A History by A History

A History January - June 2013

- THE REAL MACBETH,

comparing the man with the myth.

- THE WIZARD OF THE NORTH John Anderson, the Aberdeenshire magician who inspired Houdini.

Memories of the Beach Ballroom is a collection of stories from times gone by told by people who used to socialise there. The Beach Ballroom has been a special venue which has been foremost in the hearts of Aberdonians since it first opened itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s doors in 1929. Available to buy now from the Beach Ballroom, Aberdeen Art Gallery and Aberdeen Maritime Museum. Visit beachballroom.com for further details.

beachballroom.com

Contents The Real Macbeth In 1057 Macbeth is captured at the Battle of Lumphanan and executed P. 32

Duthie Park through the Ages A historical look at Duthie Park 1883 Princess Beatrice opens the park to thousands of Aberdonians. P.26

Dunnottar Castle and The Battle of the Honours Defending the Crown Jewels at Dunnottar Castle in 1651 P.8

The Wizard of the North Royal Lochnagar The Whisky approved by Queen Victoria in 1845 John Begg gains a lease of the Lochnagar site and starts distilling on the South side of the river Dee. P.16

John Anderson, the world-renowned magician who inspired Harry Houdini. 1855 Andersonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second theatre burns down, plunging him into debt. P.20

Memories of the Ball Mary Slessor: Pioneer, Mother, Judge The Aberdonian woman who pioneered through uncharted areas of North Africa. P.36

The Torcher Parade 1889 the world’s largest torch-lit parade is established. P.42

1929 Britain’s “most beautiful ballroom” opens its doors. P.58

Changing the Guard Reviewing the managers of Aberdeen Football Club. 1903 AFC is established as Aberdeen, Orion and Victoria United teams. P.32

The Lost Cinemas of Union Street Silent Movies, King Kong on the roof and blue cinema. 1896 venues start advertising the screening of “animated photographs” P.44

Lewis Grassic Gibbon Journalist. Soldier. Writer The life of Lewis Grassic Gibbon. 1932 Sunset Song “the best Scottish book of all time” is published. P.62

City of Industry Looking at Aberdeen’s businesses that have stood the test of time 1156 - Present. P.84

Blood and Granite Tales of Murder and Execution in Aberdeen. 1936 8-year-old Helen Priestly is murdered and put in a jut sack by her neighbour. P.68

Doric New Testament Gordon May on translating the Bible into the Northeast’s dialect 2012 P.80

Professor John Mallard Medical breakthroughs in the Northeast 1951 Pioneered work with Magnetic Resonance. P.74

Typhoid Outbreak Aberdeen Ostacised in the 60s 1964 Typhoid fever breaks out in the city from a can of corned beef. P.76

Contributors Allister Thomas - Editor/ Features Editor Simon Kermack - Depute Editor/ Production Editor Danielle O Donnell - Design Editor Jamie Gillies - Photography Editor/ Graphic Designer Rachel Coorey - Depute Design & Photography Editor Martyn Simpson - Advertising Manager Laura Fyall - Sub Editor

From the Romantic story of the Battle of the Honours to William Wallaceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s invasion, we explore The History of Dunnottar Castle

eptember 1651. Dunnottar Castle is laid siege by Oliver Cromwell’s army. A mere garrison of forty men defend it and the Scottish Crown Jewels that are housed inside. Commander George Ogilvy knows that capture is imminent so his wife and the wife of a local parish minister have devised a plan to smuggle the regalia, the last great symbol of monarchy, out of the castle. The forty men held out against the might of the English army for eight months. Once the invading army had received their heavy artillery, the small garrison surrendered after ten days of heavy cannon fire. However, when Cromwell’s men searched the castle for the Regalia and the Papers of the newly crowned Charles II, they found the cupboards bare. The credit for saving the crown jewels is largely given to the wife of Rev. James Grainger (only known as Mrs Grainger). As the story tells, Mrs Grainger, bringing bundles of flax from the castle, had the crown concealed under her apron and the sceptre disguised as a distaff. The jewels were then buried under Kinneff Church for eleven years until the King returned to the throne and the Honours returned to Edinburgh Castle. Dunnottar Castle has a rich history with the site itself having been inhabited since Pictish times (5000 B.C. to 700 A.D. exact date is not known). Prominey Queen of Scots and the future King Charles II. While the castle is well known for the romantic story of saving the crown jewels, it has had some darker times in its lengthy past.

“She had the crown concealed under her apron and the sceptre disguised as a distaff.” In 1685, 167 Covenanters (122 men and 45 women) were thrown into the “Whig’s Vault” for two months with little food and no sanitation. These people had been arrested for not accepting King Charles II as the Supreme Head of the Church. The Covenanters, along with King Charles II, had signed the National Covenant of Scotland in 1638 that separated matters of Church and State. Simply because they stuck to their word, the Covenanters were imprisoned.

The vault was covered with wet, muddy ground and was nothing more than a gloomy airless cellar which can still be seen by visitors today. All of their food and water had to be bought from the guards. Twenty-five men escaped, fifteen of whom were captured and tortured and two fell to their deaths. The remaining prisoners were put on a ship to the West Indies, on which 70 died during the voyage. As with many things, religion was at the heart of many of the events that have taken place at Dunnottar. The site was originally used by the Picts, the name actually comes from the Pictish word “Dun” which means hill fort or place of strength. The Picts were the original people to occupy the site at Dunnottar and its importance to them stemmed from their religion of Druidism. In this religion they worshipped femininity, masculinity and nature spirits. However, in the 5 th Century A.D, St. Ninian is said to have travelled to Dunnottar and converted the Picts there to Christianity, choosing the site for one of his churches. Now it is said that a Druid spirit “The Green Lady” wanders the castle (reported to have been seen in the brewery) searching for her “lost children” who were converted to Christianity.

AH Moving along the touristy coastal path 2 miles from Stonehaven AH is treated to a rare view of Dunnottar, one of Scotland’s oldest, and most impressive, sites for tourism. Of course the castle never did fully recover form Cromwell’s cannon fire but has been in the process of constant restoration for the last 93 years. The castle has been in the possession of the Cowdray family from 1925 and has been open to visitors ever since. Although the castle now lies in ruin, the evocative remains give a hint as to what the fort once looked like. Among the most interesting is the Tower House, a 14th Century structure that would have originally been three storeys high and housed a Lord, an example of a cross between a noble mansion and a fortified residence.

The Whigâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vault A

While the castle is in ruin, the 160ft walls remain, strong as ever, bearing testament to the might of the castle that beat off invading armies dating back to the Vikings Another who has invaded Dunnottar is William Wallace. In 1297 he besieged the castle that had been held by English troops. Terrified by the progress of Wallace and his army, the 4,000 English troops holed themselves up in Dunnottar’s stone chapel (which AH had a look through during our visit). The English naively thought that hiding in a church would save them, however, they were to meet a grizzly end. Wallace torched the chapel, burning the occupants. Some of the men were said to have escaped to one end- jumping off Dunnottar’s sheer face and onto the rocks below. Blind Harry, a Scottish Poet from the 15th Century, described the Dunnottar attack in his poem “Wallace”.

Therefore a fire was brought speedily: Which brun’t the church, and all those South’ron boys Out o’er the rock the rest rush’d great noise; Some hung on craigs, and loath were to die. Some lap, some fell, some flutter’d in the sea; And perish’d all, not one remain’d alive. (Extract from Blind Harry’s “Wallace” c1470s.) This is thought to be the real-life inspiration for the scene in Braveheart where Wallace burns English troops in a hut. These are a few of the legends that are whispered through the castle’s walls. While the ruins are all that remain, Dunnottar’s presence and history can still be experienced today.

Fit for a Queen A History visits the Royal Lochnagar Distillery to see how they make whisky personally approved by Queen Victoria

he A History team’s day started inauspiciously when we had to dig our car out of the deep Cairngorms snow. With this out of the way we four intrepid explorers were free to venture forth on the tour of the Royl Lochnagar Distillery.

We were given a short history lesson before our group, which included a friendly family from down South, commenced our tour of the distillery.

“Royal Lochnagar still uses a old-fashioned open top Mashtun (the vessel used in the mashing process to convert the starches in crushed grains into sugars for fermentation), a rarity in Scotland as most distilleries now use a more modern version”, the guide explained. ”After the Mashtun has done its work the water is drained to create what is known as Wort. A Large distillery will do this process up to thirty times a day, Royal Lochnagar do it five times.”

This was the first experience in a distillery for most of the team so there was a lot to take in. The distillery itself is a wonder to the senses as each room has a different temperature, a different smell and a different sight to experience.

“Each room has a different temperature, a different smell and a different sight to experience.”

The guide remarked that Malt Whisky has three main ingredients; yeast, malted barley and fresh spring water from the hills. She then allowed us to taste the barley that would eventually find themselves in a bottle of single-malt Lochnagar. Our design editor decided not to taste any in revulsion to the smoky, peat-like smell.

Round the corner and up the stairs were the stills. Two 9ft copper stills stood tall shadowing the room letting off an intense heat. The guide stood behind a black rail that had signs warning of the extreme temperature of the stills.

Despite having the River Dee flowing freely around it, the distillery has never used water from it in modern times, unlike many others on other rivers such as the Spey. A History was then guided into a room that hummed. Two massive wooden vats lay in the middle with rotors mixing the ingredients inside.

“Each individual distillery’s stills are a different size and shape so as to create a unique product. Each distillery is therefore very protective of their still size.” This led to any prospect of pictures of the still to be dashed against a wall. The next room was a cold tomb. The cool stone walls were barely perceivable in the darkness, the dusty smell lingered beside the rows of wooden casks that lay silent in the black. The guide then allowed us to smell the whisky stored in these casks from the 70s and 80s. “Scottish Malt Whisky is stored in one of two casks. A Fine-Oak cask originally used to hold Bourbon in American distilleries or a “Sherry-Oak” cask from Spain originally used to hold Sherry” she explained.

The Fine-Oak was bold whereas the Sherry-Oak had a much sweeter aroma, it was then explained that many budding stillers use this old room of retired malts to be shown how different casks can create different a different flavour of whisky. Next, Royal Lochnagar sends it bottles to be stored in Lossiemouth for twelve years before it is bottled and sold.” Then there was the tasting itself. A History was taken into a sun-soaked room full of open windows, historical trinkets and framed pictures. Upon the long black table was set of whisky tasters for each member of the tour. The first was Lochnagar’s signature single malt which the produce the most of and send to major retailers. The Lochnagar single malt is a sweet but firm and is described by the distillery as “typical of the Highland style”. The three malts ranged in price and age and were all delicious, although the last nip, sold for £140 a bottle, did prove to be the paramount as

you might expect. Sadly our editor, and designated driver, was only able to sample the fantastic beverage. Our design editor also decided against trying the £140 taster as she doesn’t enjoy whiskey. This led to a number of extra nips for the advertising manager and production editor who were only too happy to oblige. The tour was easy going, full of different experiences and historical information. The only challenge it provided was walking back to the car in a straight line.

The History of Royal Lochnagar

By appointment to their late majesties Queen Victoria, King Edward VII and King George V in the shadow of Balmoral Castle, Royal Deeside, a dedicated team of craftsmen and women produce one of Scotland’s most exclusive whiskys. During the 1700s Parliament put heavy tax on whisky, putting distilleries out of business and increasing the number of illicit stills across Scotland producing illegal whisky. The hills and glens of the Cairngorms had been an ideal hiding place for illicit stills and at one point it was believed hundreds of stills were producing illegal brews. However in the early 1800s restrictions on licensing were eased and Scotland could again produce top quality whisky. Then in 1845 a man by the name of John Begg opened “The New Lochnagar” Distillery. Three years later Mr.

Begg invited Prince Albert to visit his distillery while his family were staying at Balmoral. The next day Prince Albert, Queen Victoria and their children visited the small distillery and this was when Lochnagar was awarded its Royal Warrant. The distillery became The Royal Lochnagar and Queen Victoria reported to having “enjoyed Royal Lochnagar in her claret”, she wrote in her diary calling it “Our Dear Paradise”. What makes Royal Lochnagar special in this day and age is how little it has changed over the years. The distillery is small in comparison to others in Scotland, and keeps tradition in its production. Many Royals and several prime ministers have visited the distillery over the years and the tradition has remains the same.

onsider this: 1842, John Henry Anderson, illusionist, “The Wizard of the North” is onstage. He warns the audience that he’s about to perform his finale so that “ladies have an opportunity to withdraw”. The Wizard draws a pistol and asks for a volunteer. The audience now know that he’s going to perform his masterpiece, the “Great Gun Trick”.

