Ballater and Crathie Eagle, Spring 2016, Issue 81

Ballater & Crathie Community Magazine no. 81 spring 2016

photo courtesy of Ross Johnston, Newsline Media

THE

eagle

£1

“When something bad happens you have three choices. You can let it define you, let it destroy you, or you can let it strengthen you.”

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Inside Your Spring Eagle:

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Reflecting on a momentous winter which witnessed the very worst of our weather and the very best response of community and spirit, this issue brings together your experiences, thoughts and pictures, and hopes for a better, brighter year ahead for Ballater and Crathie.

Diary

4-5 A Day in December 15 Pottering in the Flood 20 Military Wives Choir 27 Poem - Floods 2015 27 Community Meeting 28 30 National Park Update Where can I Walk?

31 Ballater School Times 32 - 33 Crathie School Campaign 35 Perspective 36 Crathie News 38 Keeping Council 39 Flooding Update 43 Back in Business 47 Ernie Rattray - Chiels 48 Buttony Bear 50 Dee & Don Ceilidh Collective 52

Then & Now

54

Cairngorms Nature Festival 58

Local Groups Ballater & Crathie CC: 18 Ballater Caravan Park (BCE): 13 Ballater Indoor Bowling Club: 11 Ballater Films: 56 Ballater Golf Club: 14 Ballater Ladies Golf: 11 Ballater RHS: 10 Ballater Songsters: 11 Churches News: 26 Crathie Opportunity Holidays: 34 Library News: 24 Rotary: 16 SWI: 11 St Kentigern’s: 27 Upper Deeside Music: 12 V&A Halls Trust: 44 Victoria Week: 51

Ballater Highland Games

59

Handy to have

Memories o’ V&A Halls Pt2

60

Advertisers’ Index: 62

Help Required, Crathie

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Advertising Full page: £100; Half page: £50; Quarter page: £25; Eighth page: £12 Discounts on 4 issue series copy can be changed each issue contact Karen Garioch at karen.garioch@btinternet.com or Tel 42344

The front cover quote is from an unknown source.

Thank You Grateful Thanks to Stella Potter, Sandy Fraser, Dr. Ken Glennie and Dr. Alasdair Grieve for their generous donations to the Eagle..

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

The Eagle Diary

...so you know What’s Going On

Tue 1 Thu 3 Sun 6 Mon 7 Tue 8 Thu 10 Sat 12 Mon 14 Tue 15 Wed 16 Thu 17 Sat 19 Sun 20 Mon 21 Tue 22 Wed 23 Thu 24 Fri 25

Sat 26

Sun 27

March

St Kentigern’s Rectory 7.30pm Lent Group - ‘Seasons of Life, Seasons of Faith’ St. Kentigern’s 10am Midweek Communion, followed by tea and coffee Ballater Boules Challenge – Monaltrie Park 10.15 for 10.30am BRHS Talk by Jim Henderson - Sowing Seeds in the Greenhouse – Mike Sheridan Room 7.30pm St Kentigern’s Rectory 7.30pm Lent Group - ‘Seasons of Life, Seasons of Faith’ St. Kentigern’s 10am Midweek Communion, followed by tea and coffee Crathie Opportunity Holidays Open Day 11am - 3pm B&CCC meeting Beaton Craigie Room 7pm St Kentigern’s Rectory 7.30pm Lent Group - ‘Seasons of Life, Seasons of Faith’ SWI Open Evening: Ian Finnie on Hearing Dogs - Mike Sheridan Room, 7.30pm St Kentigern’s 10am Midweek Communion, followed by tea and coffee Bouncy Castle Bonanza, Church Green, 10am - 3pm. FREE Ballater Boules Challenge – Monaltrie Park 10.15 for 10.30am St Kentigern’s 6pm Ecumenical Service for Holy Week Glenmuick Church 6pm Ecumenical Service for Holy Week St Kentigern’s 6pm Ecumenical Service for Holy Week St Kentigern’s 6pm Maundy Thursday Holy Communion Ecumenical Service of Prayers and Readings, 12 noon – 1pm venue tbc St. Nathalan’s Church - Celebration of the Lord’s Passion at 3pm Opening Event of Ladies Golf Season 10am at Golf Club Ballater Films: The Lady In The Van (PG), V&A Halls, 7.30pm. Free entry Easter Sunday 7am Ecumenical Easter Sunrise Service by the river, followed by breakfast at St Kentigern’s St. Kentigern’s - Easter Communion at 9.30am Glenmuick Church - Easter Service at 11am St. Nathalan’s Church – Mass at 12.15pm

