2023.

The team were delighted to be featured recently on BBC Radio Scotland Out of Doors when the new Memory Boxes were discussed.

These can be borrowed by local schools or other groups and will still be available during the closed period – just send the museum an email on info@ alfordheritagemuseum.com.

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Wonderful Willow

Willow trees are very easy to grow and grow quite fast. They are beautiful looking trees and have a wide range of different and wonderful uses in your garden, on farms and in the wider environment. Willow trees from just a small copse to larger plantations provide a valuable asset and wherever they grow provide us, wildlife of all kinds, from birds to bees with an abundance of a natural totally sustainable resource. They have many uses, eg: • Firewood • Ground stabilisation • Wildlife habitat • Reducing & Cleaning Water Run-off • Garden Trellises and Structures •Baskets, hampers and wreaths • Furniture • Medicinal A little extra patience is required as the wood requires longer to season/ dry out because of its high water content but this can be ‘offset’ by

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the quick growing nature of the willow and abundant annual harvests once the trees are established and produce multiple shoots when coppiced.

Where to Grow Willow Willows are generally more tolerant than most trees of varying growing conditions being very tough and adaptable in a wide range of soil conditions and variable weather. They will grow by the sea and grow in exposed high altitude, best with full sun or limited partial shade but not below the canopy of larger trees. To ensure the success of growing, good weed control is considered very important in at least the first season’s growing.

Coppicing The willow trees need to be cut to harvest and stimulate growth. This is called ‘coppicing’ where the trees are cut right down to almost grown level continually stimulating rigorous re-growth, extending the life span of the tree and year on year increasing the yield for harvesting suitable logs for splitting and drying for firewood.

Harvesting and Drying To dry the willow for the most efficient burning, the coppiced 3 to 4in thick logs should be cut into uniform long lengths, approximately 4-6 feet long, and stacked off the ground with one end facing the prevailing wind. After 2-3 months the wood pile should be covered (top only) to prevent further wetting from rain but still allowing air and sun-light to circulate to continue to season the wood. After a year the logs can be cut and split to suitable length ready for burning.

Willow planting season is December to April. For further information about delivery of ready-to-plant willow cuttings email sawmill.willows@gmail.com

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Do you knit or crochet and would like to donate a woolly item that you have made to help keep someone in your community warm this winter?

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Index of Advertisers to help you find who Alford Earwax Rmvl Alford Roofing ASPC Berriedale Funerals Corybeg Services Craigievar Gardeners Daisy Tree Douneside Health E3 Hub Esp Bookkeeping Flame Boiler Services Foodbank Foreshore Nutrition Gillian Frost

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Hilltrek Jilliby Joinery K&A Anderson Kirkwood Homes Oaklands Motorhomes Plan A Electrical SA McGregor SG Tree Services Strachan’s Tax Assist Transform Foot Hlth TuttiFrutti Yoga W&R Murray World Horse Welfare

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