North”. He performed for many of the crowned heads of Europe. Such was Anderson’s reputation that he was invited to places across the globe, spanning from America to Australia to perform his tricks. Today Anderson continues to inspire magicians long after his death in 1874. Among his admirers is Harry Houdini who was so deeply inspired by the man he paid for the upkeep of his grave.

A flamboyant performer, Aberdeenshire’s John Henry Anderson is said to be the first one to have conjured a rabbit out of a hat. He dominated the entertainment industry in Aberdeen for over half a century, styling himself “The Wizard of the

Another illusion among Anderson’s repertoire was the Inexhaustible Bottle in which he would produce any beverage requested by the audience. With the help of his young son, he would pass around his “bottle” which would fill up audience’s

Anderson once amazed Queen Victoria at Balmoral by producing out-of-the-air hats, bird cages and even his own son in highland dress. The young Prince of Wales wrote of Anderson’s visit with glee, A particularly dangerous illusion, this trick remarking how the Wizard of the North fired a pishas claimed the lives of at least 12 magicians over tol causing “5 or 6 watches to go through Gibb’s the years. A member of the audience is given the head”, (Gibb was a footman.) Anderson also perpistol and points it at Anderson with shaky aim. With a flash and a bang the bullet is caught between formed for the likes of other European royals like Czar Nicholas I. Anderson’s teeth, met with thunderous applause.

glasses with whiskey, rum, gin, anything they wanted without running out. This trick was reported to have caused him a spot of bother due the city’s popular temperance movement at that time, making the dispensing of alcohol unpopular to say the least. This was not the only time Anderson was in trouble in America. It is reported that, as the American Civil War broke out, Anderson was playing in Georgia. His stage name of the “Wizard of the North” led to him being chased out of the south because they thought he was a Yankee.

a secret passion for acting which he had a brief stint in) that he styled himself “Professor”. He is famously quoted as saying “it is the duty of all magicians to give entertainment”. This has helped to shape the way in which magic is performed today. Dave Goulding, former president of the Aberdeen Magical Society, said entertainment is “completely essential today” for magicians. “An example is when a magician comes up to you and tells you to take a card out of a deck and then tells you, without looking, what card you picked.

“His bills were posted on the Pyramids of Egypt and he used to lead herds of elephants down the streets carrying banners of his name.” To have been able to globe-trot as Anderson did in the 19th Century, his reputation must have been remarkable. The New York Times testifies to this in his obituary in 1874: “Anderson was an exceedingly skilful conjurer and his reputation in this country was quite as great as his fame on the other side of the Atlantic where he performed before many of the crowned heads of Europe.”

That in itself isn’t exciting at all. If you can make the audience care about what card was picked, then it’s an experience. Then it is exciting.” So great was the danger of Anderson’s gun trick that Harry Houdini, a great admirer of Anderson, was convinced not to try it. His friend, Harry Kellar pleaded to him in a letter:

The main reason for Anderson’s fame wasn’t necessarily his staggering illusions but more to do with him being a high-class master of advertising. Such were his promotional abilities, rumours spread that his bills were posted on the Pyramids of Egypt and that he used to lead herds of elephants down streets carrying banners of his name and what theatre he was playing in on that night. But if it was the advertising that brought people to the show, it was Anderson’s illusions that kept them there. His masterpiece was the “Great Gun Trick” in which he’d catch a bullet from a pistol fired by an audience member. It is now considered by many as the most dangerous feat in magic. While this illusion was not created by Anderson, it was made famous by him. The feelings of danger and suspense worked all too well with Anderson’s love of theatricality and indeed, the danger was there. At least 12 magicians have been killed performing this trick. One of the most infamous was that of Chung Ling Soo (real name William Robinson) who was shot dead when the firearm used in the trick malfunctioned in 1918. Such was Anderson’s taste for theatricality (he had

“Don’t try the bullet-catching trick. There is always the biggest kind of risk that some dog will *job* you (by sticking real bullets in the gun which is meant to contain only blanks). And we can’t afford to lose Houdini. Harry, listen to your friend Kellar, who loves you as his own son, and don’t do it!” Considering that Houdini was perfectly comfortable being tossed into the stormy North Sea while being chained up (during his trip to Aberdeen in 1909). It was clear that Houdini had no problems being faced with death’s dark curtain. So the bullet trick must have had some truly significant danger before Houdini was convinced not to do it. Houdini never did do the bullet trick but he did draw a high amount of inspiration from Anderson and his rivals. One of Anderson’s great adversaries was French magician Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin. Robert-Houdin is considered to be the father of modern conjuring. A number of Robert-Houdin’s Houdini visiting John Anderson’s grave in St. Nicholas Kirk, Aberdeen

inventions were pirated due to his engineer Le Grand selling off his secrets to competitors. Andersonis reported to have been among them and he may have come up with the Inexhaustible Bottle trick in this way. The two both obviously inspired the likes of Harry Houdini. Houdini took his stage name (his real name being Erik Weisz) from Robert-Houdin. It’s alleged that Houdini mistakenly thought that the “I” at the end of a name meant “like” in French. It is clear that Houdini lost his respect Robert-Houdin as he wrote The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin in 1908, believing he took undue credit for other magicians’ innovations. It is clear, however, that Houdini never lost his admiration of Anderson, despite rumours that Anderson was the one who wrongly used the creations of Robert- Houdin. In 1909, Houdini visited Anderson’s grave and paid for its upkeep as it had fallen into disrepair.

Conjurer Radek Makar sits across the table. He pulls out poker chips and silver dollars from his pocket. “So, you know what gravity is?” he asks AH. “Of course you do. I’m going to make this poker chip defy it.” With that, he places the chip in one hand, plainly in view, with the other hand hovering above it. Then, in an instant, the chip floated up into the other hand. “You see, every sleight-of-hand trick takes months or even years of practice to master. I keep coins, chips, cards on me at all times so that I can practice wherever I am.” Radek is one of the few full-time illusionists in the UK who focuses on adults. He believes, like Anderson did, that entertainment is at the heart of the trade. “Have you ever seen The Prestige? It’s quite true in its depiction of magicians back-stabbing and stealing tricks from one another back in the days of those like Anderson and Robert-Houdin. Now the industry has changed massively. We now actually have conferences in Blackpool (and across the world) where magicians will share their secrets. There really is a strong magic community now.” But why would you give away your secrets? “Well, anybody who goes to a magic show today can almost always go online and immediately find out the secret. But it’s not that what makes a magic performance good. It’s the delivery – the suspense, the entertainment – that sets the fine line between amateurs and professionals. This is what Anderson believed in and it’s still relevant today.”

The differences between magic then and magic now can be seen through modern performers like Radek. Many now see magic, as Anderson did, as a business and are not only going to performance venues but are also working for corporations to help with team-building and even working on companies’ advertising projects, something that wouldn’t have been considered in Anderson’s time. (Radek mentions he thinks Anderson “was one of the first magicians to see magic as a business or a product. Before him, magicians were largely seen as conmen trying to trick you” Now magicians, like Radek, follow Anderson in many ways, with tours, advertising and the use of tricks (albeit variations) similar to what Anderson used. AH noted how Radek, like Anderson, does trick involving pulling things out of thin air. This can be seen on Radek’s web page: http:// www. radekmakar.co.uk/

Anderson’s life saw him amass fortunes and lose them again. He was struck by two theatre fires in his life, which plunged him into debt. One theatre was the Glasgow City Theatre which Anderson had built with the funds he had amassed from his tours. The theatre was built in 10 weeks in the Saltmarket on Glasgow Green and opened in May, 1845. In his book, ‘The Glasgow Stage’, published at the close of the 19th century Walter Baynham wrote:

“John Henry Anderson, the Aberdeen-shire born Wizard of the North, built a splendid theatre on the Green. It opened on 7th May 1845 with an operatic company led by Sims Reeves, one of the country`s top tenors (and who had sung with the newly formed Glasgow Choral Union.) Anderson proved a thorn in the flesh to both his rivals Miller of the Theatre Royal Adelphi and Alexander at the Theatre Royal, Dunlop Street” The theatre attracted many of the country’s biggest stars. Anderson himself performed there, not only as a magician but also as the lead in “Rob Roy”. The theatre, described by the Glasgow Herald as “truly splendid within, embracing every ornamental detail, and auxiliary to comfort, on a magnificent scale,” burned down on November 18th 1845. This plummeted Anderson into debt. However, so well-loved was Anderson that Mr Miller (a competitor of Anderson’s) of the Adelphi Theatre did a benefit gig for him and the others who were put in debt or out of work due to the fire a few nights later. After more touring, Anderson was in a second theatre fire in London in 1855, which took with it all of his possessions. Anderson continued to tour right up until his death in 1874. However, death did not mean the end of his

legend. One of the people who helped bury Anderson, William Carnie, reported that Anderson had a one-off coffin made for him specifically which had a glass panel to show his face. Anderson’s grave can still be seen, in remarkably good repair, in the St Nicholas Churchyard. The spot was used by Anderson to commemorate his mother. The gravestone reads:

Yes! She had friends when fortune smiled, if frown’d they knew her not! She died the orphan wept but lived to mark this Hallowed Spot.

Nobody knows what those harrowed lines mean. Anderson now lies in that spot. His legacy now lives through the magicians that he continues to inspire today, despite having been regrettably largely forgotten in his home city. Eoin Smith, a young magician from Aberdeen, remarked on the story behind Anderson’s burial coffin: “Whether it is true or an urban myth, it fits in well with the lineage of magic.”

History under your feet and on your doorstep Hidden Aberdeen Tours offer regular themed walking tours highlighting Aberdeen’s forgotten, hidden, isolated and lost history. We also offer private bookings for groups of 7 or more, and we can tailor a route to suit your individual needs.

Blood & Granite: The Murder History Tour Delving into the city’s criminal past!

Aberdeen’s Blitz Experience: 21 April 1943

Remembering the city’s darkest hour of World War II.

Aberdeen’s Lost Cinemas

A snapshot of the halcyon days of silver screen.

Aberdeen’s Medieval & Prehistoric Origins

Travel back in time 8,000 years to the city’s earliest site and follow the medieval route to the Castlegate.

Old Aberdeen: Architectural Gems

If walls could talk! Stories of Kings College and the Aultoun.

Medieval Castlegate

A circular tour investigating the tales behind the facades of the city’s ancient marketplace and site of execution.

Tales of Old Torry

From tiny prehistoric fisher hamlet to thriving Victorian village, hear the stories of Aberdeen’s weel-kent neighbours across the Dee.

Lost Lochlands

Wander the heart of the Denburn’s prehistoric settlement which was dominated by the Loch of Aberdeen; recall too the many well-loved shops and businesses of the twentieth century swept away by development.

The Old King’s Highway

Follow the old road from the south beginning at Brig of Dee and reach the Green via the Hardgate; a ramblers’ special. NEW FOR 2013:

Sea Beach to Fittie: from trams to trawlermen

Beginning at the Beach Ballroom, the start of the old Sea Beach tram line, we take a walk along the promenade, picking up stories of the sites and citizens connected to this area.

Burkers & Body-snatchers £10 regular adult £8 concession (child/ OAP/ unwaged/ students) Tickets are sold by Aberdeen Box Office unless advertised. We accept payment from private customers by bank transfer/ cheque/ PayPal/ or cash on the day. For more information and times of tours please email or telephone, or check out the website, facebook page or twitter.

Learn of the murky medical doings of the surgeons, students and professional resurrectionists in the city from the 1800s to the passing of the Anatomy Act in 1832 which put an end to the theft of bodies from cemeteries and legalised the supply of corpses to medical research.

E: info@hiddenaberdeen.co.uk T: 07572 582198 A

Duthie Park Through the Ages he 27th of September 1883. As is with tradition, it is a dreary summers day in Aberdeen. Although the rain is pouring down, today is not any other day in the Granite City. It is a public holiday in Aberdeen and thousands head towards the city centre to watchPrincess Beatrice cut the ribbon to officially open Aberdeenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newes0t public attraction, Duthie Park.

The day started with a parade through the streets of Aberdeen so her royal highness could travel to the park and the thousands flocked to the streets to see her arrive, following to the direction of the new park. Upon arriving at the entrance, the Princess approaches the bandstand for her speech and a great show is put on to massive cheers from the crowd. The park is officially open.