Post Office Opening Hours The Post Office counter in the new Co-op is currently operating from 7am to 10pm every day.

Are Your Dates Here?

For inclusion in this FREE section of the Eagle, please contact Faye Swan on 013397 55345 or info@swandesign.uk.com

Sun 3

Mon 4

Sun 10

Mon 11

Wed 20 Sat 23

April

Ballater Boules Challenge - Final meeting of season & BBQ – Monaltrie Park 10.15 for 10.30am BRHS Mini Bulb Show followed by talk by Arthur Gill about Duthie Park Mike Sheridan Room 7.30pm Upper Deeside Music at Creag Meggan 4.30pm booking essential - see entry.

Christine Lawrie, piano B&CCC Annual General Meeting Crathie Church Hall 7-9pm Crathie Church Coffee Mornings start 10am - 12.30pm SWI Business Meeting (Braemar W.I.) Mike Sheridan Room, 7.30pm Big Band Ball at the Victoria Hall

May

Mon 2 Wed 4

Ballater Surgery Closed The Fourth Be With You: Ballater Films presents a fun Star Wars-themed Quiz, Deeside Inn, 7.30pm, £12 per table 4 Sat 7 Lizzie’s Tea Party for Diabetes, time and venue tbc Mon 9 BRHS talk by Ian Christie - Growing Meconopsis and Associated Plants,

Propagation and Maintenance – Mike Sheridan Room 7.30pm

B&CCC Meeting Albert Hall at 7pm Sat 14/Sun15 Cairngorms Nature Festival Sun 15 Upper Deeside Music at Glenmuick Parish Church 4.30pm – Emma Wilkins, harp – no booking required Sat 21 The Dee and Don Ceilidh Collective at The Deeside Inn: music, singing & & Sun 22 dancing workshops and community ceilidh. See page 52 for more info

June Sat 4 Sat 25

BRHS Plant Sale in the Victoria Hall 9.30am – 12 noon St Kentigern’s Church Sale

Ballater Library Opening Hours Sun, Mon & Wed: Closed

Tuesday: 10am-1pm, 6.30-8pm

Thursday: 2-4pm, 6.30-8pm

Friday: 2-5pm

Saturday: 10am-12noon

Contact the Eagle

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

 email to: ballater.eagle@btopenworld.com

Contributions of any kind (ideally in Word format) always welcome.

Keep in Touch with an Eagle Subscription A subscription can be a very welcome gift to farflung friends and relatives. Simply provide the name and address to whom issues should be sent, with a cheque or postal order for ‘Ballater Eagle’ for the relevant amount and drop off your request to Ballater Library.

Avril, our Subscriptions secretary, will do the rest. Easy!

For the rates below, four issues will be posted.

UK: £12.00 EU: £16.00 Overseas: £20.00

Contact Your Representatives

Scottish Parliament

Dennis Robertson MSP email: dennis.robertson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

 0791 955 7152 (mobile)

Westminster Stuart Donaldson MP  01330 828171 email: stuart.donaldson.mp@parliament.uk Aberdeenshire Council Peter Argyle:  013398 82973 email: cllr.p.argyle@aberdeenshire.gov.uk Geva Blackett:  013397 41541 email: cllr.g.blackett@aberdeenshire.gov.uk Katrina Farquhar:  07876 475403 email: cllr.k.farquhar@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Cairngorms National Park Katrina Farquhar  07876 475403 email: katrina.farquhar@cnpaboard.co.uk Gordon Riddler  077116093513 email: gordon.riddler@cnpaboard.co.uk