Thousands pour in to the park to see this beautiful example of Victorian parkland that stretches out

across 44 acres. The first site was the giant mound situated at the top left corner of the park. A mountain of grass with a flagpole situated in it stretches up in to the air and waves proudly over the rooftops of Aberdeen. A structure which still proudly stands. Next was the pond to the bottom left hand side. A large boating feature which soon became filled with toy boats and wildlife. Boats were available to hire for a short period of time and demand became high as families set out for a paddle around the pond. Just offset from this was a rockery pond and smaller water features which then led the visitors on to a beautiful sight of the River Dee. A calming presence at the south side of the park. At this time the rest of the garden was made up of statues and obelisks including a sun dial however the middle portion was dominated by open grassland, unchanged to this day. A relaxing area of grass for families to enjoy themselves in. And that is exactly what the land was intended for.

“The day started with a parade through the streets of Aberdeen so her royal highness could travel to the park”

Cemetery in Glasgow that he designed ten years previously. The original design was meant to give the people of Aberdeen a relaxing wide- open space to spend time in, the boating lake being of quite large importance.

Elizabeth Duthie of Ruthrieston gifted the park to the city of Aberdeen in 1881 who bought the land for £30,000 from the estate of Arthurseat. To this day, Duthie Park is still listed on the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland as Arthurseat. Miss Duthie wished the park would provide a worthy memorial to her uncle, Mr Walter Duthie, a well-known member of the Society of Writers to Her Majesty’s Signet in Edinburgh, and her brother Mr Alexander Duthie a respected member of the Society of Advocates of Aberdeen. A gardener originally designed Duthie Park, one of the Aberdeen’s most highly visited areas. W.R. McKelvie of Dundee was a gardener all his life and had experience in designing large-scale projects in Scotland, among the most notable is the Cathcart A

The years have seen the park go through many changes. This is partly due to some of the more modern improvements made such as the introduction of a winter garden in the 1970s, which has since been renamed the David Welch Winter Gardens. The winter garden has become a massive tourist attraction and is one of Europe’s largest indoor gardens, it alone attracts an estimated 300 000 people. It’s namesake, David Welch, was Chief Executive of the Royal Parks and before that was Director of Leisure and Recreation in Aberdeen.

this will be reduced in the restoration. Tennis courts and a bowling green are now present, these will also be removed in the restoration, and the tennis courts will make way for the 1920’s rockeries that previously stood there.

He was recruited to the job from Aberdeen where, as director of leisure and recreation, he had transformed the “granite city” into the “floral city”. He transformed all of Aberdeen’s public gardens. When he started in 1967, there were 27,000 municipal roses, upon leaving in 1992, there were two million rose bushes in Aberdeen’s gardens.Walking around the park now there are big differences to be seen from back in 1883. The boating pond is much larger now and the winter gardens dominate almost a whole side of the park. A car park has been added however

The linked lakes will be put back in to working order and the boating pond will be put back in to functional use with boats being introduced back. A clear sign of the history being brought back in to the park.

The mound with the flagstaff on it is being altered to match the original design for when the park first opened and a viewing area will be put in, giving visitors to the park a better chance to observe over the area of land.

The official re-opening date is set for the 20th September almost 130 years to the day since the park originally opened. It’s expected to be a fantastic day out and hopefully the weather is kinder to the people of Aberdeen the second time around.

Bloody Murder est known as the tragic murderer and betrayer in Shakespeare’s Scottish Play, the real Macbeth was actually a respected and long-running King of Scotland. Born in around 1005, to the Mormaer of Moray, Mac Bethad mac Findlaich (translated as Macbeth in English) bears very little resemblance to his Shakespearian counterpart.

Macbeth’s death at the hands of Malcolm III in Lumphanan is not widely known about, even by people living in the Aberdeenshire area – it seems that the glamorous and tragic figure made famous by Shakespeare’s writing, has overshadowed the true figure behind it all. Macbeth killed the ruling King of Scotland at the time, Duncan I in a battle near Elgin, Morayshire in August 1040. He was married to the granddaugh-

Who the real Macbeth was and why he was executed in Lumphanan.

ter of Kenneth III, Gruoch, which strengthened his claim to the throne and allowed him to succeed Duncan. He had a stepson, Lulach, who briefly succeeded him as King after his death. Macbeth’s mother may have been Malcolm II daughter Donada, whose sister had married Duncan I, who Macbeth later killed. This would make Duncan and

“Macbeth’s death at the hands of Malcolm III in Lumphanan is not widely known about, even by people living in the Aberdeenshire area”

Macbeth first cousins. Macbeth later went on to kill Duncan’s father, Crinan, in a battle near Dunkeld. After Duncan’s defeat, Macbeth travelled to Scone (the Capital City of Scotland at the time) and an-

nounced his intentions to succeed Duncan as King. This was apparently met with little to no resistance, most likely because Macbeth probably had as much claim to the throne as Duncan did, as the two were of the same bloodline. In the famous play, Macbeth’s reign is short lived as he succumbs to madness brought on by guilt of the murders he has committed. His downfall and untimely death comes about soon after. In reality, he is said to have ruled for around seventeen years, imposing Law and Order on the Scottish people and encouraging Christianity. It is believed that he went on a pilgrimage to Rome in 1050, where he gave money to the poor “as if it were seeds”. Later Kings would have been unlikely to attempt this due to the likelihood that someone would take over the throne in their absence. Macbeth appears to have ruled peacefully during his time as King, although he still had to fend of invaders from England and Scots from the South who had aligned themselves with the English. Macbeth was finally killed in 1057 by Duncan’s son Malcolm Canmore, who had for several years been invading Scotland in an attempt to reclaim the throne from Macbeth, with the help of Siward, the Earl of Northumbria.

Macbeth’s army had been defeated at Dunsinane by Malcolm and Siward’s English army in 1054. However, the invaders had been sufficiently weakened that they were unable to overthrow Macbeth and retreated South. A series of further attempts were made over the next three years, before Malcolm finally defeated Macbeth in the Battle of Lumphanan. Macbeth and his army were ambushed and Macbeth was finally beheaded. The site where Macbeth was defeated and beheaded at Lumphanan can still be visited today; the stone on which he was beheaded has not been moved, situated only 300m away from the “Peel of Lumphanan”, a defensive mound dating back to the years after 1230. It is believed that Macbeth’s remains were temporarily buried a couple of miles away in a circle of trees known as “Macbeth’s Cairn” until they were discovered in 1855. While a popular and powerful piece of fiction, Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” is historically inaccurate in many ways. Duncan’s death took place on the battlefield near Elgin, which was at the time how most King’s came to rule, and Macbeth is unlikely to have been particularly bothered by it. The cold, calculated murder of Duncan as he slept in his bed, as portrayed in the play, however, eventually drives Macbeth, and Lady Macbeth insane. A

The meetings between Macbeth and the three supernatural sisters’ who predict his future have actually been recorded in Scottish History. The three sisters are believed to be “Norns” or “Fates” featured in Norse mythology with the ability to tell the future. The real Macbeth, however, is unlikely to have met them. It is believed that this was thought up by Malcolm III who defeated Macbeth and succeeded him to the throne, as a way of blackening his name.

It is believed that he went on a pilgrimage to Rome in 1050, where he gave money to the poor “as if it were seeds”. Earlier this year, Scottish MP Alex Johnstone raised a motion in Parliament attempting to raise awareness about the true character of Macbeth, and the important place he holds within Scottish History. The campaign was brought about after the remains

of Richard III were discovered beneath a car park in Leicester, and it is hoped that it will attract tourists to areas associate with the famous monarch, such as Glamis in Angus or Lumphanan in Aberdeenshire. Despite these attempts to sully his character, it seems that Macbeth was a brave leader, who ruled without trouble for seventeen years. His literary counterpart is interesting, and is well known by many around the world. However, the real Macbeth was a historically important figure, who deserved to be recognised in his own right, for his many triumphs whilst in power. One way of recognising and remembering the real Macbeth is to visit the site of the stone in Lumphanan, a peaceful spot, where the fate of the King can be pondered over a short stroll.

Mary Slessor

Pioneer, Mother, Judge A History takes a look at the life of the woman on the ÂŁ10 note.

ou would recognise Mary Slessor’s face if you saw it, you will have seen it hundreds of times before. Yet the chances are that you don’t know who she is or where you’ve seen her.

Mary Slessor was a Scottish missionary in Nigeria, a pioneer of women’s rights in Africa and the saviour of many women and children from ritual murder stemming from a culture where witchcraft and superstition were prevalent. Although there is not much to commemorate Miss Slessor in her birthplace of Aberdeen, the Scottish people still remember her as she features on a current set of Scottish £10 notes.

half her day in school followed by the other half being spent as a mill labourer. At 14, she worked twelve hour days entirely as a mill worker. However, Mary learned to deal with hardship through her faith. Her rudimental education paid off when a mission was set up near to her home and she volunteered as a teacher. Even in her early days stories arose of her bravery. It is said she defied a gang who threatened her by swinging a metal weight attached by a string closer and closer to her face. Mary challenged the group by attaining agreement that, if she didn’t flinch, they would all have to attend Sunday school. Sure enough, she succeeded. This must have helped prepare her for her pioneering encounters in Africa as it’s told that, on one occasion, she waded into a group of attackers with her umbrella, dispersing the “warriors”.

“On one occasion, she waded into a group of attackers with her umbrella, dispersing the “warriors”. Mary’s early dreams of doing pioneer work in the remote interior of Africa stemmed from her mother, from Oldmeldrum, who was a deeply religious woman with a keen interest in missionary work. When she was 11, Mary’s family moved to Dundee where she was introduced to the strong work ethic that would continue throughout her life. She spent

In 1876, Mary sailed for Calabar (located within present-day Nigeria). The area she was to arrive in was one whose society had been torn apart in the slave trade, allowing the likes of superstition and witchcraft to become dominant. Such practices as ritual sacrifices of tribal dignitaries and the murdering of twin babies were common

in this culture, the latter of which was particularly abhorrent to her. The tribes thought that twins were a result of a curse by an evil spirit who fathered one of the children. Resultantly, the tribes would kill both children and shunned the mother from society. Mary successfully fought to forestall this irrational superstition, often risking her own life to stop tribal leaders from killing twin babies. In this society, women were regarded as lower than cattle and Mary is considered to be a pioneer for women’s rights in Africa due to her rising their social standing there. Mary also set up hospitals, churches and hospitals in Nigeria. In 1888, following word of the death of her mother and sister, Mary went north to Okoyong, the “up

country” of West Africa. It was an area that had claimed the lives of many missionaries in the past. However, Mary believed that pioneering was best suited to women because they are less threatening to the men of undiscovered tribes. After 15 years in Okoyong living among tribes as a missionary and having learned their language, Mary was asked by the Governor to combine her duties with an administrative position in the Itu court. She would, occasionally, also work as a judge settling tribal disputes. Another of Slessor’s accomplishments was her convincing of the British Foreign Office to fund the expansion of her missionary and pioneering projects. Gradually, money became forthcoming and as new missionaries arrived to take up her previous posts, Mary could delve further into the heart of Africa, braving the hostility towards such incursions

“The tribes thought that twins were a result of a curse by an evil spirit who fathered one of the children.” by unknown tribes. Mary’s final years were a battle between her arduous duties and ill health. Eventually, the woman who had thought nothing of all-night treks through the rainforest was reduced to travelling in a handcart. On the 13th January 1915, Mary Slessor died aged 67 after a prolonged bout of fever. She was accorded a state funeral and in 1953 Elizabeth II, the new head of the Commonwealth, made her own pilgrimage to her grave. Mary’s grave lies in Calabar, Nigeria in the country she served so well. To the tribes, she was known as the “Mother to all People” as she served many people selflessly as a mother would. On her grave, Daniel 12:3 is inscribed in tribute to her life: “They that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever.”

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The Torcher Parade

A History takes a look at Europe’s largest torch lit parade

berdeen is a city with a very long history and over time it adopted a variety of different traditions. Perhaps the one which rallies the biggest sense of community spirit is the Torcher Parade.

On the last Saturday of April the Torcher Parade brightens up the grey streets of Aberdeen as it travels through the city’s centre. The event is the largest torch lit parade in Europe and was established in 1889. Hundreds of students get involved and spend days exerting massive amounts of energy to decorate floats with a range of themes. This year the parade saw themes which ranged from Hawaiian to Scooby doo to the Aristocats.

The parade starts at Marischal College and travels through Schoolhill, up the Rosemount Viaduct to Skene Street. The torches which lead the parade are lit at Queen’s Cross and then the parade travel down Albyn Place and Alford Place until it reaches Union Street. The parade finishes at the Castlegate and the floats travel back up King Street. The parade’s route has remained similar since it was first established. The parade first started as a way for nurses to collect money to donate to the wards. However, 1921 saw the students of Aberdeen taking over control of the parade with the creation of the Aberdeen Students’ Charities Campaign. The student led parade raises money for various local charities and has long been a success.

Steven Mills, President of Education & Welfare and also Undergraduate Governor at Robert Gordon University said: “I think the Torcher Parade is fantastic. It is a really fun day when not only students from all Institutes get together to build their floats, but our fellow Aberdonians come to watch it. It shows what a great community we have and how special the Torcher tradition is.”

“The parade first started as a way for nurses to collect money to donate to the wards. “

The parade is a great example of the Aberdonian community spirit; however, it is not without its controversy. In 2008, two boys were detained for five years after they crashed their motorcycle in the parade and injured many people. The parade was cancelled and it was estimated that Aberdeen charigreat team building experience for society memties lost out on £10,000 because of the incident. bers. It also acts as a bonding experience for new Costs of hosting the parade have also steadily risen members to get to know their society. On arriving over the years. 2013 saw officials seeking financial at the Gallowgate it is great to see everyone dressed in their costumes and ready to go. Torcher support from a variety of local businesses. Enalways brings a great crowd, and is a ermech Ltd and Ferguson Group Ltd are fantastic day of getting your group, among a range of businesses which society or sports team together, have supported the event this all while raising money for year. Original 106 FM also acts some great charities.” as the parade media partner, broadcasting highlights of the The Aberdeen Students’ parade. Charities Campaign has been raising money for The floats are built in an charities and groups Aberdeen University car since 1921 and in 2012 park where there is an earthe campaign managed ly morning material grab. to raise £69,000. The However, this year there money was distributwas an emphasis put on ed to over 36 local and pre building to ensure every national organisations. float looked as best as can be. These included CLAN, the Rachel Sanders, Chair of RGU: National Autistic Society and Rag said: “The day provides a The Breadmaker. The Torcher Parade is just one event of many which helps to raise this money. Other events include fashion shows, pub quizzes and music events. The aim is to allow students to engage with the local community “This year the parade saw whilst raising money for worthy causes.

themes which ranged from Hawaiian to Scooby doo to the Aristocats.”

The Torcher Parade’s long history has seen it become a tradition well loved by all, local or not. It shows the generous side of the Aberdonian community and looks set to continue to prosper.

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The Lost of Abe

t Cinemas erdeen A

t is hard to imagine that at one point in its life Aberdeen possessed no less than 35 single screen cinemas across the city, but with the rise of multiplex theatres these classic venues have been lost. Now only small hints of what once occupied the buildings we walk past everyday remain.

seen dancing their way across the screen.

If we were to suppose this were 1896, and we were enjoying a typical morning browsing through the paper, we would have come across an advertisement for “animated photographs”, or “scenes reproduced on a canvas screen with all the actual movements of REAL LIFE”.

country. The Regent was built on a slope which created a natural amphitheatre and contained only one screen, as was the norm with most theatres of that time.

Back in times when people had never heard of ‘moving pictures’ this would have been an exciting piece of news. After reserving a seat at the cinema and watching some live pre-show entertainment, the lights would have gone down and the astonished people in their seats would be shocked and awed by trains rushing towards them and ladies

So the age of cinema had begun. Of the 35 cinemas that once operated across Aberdeen, the Hidden Aberdeen Tours company takes its customers through 11 found on and around Union Street. The first of these is the old Regent cinema on Justice Mill Lane. The Regent opened on 27th February 1923 by Jack Poole, who belonged to a family which already owned an extensive number of cinemas across the

At 3 o’clock on that afternoon of February 27th the Regent proudly opened its doors for the first time to a selected audience. The main feature film of the day was “Over The Hill”, a melodramatic tale of a mother who works herself to the bone bringing up her family until they turn against her. All except her one loyal son who returns to rescue his poor, betrayed mother from the workhouse she is banished to by one of her less devoted children.

Jack Poole was well known for his advertising stunts and when “King Kong” first came out in theatres, Poole organised a publicity stunt to gather crowds towards the cinema on its opening night. A local man was hired to dress as a gorilla and jump around the roof of the cinema for the night in order to draw in the crowds and encourage people to come in to watch the movie. The Regent continued to show movies until 2001, when it opened its doors for the last time. Now the classic building contains the Nuffield Health Centre, and almost all traces of its earlier life as one of the most popular cinemas in Aberdeen are gone. The tour continues and second on the journey down Union Street is The Playhouse cinema, opened on 14th September 1921. Its owner, Bert Gates, had long been part of the entertainment business. Having had ambitions as a stage artiste, he became partners with his wife Nellie and the pair specialised in sketches written by Bert himself. One of their most famous acts from those days was ‘Skating Carnival’, which was performed entirely on roller skates. One of The Playhouse’s biggest accomplishments was perhaps the filming and showing of the Epson Derby which all took place over the same 24 hours, an impressive feat for a time when live television didn’t exist. It would be the farthest north a London newsreel had ever been shown on the same day. The race was run at 3 o’clock and the plane to Aberdeen, containing the edited film, was in the air by 5.30pm. By 10 o’clock, Castlehill and many other vantage points were covered with swarms of people scanning the skies over Tullos Hill where the drop was to happen. When the sounds of the plane’s engine were finally heard over the quiet evening air, the package containing the film was thrown from the doors but the tiny parachute was caught in the plane’s rudder wires and torn off. A

It plummeted to the ground into the back garden of No. 161 Victoria Road where there was a scramble to be the first to grab the bag. 16-year old Alexander Russell, who grabbed the bag, jumped onto a tram with his two friends and was suitable rewarded when he handed over the package and its precious content. At 10:50pm the audience at The Playhouse cheered the winner, Captain Cuttle, of the race that had taken place just that afternoon at the other end of the country. In 1959 The Play“Aberdeen just wasn’t ready house changed its for blue cinema” says the name to The Playhouse Continental, Hidden Aberdeen tour and began showing guide, Fiona.” a rage of “continental movies”. These foreign films or “blue movies” were essentially ‘adult’ movies from Europe and the change didn’t last long, according to Fiona the tour guide, “Aberdeen just wasn’t ready or blue movies”. The Playhouse eventually closed in 1974. Next up on the walk down Union Street is The Capitol cinema. Looking upon the building today, one would not even guess that it once was home to one of the most prominent cinemas on Union Street at the time. It stands empty and unused which is tragic, especially when taking into account the words said by Bert Gates in February 1933 when The Capitol first opened: “We have built The Capitol not for today but for the generations of Aberdeen people to come. The Company has dedicated The Capitol to the people of Aberdeen, their children and their children’s children in the hope that in generations to come they may appreciate what has been given to them.” The Capitol was quick to gain popularity, opened on the site of the old Electric Cinema it offered a full film and dining experience with its elaborate restaurant and was helped along by the fact there was a tram stop just outside its doors so the line “all trams stop at the electric” could be used for many of the promotional flyers and posters designed for

The Capitol. The lighting system was incomparable to anything seen in Aberdeen at the time as it was one of the first cinemas in the UK designed to have a lighting system which could allow up to 17, 000 colour combinations to be projected in time to music. This popular cinema was not only known for the movies shown there but also as a venue for music, with daily organ interludes and occasional sing along musical presentations were complemented by The Capitol’s wealth of lighting effects. One of the biggest musical attractions of The Capitol’s history was the arrival of The Rolling Stones in 1984. When they were first scheduled to play, the owners of The Capitol had heard stories and police reports of the damage inflicted on buildings by frantic fans, and out of fear for their beloved cinema they had Aberdeen City Police there to oversee the concert. Everything ran smoothly and The Rolling Stones returned for a second concert the next year. The Capitol’s popularity unfortunately declined and by 1998 it’s only use was as a bar, using the old upstairs restaurant. Now the grand organ, which once entertained so many, stands unused and unseen, except by ‘urban explorers’ who enter every so often to see for themselves what once was. In April 1914 a new phase of motion picture operating was brought to Aberdeen with the first purpose built cinema in the city; La Scala. Named after an Italian opera house, La Scala reflected the ideas of its management to combine cinema going with a romantic and exciting aura, using Mediterranean and eastern styles to create an exotic atmosphere. Tearooms and cafés had become a common addition to Scottish cinemas, reflecting the tradition of ‘high tea’ the La Scala tearoom enjoyed increased popularity by the member of the armed forces during wartime. This popularity was not due to the quality of their tea and cakes but rather the quality of the ladies of frequented the café.

“This popularity was not due to the quality of their tea and cakes but rather the quality of the ladies”

“The Music Hall has served as a venue for an array of different events, from dog shows to its brief time as a roller rink. “

The tea house had become a place for the streetwalkers of Aberdeen to pick up men and the tearoom had to eventually be shut down by the authorities to stop the soliciting. The tour takes A History further down Union Street, where we arrive outside the well known building; the Music Hall. Opened in 1822, it was arguably one of the grandest places in Aberdeen at the time. With a parlous and billiard rooms, a card room, ballroom, banqueting hall and ballroom it was the meeting place for the members of high society within Aberdeen. During its life The Music Hall has served as a venue for an array of different events, from dog shows to its brief time as a roller rink. In January 1931 an attempt was made to claim the world marathon non-stop roller skating title. The participant gave up after only a few hours on account of blistered feet. Manager of the roller rink at the time, Hadyn Marshall, rather than disappoint the crowd took to the rink himself with another amateur skater and the pair broke the record with a time of 61 hours and 36 minutes, a record which still stands today. In 1896, just nine months after the Lumiere brothers first displayed their ‘kinematograph’ in Paris, 18 short films were shown at The Music Hall including one which even featured hand pencilled colour.

This was Aberdeen’s very first cinema experience, among its broad repertoire of uses, The Music Hall can also claim to be Aberdeen’s very first cinema.

The tour comes to an end in front of Aberdeen’s oldest cinema still open. The Belmont. The Belmont has been around almost since the beginning of cinema, opened in 1910 it was well known for it’s ‘sing along’ shows which featured a live organist and singer, well known songs would be played to the pictures and crowds could come along and sing their favourite tunes. The Belmont also became the main event for many people’s Sundays, as it was considered a religious day the Belmont would put on religious movies and shows for it’s customers, which they enjoyed because it felt like a continuation of their morning at church. The Belmont has had a few near death experiences, twice becoming a carpet store. But through the persistence of people that love the building and it’s history, it regained life as a cinema. It could be said that it is a tragedy that so many of the decadent and dramatic cinemas of the past have been lost to new generations, surviving now only in old photographs and the memories of those still alive who witnessed them. The hints of what once was are still seenby those in the know, and here at A History we will never be able to walk down Uunion Street again without hearing the hustle and bustle of trams and seeing the illuminated signs above each of the grand cinemas.

Changing of the Guard Part one in a two part hisory of Aberdeen Football Club

110

years, 22 full-time managers, 12 domestic cups, 4 league titles and 2 European trophies.

Aberdeen Football Club has recently appointed its 23rd Manager in the club’s illustrious history, Derek McInnes, to try and follow in the footsteps of some of the great names in Scottish Football. Obviously there can be no debate as to who the greatest manager in the club’s history is, but let’s not discuss why there should be a 30 foot statue of Sir Alex Ferguson erected in the middle of Union Street. Let us instead take time to look back on some of the other great managers to have sat at the famous desk in the bowls of Pittodrie. Founded in 1903 Aberdeen Football Club appointed its first ever manager. A wood-turner by profession, native Aberdonian Jimmy Phillip managed the Dons from their first ever match to his retirement in 1924. Phillip was a well know figure by those who followed football in the city, having refereed for many years before he was appointed to his role at AFC on April 14 th 1903.

Phillip’s achievements in his 24 year reign as The Dons’ boss were not those of cup wins or great victories, but were arguably far more important in laying the groundwork for Aberdeen to go on and become the club it has. Phillip spent most of his first year with the club lobbying for its entry into the Scottish Football League. Phillip’s constant, and sometimes controversial, discussions with the SFA proved fruitful when in 1905 Aberdeen were admitted into the old Second division after less than two years as a club. Phillip would then have to face the challenge of guiding the club he had fought so hard for through one of the rockiest times in British sporting history, the First World War.

sive financial strain.

During this time teams would often be made up of locally stationed soldiers and, in 1917, the club was forced to withdraw from competition due to mas-

Philip was in charge of a 13-0 victory over Peterhead in 1923 which stands to this day as the club’s largest ever victory however the first ever Dons boss retired in 1924 with no senior silverware to show for his tenure.

“Halliday would cement his reputation as an Aberdeen legend when he would win the greatest prize in Scottish football; The League Championship.”

Aberdeen’s first ever trophy winning manager arrived at the club in the winter of 1937 after then boss, Pat Travers, left to manage Clyde. The board of directors received numerous applications but opted to appoint a relatively unknown name to the hot seat, Dave Halliday. Halliday had enjoyed a colourful career as a player, turning out in Scotland and England for clubs like Arsenal and Manchester City as well as Dundee and St Mirren. When Travers left the post, he was mid-way through rebuilding a squad after dismantling the famous Black and Gold Dons of the 1930’s. Halliday had to essentially build a squad from scratch and did so by brining in largely unknown and unpopular players from the lower leagues of England where he had ended his playing career. Just as Halliday had formed a strong side, now back to playing in the famous all red shirts, he had to leave his post in 1939 to serve his country in the second Great War. The board of Directors took charge of management during this period.

Halliday returned early in the 1940’s and in 1945 lead his side to Hampden to face the mighty Glasgow Rangers in the final of the Scottish League Cup. Heavy underdogs going into the match, Halliday’s men won a thrilling match 3-2 to secure the managers place in the history books as the first Dons gaffer to win a national trophy. But the great manager wasn’t done there. The following season Aberdeen returned to Hampden twice in both national cup finals. They failed to retain the League Cup, losing it to Rangers, but finished the season with a 2-1 win over Hibernian in the Scottish Cup final. In a 10-year period Aberdeen reached two Scottish Cup Finals but failed to win back the trophy and as the side grew stronger over the years Halliday would cement his reputation as an Aberdeen legend when he would win the greatest prize in Scottish Football, the League Championship. Halliday, now a valuable commodity in football, would leave his position to take over Leicester City. He remains to this day as one of only two managers to win the Scottish League Championship.

There was however one other manager who came bitterly close to bringing the Championship to Pittodrie. Eddie Turnbull became the 6th full-time manager of the club in 1965 after leaving the top role at Queen’s Park. Turnbull, like Halliday 27 years before him, had no previous connection to Aberdeen Football Club and within his first few weeks in the job had cleared out most of the first team squad and began building his own. In his first season Turnbull found mid-table mediocrity in the league but ended the clubs abysmal Scottish cup runs by guiding his side to the semi-finals for the first time in seven years. Aberdeen lost 2-1 to Rangers. The season after, Turnbull went one better when he guided the Dons to the final, however he could not attend the game due to illness and Aberdeen lost 2-0 to Celtic. Turnbull had two more seasons with little success beyond what fans have been more used to in recent years, but the following season Turnbull all but ended Celtic’s five year dominance of the league before falling at the last hurdle with the champions proving just that little bit too strong.

After this success Turnbull would leave the Dons to take charge of the club he had spent most of his playing career with, Hibs. Before Alex Ferguson became manager in 1978, Aberdeen would appoint three other managers. Jimmy Bothrone managed the club between 1971 and 1975 but found little success. He was succeeded by a man who had gone down in folklore of the Scottish National team, Ally McLeod. Before “Ally’s Tartan Army” went of to Argentina to, in his own words, “Win the World Cup” (Scotland went out at the group stage) McLeod was manager of Aberdeen. His first season began unpromisingly as he came grimly close to becoming the first Aberdeen manager to be relegated from the top division, the Dons avoided the drop by the skin of their teeth. McLeod would go onto become the first Aberdeen manager in 6 years to win a trophy when his side beat Celtic 2-1 in the 1976 league cup final. The Dons played the Scottish champions on the field that day and the country began to take notice of Ally McLeod, as became apparent when he was appointed manager of the national team in 1977.

His successor was a well-known legend of the Scottish game. Billy McNeil found success and immortality as a player when he captained the famous “Lisbon Lions” Celtic side to the European Cup in 1967. After retiring from playing in 1975 he managed Clyde before becoming Dons manager. Despite more experienced directors names being in the ring the board went for the leadership and motivational skills of McNeill. From the get go in his first season McNeil’s side looked like serious title contenders and, despite a 6-1 defeat to Rangers in the League Cup, were on fire. McNeill was also the man to sign one of the most influential players in the clubs history, Gordon Strachan. This deal is regarded as one of the best in Scottish football history as the pacey midfielder joined the Dons from Dundee as the Dens Park side got player

Jim Shirra and a “moderate cash settlement”. Aberdeen continued on fine form in the league but ultimately could not take the top position from Rangers as the Ibrox men went on to take the title. Aberdeen had a chance at revenge when the met Rangers in the Scottish cup final but could not claim this prize either, losing out again. A season that promised so much ended with nothing. McNeill would not get a second chance to win a trophy at Pittodrie, as legendry Celtic manager Jock Stein left Parkhead that summer to manage Leeds United and, to nobody’s surprise, former captain McNeill was appointed manager of the club he had spent his entire playing career with. This proved a blessing in disguise, as the Dons would replace McNeill with the relatively unknown Alex Ferguson.

A Night at the Ball

The Beach Ballroom celebrates the launch of it’s memories book hampagne, Jazz and Tuxedos are among the first things that hit the senses upon entering the ballroom, then the fine china and grand banners. Moving in, there’s the Beatles and the Who through the crowd, and some championship dancers foxtrotting their way across the dance floor. Even wrestlers can be seen over in the corner along with a big band act of the 30s – the Tommy James Band.

But this wasn’t a dazzling celebrity event from of days gone by but an occasion to celebrate those

memories of Aberdeen’s Beach Ballroom. The launch of the new book “Memories of the Beach Ballroom” was taking place. The managers were in tuxedos, pictures of the big acts that played there were on the walls, such as the Beatles and the Who. Although the jazz music came from a stereo, the event didn’t fail to recapture some of those memories being celebrated. As the event proceeded, the Lord Provost did his rounds with the guests who had contributed their “memories” to the book, while the remainder of the party flocked round the displays and the buffet. The exhibits ranged from the essential ballroom dancing history of the establishment to a transport

exhibit provided by First Group. There was even a piece on the Ballroom during wartime provided by the Gordon Highlanders museum. The dress of the guests was generally smart-casual, leading to A:History’s notice of a man in white tie, perhaps the only thing more out of place than a nearby colleague in jeans. Casual remarks were made from those suited up that they felt “underdressed”. “What time is it?” the Provost exuberantly put to a guest. “It’s ten to one”. “Oh, only ten minutes left!” he replied. Soon enough the main part of the event was underway and George Adam was on the podium. The Provost related to the audience the importance of the ballroom. He stated: “Aberdeen’s Beach Ballroom has held a special place in the hearts of many people for over 80 years which is clear to see from the many contributions in the book. “I am sure people of all ages will enjoy reading about people’s memories and looking at photographs of the time they have spent at this iconic venue in the Granite City.”

Eddy and Betty Maitland dancing

He continued to mention how many Aberdonians met their husbands and wife’s at the ballroom and related the accounts of such people. Apparently, the ballroom originally had the rule that people were not to dance inappropriately, therefore many people were broken up and asked to leave in the 40s and 50s for dancing “too closely” when inches apart. The next man up was Ray Douglas, area manager for the Beach Ballroom, he said: “Over the years we have often had people come and tell us about their memories of visits to the Beach Ballroom. These stories were always so interesting and unique that we decided we would like to capture as many of them as possible and the best way to do that would be in the form of a book.” “Opening the book will be a wonderful trip down memory lane for the thousands of people who have enjoyed the splendour and magic of the Beach Ballroom.” A

Ray explained that the idea to create a book began in 2009 and led to an appeal for the memories of those who have enjoyed the venue over the decades. Hundreds replied, some from as far away as Canada and Australia, with their stories and pictures. The result is a 172-page complete social history of Aberdeen’s most-loved venue. The book takes the reader through a journey, compiled by the Beach Ballroom and Aberdeen Central Library Staff, from the opening of the venue in the 1920s right up until 2009. A taste of those memories were given at the

book launch event as a projection was shown of the events of the Ballroom’s past. Each era of images was accompanied with music of that time. The audience saw the Tommy James Band and Mr Wellesley Smith, “The greatest specialist in ballroom dancing in the world” from the 30s who judged dancing events. Miss Dorothy Ball, pro-

claimed Queen of the Ball, being crowned by the Marquess of Huntly from the 40s. Then Vicky Leethe glamorous resident redheaded vocalist of the venue – then Sarah Vaughan, a popular American singer, Leslie Thorpe and his band, and masses of visitors dancing to the sound of the Eric Delaney Band of the 50s. This was followed by images of the various competitive dances of the 60s, including nine-year winners Eddie and Betty Maitland. Then the Beatles and The Who at the ballroom in the 70s, followed by the modern Strictly Come Dancing events of recent days.

Upon completion of this presentation, the lights dimmed and the mysterious Mr White Tie appeared on the dance floor with a lovely young woman in a long purple dress. These were champion dancers of Scotland and Latin America who performed a slow dance to “I Will Always Love You”, followed

later to something a touch more spritely (and in tighter clothes) to Jackie Wilson’s “Reet Petite”. After another (this time video) presentation, the conclusion of the formal event was announced. A:History scrambled to catch the tuxedoed manager, Ray Douglas, who was doing rounds with all the guests. After a few moments, he had gone upstairs with some invitees. It was, therefore, time to look at some exhibits. The Gordon Highlanders exhibition had plenty of information on the Ballroom in wartime. Due to the very high number of men joining the army during the outset of World War II, the traditional army quarters such as the Gordon Barracks and the Bridge of Don Barracks were not large enough to hold all the men. Therefore, following the initial 6-week training, many were sent to the beach Ballroom which acted as a billet during the war. Roughly 600 men would have occupied the venue at any given time, with straw beds being a luxury afforded to some. During the winter of 1939, the half pipe outside which continually ran cold water (the normal bathing apparatus) was too cold so the men would take turns to walk to Hanover Street School for showers.

Following the military occupation, the ballroom re-opened in 1946, with the cost of re-conditioning coming between £6,000 and £7,000 although a substantial part of this was claimed form the War Department. After reading this, A:History noticed Ray Douglas was back downstairs and approaching. “Hi, are you the guys? Oh good. Yes! We’d love you to do a feature, anything you want, just let me know. I’ll find you a card.” He returned momentarily with a business card pointing out that his first name is “Ray” and soon disappeared into the crowd. The Ballroom was emptying now, as it had done so many times before by so many different people. The champagne was finished, the lights were on and the bowties were undone. But this time people were leaving with a larger collection of memories than they had before. “Memories of the Beach Ballroom” costs £14.50 per copy and is available to purchase from the Beach Ballroom, Central Library, Aberdeen Art Gallery and Aberdeen Maritime.

Lewis Grassic Gibbon Journalist, Soldier, Writer

small child sits staring listlessly out of the car window as his family travel south from Aberdeen, the scenery a blur of grey and green as it whizzes past.

He has long given up pestering his parents and has less interest still in their conversation. Instead he lets his eyes wander and take in the passing scenery. The majority of it is monotonous and dull; a house here, a tree there. Just as his eyes begin to droop the car rolls by the Arbuthnott slip-road, near Fordoun and he glimpses a sign saying ‘Lewis Grassic Gibbon Centre.’ His eyes become lucid again as he visualises monkeys swinging from trees, remembering that trip to the zoo a few weeks ago. At once he decides to resume pestering his parents: “Mum, Dad, can we please go and see the monkeys?” The parents turn round perplexed and a family trip is negotiated. As incredulous as it sounds, Isabella Williamson, the Centre manageress explains that an association between Primates and one of Scotland’s most prominent literary talents is not at all uncommon: “You would be surprised how many confused tourists we get stopping here and asking if the museum has got anything to do with Gibbons!” In fact, the name Lewis Grassic Gibbon is the pseudonym of James Leslie Mitchell, a celebrated

author from the Howe of the Mearns. Nestled between the rolling hills and the red clay earth of the Howe of the Mearns, the centre is within walking distance of the birthplace of James Leslie Mitchell. Visiting here, you will learn about the life, unlikely rise to fame and untimely death of the Mearns’ most famous son, born in 1901. Isabella agreed to meet A:History and offer some of her expertise on the history of the author, although she made it plain that she didn’t have long, due to a ‘busy’ schedule.

“His eyes become lucid again as he visualises monkeys swinging from trees, remembering that trip to the zoo a few weeks ago.” Sitting across the table from her and glancing around at the plain pine tearoom empty of visitors, this seemed unlikely. “Well I won’t keep you long, this place is pretty heaving.” Her face remains a mask: “Believe it or not, we get a lot of visitors here at certain times of the year. Lewis Grassic Gibbon is a celebrated author worldwide.” She points out ‘A Scots Quair’, the most famous work written by Lewis Grassic Gibbon, –we’ll call him ‘LGG’ for short – a trilogy following the life of Chris Guthrie. A

“So how important an author was he?” “Sunset Song was voted the best Scottish book of all time which must say something.” Sunset Song, Cloud Howe and Grey Granite tell the story of Chris, torn between her love of the land and her desire to escape the narrow prospects of peasant life. Reviews of the book were written by readers as far afield as at the New York Times who quipped; ‘This book may be read with delight the world over.’ “How many visitors does the centre get in a year?” “We get around 7000 visitors, it varies a bit and obviously there are more visitors at some times of the year than other times but I still think that’s an impressive amount “We’ve been here for 21 years and the visitors keep our doors open, so it’s pretty clear that a lot of people like Lewis Grassic Gibbon.” Grasping a pile of envelopes and thoughtfully tapping her fingers on the front cover of A Scots Quair, one gets the sense that Isabella is serious about her job:

“We sell more Grassic Gibbon literature here than anywhere else in Scotland.” She makes a sweeping gesture to draw attention to the neat rows of books, posters and short stories lined along the wall of the centre: “So how important an author was he?” “Sunset Song was voted the best Scottish book of all time which must say something. I think his work is so powerful because a lot of it is based on real characters, just jumbled about.” At this point Isabella makes her excuses, gathers up her envelopes, hikes her glasses up her nose and saunters back through the museum to attend to her ‘busy’ schedule. The museum tour is a rather grand term considering the size of the place, a converted church hall which is half museum and half tearoom. Tourists are led through a heavy red curtain to the back half of the centre which contains several glass exhibits, pictures and information on faded yellow placards. The centre decided to buck tradition in recent years and invested in a colossal 16 inch LCD TV, offering visitors a ‘stunning’ cinematic tour of the life of LGG. The DVD was more than a little dated and the vol-

ume was much too high but nonetheless, watching it did reveal the extraordinary life of the author. At the age of 8, he moved to the Howe of the Mearns with his family where they stayed in a bleak rural cottage surrounded by hills and trees. LGG develops a fascination with the Mearns Landscape from that early age which will dictate his life and work from then on. As a child, Mitchell is lonely and introspective and throughout school only reveals an intense enthrallment with local history. He eventually goes to secondary school at Mackie Academy in Stonehaven but canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t cope with the social climate there and so drops out at the age of 16. After leaving school he finds work at the Aberdeen Journal as a junior reporter and begins todemonstrate a flair for writing.

However, he soon becomes bored and reveals an impatience to move further afield and leave the harsh North East climate and its people behind. Joining the Army in 1919, Mitchell fights in the Arab rebellion where he decides that the life of a soldier is not for him. So he joins the RAF. The DVD shows pictures of LGG smiling cheerfully next to a plane, enjoying this profession more in peace. He remains there until his writing career begins to blossom in 1924. From then onwards, he enters a series of short story competitions that he wins with the unanimous decision of the judges. It is around this time that he marries Rebecca Middleton, a girl who grew up nearby him in Arbuthnott. Deciding to write full time, he starts piecing together his most famous work, the trilogy A Scots Quair. His writing interweaves beautiful description of the Scottish landscape and the course reality of life in A

the North East of Scotland in the early 20th Century. Both his life and his work speak of a division between his love of the land and his ambition to find an easier place to make a living. Sunset Song is published in 1932 and the trilogy is finished around the same time as that. On the 7th of February 1935, James Leslie Mitchell suffers a severe bout of Gastro Enteritis and dies suddenly, one week before his 35th birthday. In a cruel twist of fate, curiously similar to the kind of harsh and unforgiving nature of the North-East

“His writing interweaves beautiful description of the Scottish landscape and the course reality of life in the North East of Scotland in the early 20th Century.” illustrated in his work, Lewis Grassic Gibbon suffered an untimely death. His grave sits nestled amongst trees in a quiet and serene corner of the village. The church building

dates back to medieval times and serves as a poignant reminder of the timelessness of the authors work. Ancient architecture seems fitting given his passion for history and the silence and isolation of his grave reflect his own character and his desire for solitude for much of his life. Lewis Grassic Gibbon’s gravestone reads:

‘The Kindness of Friends, the Warmth of Toil, the Peace of Rest.’ Many of his short stories and his better known works can be bought in bookshops throughout Scotland or online. If you would like to visit the centre, then look out for the sign which is visible on the A90 dual carriageway at Fordoun. Having a small child in the car may make it easier to spot.

Blood and Granite Stories of Murder and Execution in Aberdeen

The Murder of Helen Priestly

Urquhart Road is the home of a gruesome tale of murder in Aberdeen. It takes place in April, 1934. The old saying that “names will never hurt me” was not true in this case. This story involves two families that lived in the tenement – the Donalds and the Priestlys, namely eight-yearold Helen Priestly and Mrs Jeannie Donald. It was known that Helen liked to tease Mrs Donald.

the back shed from fear of getting into trouble for being out too late. However, by nightfall Helen’s mother was frantic and at midnight she knew that something awful had happened. A massive volunteer search operation was undertaken, with the largest part of the neighbourhood looking for the young girl. By 2am, Helen’s exhausted father was told to go home to get some sleep and the Priestlys’ neighbour Alexander promised to get up and wake him at 5am to resume the search.

In 1934, in this particular area of the city, almost every second corner had a shop. On the 21st of April, little Helen Priestly did what she did every day – went out to fetch her mum a loaf of bread from the nearby baker. Helen was never seen again. As the day went by, Helen’s mother became more and more concerned about her daughter’s whereabouts, her husband and neighbours reassured her that Helen was likely playing outside or hiding in

Good as his word, Alexander arrived at the Priestlys’ close at 5 in the morning and was surprised to find a lumpy jute sack lying against a wall. To his horror, he found Helen’s body inside and screamed. This led to a number of neighbours looking out their doors to see what was wrong and the police arrived shortly after. In 1934, forensic science was not utilised as heavily as However, the know

well known or it is today. police did they had

to get samples of the bag and samples of the victim to get to the scientists. Although the police had cordoned off the area, residents could still see the body as it was removed from the sack. One woman was heard to shout One woman was heard to shout “she’s been used!” and sure enough, there were bruises on her body that suggested Helen had been sexually assaulted. The next step for the police was to interview everyone in the neighbourhood. They eventually interviewed Mr and Mrs Donald who said they had been at the theatre the night before. Then the police interviewed the Donalds’ daughter who was also called Jeannie and was a friend of Helen Priestly. Jeannie said something very strange to the officers when asked about the previous day. She said that they got a different loaf of bread than usual and that it was “the same kind that Helen got for her mummy”. This was enough for the police to start focussing their attention on Mr and Mrs Donald. The forensic scientist was Professor (later Sir) Sydney Smith who was working at Edinburgh University at the time of the case. Professor Smith found two notable things, firstly that Helen had very likely fainted before the murder and he also found bacteria in Helen’s stomach that seemed almost unique to her. The Professor said to the police that if they could find that bacteria anywhere else, that was where the murder took place.

As the investigation proceeded, the police quickly dismissed Mr Donald but stayed focussed his wife Jeannie. The 1930s was a time of poverty and inflation, much like today, so luxuries and presents were a rarity. Not a great time before her death, Helen had been given a piano for her birthday. This had made Mrs Donald envious and hateful of the girl and this was added by Helen teasing her and calling names at her regularly. As this was shown to the police, they became more certain of their suspect’s guilt. Then, following the discovery of bacteria on Mrs Donald’s kitchen floor that matched that in Helen’s stomach, Mrs Donald was arrested. Meanwhile, pathologists had found that Helen had been strangled to death and the bruises on her body had been made to make it look as if Helen had been raped. When the case came to trial, it had to be held in Edinburgh due to the massive spread of the story in Aberdeen. 168 witnesses had come forward to testify against Jeannie Donald, such was her reputation in the city. Jeannie Donald pled not guilty but was found guilty and sentenced to only ten years imprisonment. Following this, she was given a new identity and lived until she was 80 in obscurity, never admitting her guilt. The prosecution lawyer of the case had a strong theory as to what happened on the day of Helen’s death. Helen was running back from the bakers with a loaf of bread. As she ran, she passed Jennie Donald and shouted names at her. This time, Mrs Donald went in a rage and grabbed Helen hard around the neck. At this, Helen fainted and Jeannie thought she had killed her. Helen had an enlarged thyroid gland which had made her prone to fainting easily. Then Jeannie made her first mistake by taking Helen into her flat. She assessed how to make herself look innocent and decided on bruising Helen to make it look as if she’d been raped. At the first blow, Helen awoke and vomited. She then screamed. This was when the real murder took place. A frightened Jeannie then strangled Helen to death. She then hid Helen’s body in the sack and carried on her day as usual by ironing her daughter’s dress for going to the theatre that night.

L A S T M A N H A N G I N G The story of Henry Burnett, the last man to be hung in Scotland

his is a story of fatal attraction. Tommy and Margaret Guyan were happily married for many years, with one child and shared a flat with Margaret’s mother in Jackson Terrace. In 1961, they had a second child but it was found that Tommy wasn’t the father. Tommy, being old-fashioned, said he didn’t want divorce, insisting they said “till death do us part.” How apt that would later prove. Margaret was a tall, brunette, flirtatious woman. Following the revelation of her adultery, she went and got a job at a fish curers where she met a new admirer, Henry Burnett. Henry would talk to Margaret about his girlfriends and in one instance spoke of a girl he was taking to the dancing. Margaret is said to have replied: “Don’t worry about her, take me and you can come back to my place and stay all night.” Although the 60s are known for shocking statements, the wild and free attitude didn’t reach quite as far north as the still quite Presbyterian Aberdeen. Therefore, for Margaret to make a statement like that would have shocked then delighted Henry. A relationship soon developed and by May 1963, Margaret and her eldest son had moved in with Burnett. Harry Burnett was a young man, soft, with a wild temper and prone to blind rages. His family, having lived with him, knew how to handle him but Margaret didn’t know that she was playing with fire. Harry had become possessive, convinced that Margaret would leave him any time she got the chance so he kept her from leaving the house. Margaret had become frightened and upon a chance encounter with her estranged husband Tommy, she begged him to take her back. Tommy agreed, hoping to work things out between them. So, on that day, May 31st 1963, Margaret went back to Henry’s flat on Skene Terrace to collect her son and to tell Henry she was leaving him to go back to her husband. Burnett, upon hearing this cried “Margaret, Margaret, you are not going to leave me!” and slashed at her with a knife before running out of the house. Margaret was shocked but not seriously hurt. Henry went to his brother Frank’s workplace to tell him what happened, concerned that he had hurt Margaret. Frank told Henry to go to the police but it was too late. Henry had become bent on revenge. He then went to his-sister in law’s home in order to borrow Frank’s two-barrel sewn-off shotgun which his brother used for shooting rabbits. Henry wanted

the key to the gun cabinet but Frank’s wife refused as no one was allowed in it. So Henry broke in and stole the gun, concealing the 2ft long weapon in a coat as he boarded the bus for Jackson Terrace. Burnett the broke in to the Guyans’ residence, met with shouts from Margaret’s mother. As Henry kicked the door in of the kitchen, he was met with Tommy Guyan, who protested his being there shrtly before Harry unloaded both barrels of the shotgun into Tommy’s face. All this was seen by the children, Margaret and her mother as Henry proceeded to drag Margaret out of the building at gunpoint. A neighbour boy stopped them on their way out, stating he’d call the police, so Henry pointed the gun at him saying if he does, he’ll be next. Henry then steals a car and drives them towards Ellon. However the police soon catch them and find Henry quite calm and ready to go without fuss. Burnett had a quick trial. He was found guilty and sentenced to death. Margaret famously told the Daily Record “I’m sorry for what has happened but I love Harry”. Many people in Aberdeen were sympathetic to Henry and many who have reviewed his case in more recent times feel that, if it had happened over the last ten years, he would likely have been able to defend his case with an insanity plea.

Margaret famously told the Daily Record “I’m sorry for what has happened but I love Harry”. Burnett spent his last night in Craiginches prison, a priest and a minister stayed playing cards with him to keep his mind off the inevitable. The following day, 15 August 1963, he was walked up to the Gallows. As he stood over the trap door, a minister held a crucifix in front on Henry and prayed for him. This was the last thing the 21-year-old saw as he was hanged for the murder. AT

John Mallard: Inventor of the MRI Scanner ritain’spostwaryearsgavebirthtoan ageofrapidscientificdevelopment. Newtechnologiesandinformation gainedoverthecourseoftheSecond WorldWarmeantthatbroadnew avenuesofresearchwerenowopen, especiallyintherealmsofNuclear Science.WhenJohnMallard,anewlygraduatedPhysicistfrom UniversityCollegeNottinghambeganhisresearchcareer,hestarted anincrediblejourneywhichwouldleadtoworldrenownamongst themedicalprofession.

Nowadays,JohnlivesinanimpressiveGranitehousenearRubislaw DeninAberdeen,afarcryfromwherehestartedoffinlife.The heavywhitefrontdoorcreaksopenandhestandsstoopedbut smilinginthelobby: “John?Howareyoutoday?” Stillaboveground,”hebeams.

Seating himselfononeofthreecornerchairsinhisimmacul atebluelivingroom,alongsidehiswife,hebegins: “WhenIwasgrowingupIlivedinagrocershopinNorthampton, myfatherownedtheshopandwelivedaboveit.Iwasluckyenough towinascholarshiptothelocalGrammarschool.” “Isthatwhereyourinterestinsciencecamefrom?” “YesIsupposeitwaswehadexcellentsciencemastersthereand oneparticularlygoodphysicsteacher.” ThisteacherwouldbetheonewhoinspiredJohntopursueacareer inphysicsalthoughhehadmoreinterestinothersciences:. “IhadalargeinterestinbiologybutIdidphysicsbecauseofthe teacheratmyschool.” Leavingschoolin1944,JohnwasacceptedtoUniversityCollege Londonwherehestudiedphysics,graduatingwithaLondon

degreein1947.AfterthishedecidedtobeginresearchonMagnetic Resonance: “IstartedmycareerinHarwellwheretheywerebuildingthe world’sfirstNuclearReactormeantforenergyuse.Myworkthere mostlyconsistedofmeasuringthemagneticpropertiesofUranium.AfterthatIwentontoworkintheLiverpoolRadiumInstitute, in1951Ithink.” ThisiswhereJohn’scareergainedsomedirectionandbeganto evolveintooneofthemostimportantdevelopmentsforthemedicalworldinthe20thCentury.HerealisedthatMagneticResonance couldbeusedasameansofdetectingabnormalitiesinthebody; muchliketheX-Rayhadbeenusedtodetectbrokenbonesbeforeit: “Untilthelate1950’stheonlywayofimaginginsidethebodywas withX-Rays.NowX-Raysweregoodforcreatingpicturesofbones butnotofalltherestofthesofttissuearoundthebody.Forexample itwasverydifficulttopickuptumours.” “AndMagneticResonanceImagingchangedallthat?” “Precisely.RadioactiveisotopeswhichareusedinMagneticResonanceImagingstartedtoofferthefirstwayofseeingimagesclearly.” “AsaresultofmyresearchIbuiltthefirstimageryscannerbyusing radioactiveisotopes,theComputedTomographyScanner” JohngesturestoanarticlehehaspresentedAHtitled“TheContributionofMedicalPhysicistsandDoctorsinAberdeentotheEvolutionofModernMedicalImaging.”Asidefromhavingalengthytitle, itprovidesaprettycondensedaccountofwhatJohnMallardand histeamdid. DuringhistimeinAberdeen,JohnMallardpavedthewayforHospitalsintheNortheasttousehisresearchonmedicalimagingwith radioactivity.Thiswouldleadtoa‘questtobuildthefirstclinically-usefulwholebodyMRI,endinginitssuccessfuldevelopmentand worldwideuseoftheMRItechniqueinthepresentday.

“OneofmyfondestmemoriesofgrowingupinaGrocerShopwas whenIwas12yearsoldandmyfatherallowedmetousehisbacon slicingmachine.Iusetosliceupachunkofmeatreallythinandthen putitbacktogetheragain.MetaphoricallyspeakingIhavebeen slicinguppatientsallmylife.” Coulditbethatafairlynormalchildhoodexperiencekindledthe insightforanentirelifeofresearchinJohnMallard?Icanthinkof anotherJohnwhohadarevolutionaryideathroughanormalexperience.Hecertainlywasn’tthefirstmantohaveanapplefallonhis head.JohnMallardretiredfromtheUniversityofAberdeenin1992: “Youhadsuchalongcareerthere,youmusthavebeensadto leave?” “Notreally,Iwassickofallthepolitics.” Hegiveshiswifeaknowinglookandsheinterjects::“Wehada nightmareofaPrincipleintheUniversityatthattime.Hemadeit verydifficulttoreceivefunding.” JudgingbythesuccessofallJohn’sresearchandthemedicalapplicationsofMagneticResonanceImagingbyradiologydepartments acrosstheworld,itseemslikehegotenoughfundingtoachieve awholelot.It’sashamethathisfinalyearsattheUniversitywere cloudedbyfinancialworries. “Movingonthen,whatadvicewouldyougivetoyoungresearchers workinginyourfieldtoday?” “Iwouldsay,dowhatyouthinkisrightandtohellwithwhat anybodyelsesays!Iwasfortunateinthatallofmyresearchwaswell funded,it’simportanttogettherightbackingwhenyou’recarrying outresearchtoo.” OnthewayoutJohnposesforhisphototobetaken,assumingthe samepositionthathehasheldforthedurationoftheinterview: “SayCheese.”

JohnspenthiscareerinAberdeenUniversityattheforefrontof medicaltechnologyandwasappointedtothefirstChairofMedical PhysicsinScotlandin1965.Heheadedadepartmentthatwas jointlyfundedbytheUniversityandtheNHS.

Hiswifegetsuptomoveoutofshotandpausestospurhimon: “ThinkaboutsexandcheeseJohn.”

Fundingwasusedtoprovideallthemedicalphysicsservicesto hospitalsintheNorthEast,OrkneyandShetland.Furthermore,his courseattheUniversitybecametheforerunnerofMedicalPhysics coursesaroundtheworldandhasledtothetrainingofGraduate Physicistsinmedicalapplications.

WealllaughandJohngetsuptoshowmetothedoor.Hepauses withitajartoshakemyhandandsays:“Keepupthegoodwork.”

Soafteralongandestablishedcareer,youhavetowonderwhat inspiredayoungPhysicsgraduatetoapplyallhisknowledgetothe medicalworld:

“Theydogowelltogether,”hesayssmiling.

Ihaveafeelinghe’sheardthatphrasemanyatimeinhislifeandhe obviouslypaidcloseattentiontoit.ThegoodworkofJohnMallard andallhisco-researchershasledtoamuchmoresignificantunderstandingofcancerandfasterdiagnosisofdiseases.Hehasdone Aberdeenandtheentireworldatremendousservice.

he year 1964 was an unusual one for residents of Aberdeen. Typhoid fever; a disease unfamiliar in the city since the Victorian ages, had the city in its grip. Panic ensued as worried residents fled to their GPs if they noticed the slightest feeling of fever.

The first patients were brought to the City Hospital one Friday, near the end of May. The number of patients arriving quickly increased until it hit a peak of around thirty a day. Overall, around five hundred patients â&#x20AC;&#x153;The can came from Fray were treated, none of which died. Hospitals Bentos, one of the largest were hectic as doctors industrial complexes in South raced to find out what was causing this bout America.â&#x20AC;? of illness. Luckily, the reported case was mild, however this did not stop public panic within and out with the city. The origins of the outbreak were at

first unknown but it was soon discovered many of the infected patients had all visited one supermarket and eaten cold meats. The theory that the infection came from the supermarket was confirmed as many of the ill patients came from the same households. The outbreak was eventually traced back to a single can of corned beef from William Lowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s supermarket. The can in question had come from Argentina, a country where typhoid fever was still a common disease. The bacteria which was causing the food poisoning was from a strain most commonly found in South America and Spain therefore, this provided enough evidence as to where the bacteria had come from. The story of how the bacteria entered the can was a completely more complex story. It was reported that the machinery at the factory where the cans were made has broken down. During the canning process, there must a change in pressure or temperature which will help to seal the contents of the can. The can is essentially a vacuum. Now, during 1964, the supplier in question decided to place the cans in a

nearby river so help with this process. This river happened to have tonnes of faeces and urine emptied into it every year and this would provide an ideal home for bacteria to grow. A:History spoke with Professor Elizabeth Russell, who was a junior member of the hospital team at the time. She explained that most cans provide are air tight which provides protection to the contents from the surrounding environment. However, the can which happened to arrive at William Low’s had a tiny hole in the metal. This little hole, in turn, allowed bacteria to enter the can. The name of the beef supplier was not revealed to the public at the time. She told me that the can came from Fray Bentos, one of the largest industrial complexes in South America. It was soon discovered that anything which came into contact with the corned beef would be infected. This ranged from other meats which were cut with the same tools, to salads or fruit prepared on the same boards. This also explained the range of those infected, confirmed that not everyone had consumed the corned beef. Professor Russell said: “The organisa-

tion of the outbreak was amazing. The hospital were really hectic and it was a massive tribute to the nurses that no one became infected from a second“It was a massive tribute to ary source.” Every patient that arrived the nurses that no one became suffered from the infected from a secondary strain which has spread from the source.” actual tin of corned beef and this made the disease much easier to treat. As patient numbers increased, wards were closed to provide space new arrivals. The outbreak was steadily getting worse and no one could predict when it would end. A specialist from Dundee, Ian McQueen arrived to help run the outbreak. McQueen took an active role in health education and media coverage. He went to the media preaching one very simple message: wash your hands. This media was relayed through newspapers and radio. Grampian Television had only been operating for a short while and only in evenings.

This soon changed as the outbreak took control of the city and they start broadcasting all day. Posters were also made which embraced the essence of the message. To this day, it is reported that Aberdonians still wash their hands more than the average Scot. McQueenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s message certainly seemed to do the trick. He came under much scrutiny from locals as they thought he should be doing more to run the outbreak. Professor Russell said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We really need Ian on the forefront of preventing the spread. His role

was crucial, we were managing perfectly fine.â&#x20AC;? Citizens of Aberdeen were worried about the outbreak. The city found it shunned from the rest of the UK and was often described as a belligerent city. At one stage, there were rumours that residents of Aberdeen would have to get passports to leave the city. Aberdonians on holiday outside the city found themselves ostracised while those travelling north would not pass further than Stonehaven. Some even turned around when they realised how close Stonehaven was to Aberdeen. External examiners

The city found itself shunned from the rest of the UK and was often described as a belligerent city. At one stage, there were rumours that residents of Aberdeen would have to get passports to leave the city.

A young boy with typhoid looks out of his window at visitors even marked papers from Aberdeen with gloved hands. One positive that came from the typhoid outbreak was the sense of community it developed throughout the city. Prof. Russell reminisced about how she would have to chase young boys away from the windows of their girlfriendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ward. She explained the hospital also provided single two bed private rooms for husbands and wives. Families were often housed together and many patients became friends. Some still maintain their friendship; they were bonded by a most rare outbreak for Britain in the 20th century. Hospitals also often held socials where patients could interact and many provided entertainment. Even though Aberdeen was treated with a hostile attitude out with the city, moral within was unhindered as citizens united together to get through the outbreak. Unfortunately, William Lowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s supermarket had to close as customers had just lost respect. The irony is that the supermarket would have been the cleanest in the city considering they were forced to disinfect their whole store. The Medico-Chirurgical Society at Aberdeen Royal

Infirmary holds many memories of the outbreak, including newspaper clippings and witness accounts. The Society was established in 1789 and holds a collection of artefacts which are invaluable resources; detailing the history of the society and the development of medicine over the centuries. A History was invited to explore their archives. The Aberdonian typhoid outbreak prompted people to look more closely to where their food was coming from. This issue is echoed through to today with the horsemeat scandal. Many projects have stemmed from the typhoid outbreak. This was an important event to help raise awareness of personal hygiene and knowledge of foods.

DOD

Statistics 540 cases and suspect cases went to hospital. 309 cases came from households within Aberdeen City and 33 from surrounding districts. On 20th June, Dr. McQueen announced that the outbreak was under control.

From E Gospel o Matta tae e Revelation o Jock. A History speaks to the man who’s translated the New Testament into Doric. he Bible has been translated into many languages through the ages from the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. It now has versions in over 2,500 languages, including English, Afrikaans, Hindi and various indigenous languages of Native Americans, Russians and Hawaiians. Now the New Testament is available in Doric. A History talked to Gordon Hay, the translator of the Doric New Testament.

“Oh I would have hanged from a long rope if I’d done it in the 16th Century,” Gordon explained about Bible translation. 500 years ago, it was condemned to have versions of the Bible other than those in Latin. Those in English were often burned. However this has not been the case with the Doric New Testament which has been available since November last year. With a degree in Law and Arts, rendering the Bible isn’t the most obvious hobby for a man like Gordon. He was a Senior Partner at a law firm before retiring last month. In six years, he rendered the New Testa-

The Acks o the Apostles, Chaptir 14, verse 8 “Noo, at Lystra, there was a cripple mannie vrang amo e feet fae e day he wis born, nivver haein waalkit. He wis hearknin tae Paul as he spak, an Paul, leukin him straicht in e ee an seein he hid e faith tae be made aa better, says till him wi a lood vice: “Stan straicht up on yer feet!” He jumpit up an set oot waalkin. An fan e crood saa fit Paul hid deen, they roart oot o them in their ain tongue, “E gods hiv come dooon till hiz in e form o a mannie.”

ment into Doric without any theological training and no knowledge of the Greek or Hebrew languages. So why do it? The Buchan Heritage Society holds a biennial Doric Service in different churches of the Buchan area. The late Reverend Charles Binnie used to provide a good deal of the material needed for these services. “Following Reverend Binnie’s death, I was asked by the society to translate two passages into Doric for the service at Longside church,” Gordon explained. “Afterwards, I continued to amuse myself by translating other passages in the Bible into Doric and it just escalated from there.” After four years of translating and two years of revision, it is perhaps clear why Gordon didn’t translate the Old Testament too. “I’m, working on it!” he jokes. “It will likely take me another 15 years, the Old Testament is three times the size of the New.” Gordon’s interest in the Doric language has been prominent through his entire life. His learning introduction to the dialect was through the poem “It

wisna his wyte” by Charles Murray which he leaned for a school concert at the age of eight. Gordon is now Chairman of the Charles Murray Memorial Trust and has even gone so far as to write locally produced plays in Doric. Of course, there were a number of challenges in translating the ancient text into Doric. These were not only those of understanding the scripture but also in translating the testament into the very varied dialect which Gordon reckons “has a variant for every 30 miles you drive in the North East.” So, the Doric you hear in Banff will not be the same as what you hear in Alford. Therefore, what’s written in the book is largely that of the Banffshire/West Aberdeenshire dialect you can perceive in Gordon’s native Invekeithny and Peterhead, where he worked for over 30 years. Gordon admits that he did have some trouble understanding some pieces of scripture and employed the help of Reverend G Melvyn Wood, a native Banffshire Doric to steer him on the right path.

“He was critical but kind, some of the Doric vernacular can be quite coarse so he steered me on the right path. It was frustrating when he had revisions because he was almost always right!” “The Doric dialect”, Gordon remarked “is actually quite negative, the best you tend to get in terms of compliments is ‘nae bad’. There aren’t many Doric translations for positive remarks.” This caused some trouble with common words that repeat themselves in the Bible. Examples of these include “son” which translates to “sin” and “crop” which translates to “crap”. Doric, Gordon admits, is not easy to read as it is not natural to the read-

ry simply couldn’t resist trying to make the language come to life. It failed miserably. Gordon then proceeded to display how it is done. “Fae Paul , Aposlte o Christ Jesus bi God’s will, an fae wir brither Timothy, tae aa God’s fowk at Clossae, wir faithful fowkies in Christ. Grace an peace be wi ye, fae God wir Fadder an e lord Jesus Christ.” Rendering the Bible isn’t a new concept. It’s been done thousands of times and has been the source of some bad deeds in history. The 16th Century was a particularly bad time for it. When the Bible was translated from Latin into English in C.1525 the first edition of the English bible was published.

Despite the complications of reading a dialect that has been largely unwritten, the Doric version has helped to simplify some of the passages in the Bible. ers’ eyes. Therefore, it is the note at the start of the book recommends for the reader to read it out loud in a quiet room and the language will come to life.

Many of these were burned, along with their translators, by the church.

So, when Gordon presents a Doric passage, A Histo-

The church saw the possibility of seeing God’s Word

available to the common man in the English language as disastrous. No longer would the church be able to sell indulgences, like the forgiveness of sins or the release of loved ones from the church-manufactured “Purgatory”. So, translating 500 years ago was a dangerous business. Not like today, where renditions like the Doric New Testament have been well received.

book. Gordon recalls an interview he did last year with the Press and Journal.

“There was a journalist who approached me asking ‘is there a need for this?’ The question surprised me because I hadn’t thought of it in that way as all this just started from my amusing hobby. But now I realise that there is a need for it. The English language developed as greatly as it did due to there being a Bible translated into it, it has been argued that DorDespite the complications of reading a dialect that ic and Gaelic would have developed further if there has been largely unwritten, the Doric version has helped to simplify some of the passages in the Bible. had been Bibles of them hundreds of years ago.” Some of Gordon’s readers have said that things like the letters of Paul have become easier to read for Gordon then stated that he wasn’t hoping to greatly some people as they realise that they are just letters develop the Doric dialect with his book but rather to a friend. to celebrate the dialect he has grown up with. Since the version’s publication, Gordon has seen some changes in his daily life. He’s been speaking at lectures, been to book signings and has even attended a dinner with Prince Charles to read the

E Gospel O Jock Chaptir 6, Verse 35 A’m e bried o life. Yer forebeers ett manna i the roch cuntra, bit they’re aa deid. Iss is e bried att comes doon fae hivven, gin ye ett it ye’ll live for ivver. E bried att A’ll gie ye is ma flesh, an A’ll gie it for e life o e warl. Chaptir 8, Verse 12 A’m e licht o e warl. E chiel fa follas me winna walk i the mirk, bit will hae e licht o life. Chaptir 14, Verse 6 A’m e wye, e trowth an e life. Nae man comes till e Fadder save throw me. Gin ye kent me, ye wid ken ma Fadder tee. An fae noo on, ye div ken him an hiv seen him. A

Industrious Aberdee A Glimpse of Local Businesses; Old and New

berdeen is a truly diverse city. A home to numerous different cultures and traditions, it has been a major hub throughout history. Traditionally, the city has been majorly involved in the fishing, textile, ship building and paper making industries. In the late 19th century Aberdeen was Britain’s centre for envelope production. Aberdeen is even home to an ancient society of craftsmen called the Seven Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen. These were: hammermen, bakers, wrights and coopers, tailors, shoemakers, weavers and fleshers. Today, industry and trade in Aberdeen is very different. The city has all but abandoned many of the ancient industries and has embraced a new modern era. Nowadays, many people instantly associate Aberdeen with the oil industry; Aberdeen is Europe’s oil capital, mainly due to the city’s access to the North Sea. The oil industry has been extremely important to the Aberdonian economy however, there are many other businesses throughout city which continue to be an important cog in the city’s engine.

Royal Aberdeen Golf Course

Founded in 1780, the Royal Aberdeen Golf Club is the sixth oldest course in the world. For the club’s first thirty five years of existence it was known as The Society of Golfers. At this membership was decided by ballot. The club received its “Royal” title in August 1903 and was awarded by King Edward VII.

Originally the game was played on a strip of land between the Rivers Don and Dee but in the second half of the 19th century it moved to Balgownie on the northern side of the River Don. It is still regarded as one of the best championship courses.

en:

Jamieson & Carry “Established in 1733, Jamieson & Carry is the oldest jewellers in the city. The family-run business prides itself in a unique customer experience with family-based values at the heart of business. It is the only store throughout the city to be an agent for the prestigious and exclusive watchmaker Rolex. It is also the city’s sole agent for Patek Philippe; a watchmaker so dedicated to perfection, they created their own “Patek Philippe” seal of approval. The business recently took part in an exhibition in Aberdeen Art Gallery where they showcased silverware from their shop. The silver pieces dated from the eighteenth century to the present. This exhibition also included a collection created by Peter and Michael Carry. This collection celebrated 100 years of the Carry Family in the business. The store not only offers exclusive Swiss watch brands but boasts two large floors of carefully chosen, luxury items sourced from around the world The business has moved to many different premises around the city but has been settled in their Union Street branch since 1925. Its pristine reputation around the city has made it a constant feature of the Aberdonian jewellery industry.”

Captain Tom’s Recording Studio & Fat Hippy Records “Captain Tom’s is a recording and rehearsal studio in Aberdeen boasting four acoustically treated and sound proofed rehearsal rooms and Logic 8 multi-track studio. Many local musicians use the studio and over the years it has hosted many talented bands. The studio has become a well-loved hub of the dynamic local music scene. It is also the home of Fat Hippy Records, an Aberdeen based record label. Owner of the label, Tom Simmonds, nicknamed Captain Tom, said the label “was born of a frustration at the lack of support for the wealth of musical talent we found coming through our door every week”. The Captain took out a one thousand pound overdraft in October 2002 and embarked on a vague plan to help raise the profile of the North East music scene. The label so far has released over sixty CDs, worked with over seventy artists and have sold CD’s to new music lovers all over the world from Montrose to Japan! They have released a few Fat Hippy sampler CDs which showcase a few tracks from some featured bands managed by the label. These samplers have been well received by the Scottish music media.”

His Majesty’s Theatre His Majesty’s Theatre was opened in 1906 seats more than 1,400 people making it the largest theatre in North-East Scotland. The theatre’s design was down to Frank Matcham, a theatrical architect and designer. Frank Matcham also designed the London Palladium. The theatre was refurbished in 1999 after it was awarded a National Lottery grant. The new glass-fronted box office, café and restaurant was designed by Trevor Smith. Smith also designed the award-winning Aberdeen Maritime Museum. The venue is regularly visited by arts companies from all over the country and offers an eclectic range of performances throughout the year. It is also home to its resident ghost Jake, a stage hand who died in an accident back stage. Jake is thought to roam the corridors of the theatre and is often blamed for items mysteriously disappearing. The theatre is also home to a ‘grey lady’ who haunts the foyer area. Aberdeen Performing Arts (APA) manages the theatre. APA also run The Music Hall, Aberdeen Box Office and The Lemon Tree.

Aberdeen Harbour One of the oldest businesses in Aberdeen, and indeed in Britain, is Aberdeen Harbour. The harbour is one of Europe’s most modern ports and boasts a history of more than eight centuries. It has played a crucial role in the industrial development of North-east Scotland. The first recorded reference to the harbour was in 1136AD by King David I of Scotland. He granted the bishops of Aberdeen the right to introduce a levy on all ships trading at the port. Over the centuries links with Europe were increasing and when connections with Scandinavia were made, the Harbour saw a redevelopment. From 1582 onwards, a series of renovations took place which transformed the Harbour. This included the installation of the port’s first crane and the construction of a bulwark at Torry to increase the size of the entrance. A number of engineers have been included in Harbour expansions over the years and this has been on-going throughout its existence. Aberdeen Harbour has played an important role throughout the city’s history, particularly in World War II when it was used as an important naval base. Today, The Harbour sees around 4 million tonnes of cargo pass through it annually and contributes over 100 million pounds into the local economy.

Ma Camerons

Ma Cameron’s is Aberdeen’s oldest pub having been around for almost 300 years. This well-established pub was sympathetic to the Jacobite cause and began to flourish in the 1800s as a coaching inn. Many Aberdeen hostelries were run by woman and Ma Cameron’s in no different.

The pub we know today was named after one particular owner, Amelia Cameron; affectionately known as “Ma” who continued to run the pub after the death of her husband. The pub continues to be a focal drinking point for locals and tourists alike.

DOD