Eagle Who’s Who & Where Editor: Ian Hay  55941 Treasurer: Elaine Adams  56149 Subscriptions Secretary: Avril Fyfe  56162 Advertising Manager: Karen Garioch 42344 Distribution: Andy and Julie Bloor Diary Secretary: Faye Swan  55345 Design: Cat Houston, Kirsten Knight, Stella Potter, Ollie Ross email us at: ballater.eagle@btopenworld.com Eagle Online: http://www.ballatercommunity.com

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

Ballater Flood Relief Assistance Donations of food, toiletries, crockery, kitchen utensils, clothing, bedding, etc. are free to individuals and families in Ballater and surrounding areas who have been affected by the floods, from the Distribution & Information Point (the Containers) on Church Square Car Park.

Volunteers man the Containers during the following days and times:

Tuesdays 10am – 3pm Thursdays 4pm – 8pm The following items are available on request: (They are no longer stored at the Barracks.) Sofas, Beds, White goods (Fridges, Freezers, Washing Machines), Furniture, Televisions.

For further information, please ask any of the volunteers at the Containers, or phone 07464 435231.

Please note this is a community led initiative run by local volunteers. Assistance provided is dependent upon donations received. There is no guarantee that all requests can be met.

“Thank you from Ballater Eagle”

by Ian Hay, Editor

The principal source of income for the Ballater Eagle comes from advertising, but in mid January, it was realised that many businesses in the village would not be in any position to place adverts, since they were unable to trade as their premises were still unusable and a possible date for re-opening was some distance away.

Being aware of the problems, the Eagle Team felt that, having received support from so many local businesses over the years, it was now our turn to support those businesses in their time of difficulty following the devastation of their premises. It was decided that we would offer free space in this issue to affected businesses with a view to them keeping their customers aware of their current temporary places of business, if this was appropriate, their anticipated re-opening dates and likely future services.

To help us fund this gesture, we have been very generously assisted by a donation from Aboyne and Upper Deeside Rotary Club towards the costs of this issue, and by similar assistance from our printer, McKenzie Print Ltd of Dyce. We are also very grateful to Ross Johnston, Chief Photographer, Newsline Media, and to Rick Wood (www2wphotography.zenfolio.com), for permitting use of their material. The Ballater Eagle is extremely grateful to these benefactors for their assistance to our community, and to our community magazine at a very difficult time. Thank you all.

Eagle copy & advertising deadlines 2016/17 issue deadline

publication

summer May 1st early June autumn Aug 1st mid September winter Nov 1st early December spring Feb 1st early March

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Letter from the Editor

In several of her earlier articles in the Eagle our in-house historian, Sheila Sedgwick, has mentioned the Muckle Spate of 1829. Little did we realise that Muckle Spate – Version 2 was soon to hit our village and surrounding area. I suppose we had a false sense of security that such things really did not happen in our modern world, with our up to date knowledge, forecasting and technology. How wrong we were! Mankind will never tame Nature, especially when water is involved.

So many individuals, businesses and tourist facilities in the area have been badly affected, with around a third of properties in Ballater inundated.

However, the desperate plight of those affected brought out a wonderful example of community spirit. Social media, for those that could receive it, was set in motion within minutes, assisting in identifying where support was needed.

There are too many individuals who gave up their time to help others to mention here. That said, many of those evacuated are highly appreciative of the co-ordination provided during the early stages of the flood disaster by Bell Macaulay

photo courtesy of Rick Wood

and her team at the V&A Halls. The sterling efforts of Rev. David Barr and Rev. Vittoria Hancock too must be applauded. They both worked tirelessly for many hours and over many days, providing food, and shelter to victims and volunteers alike, as well as providing up to date information on the latest position, and where and how further assistance could be obtained. The emergency services, police, fire and rescue, the Mountain Rescue and Aberdeenshire Council employees all worked in very difficult conditions to help victims. Ballater’s own Charitable Chiels too gave considerable voluntary assistance over many days, and their fund raising, along with many others, has helped to make life a little easier for those in need during this crisis.

Many lessons will have to be learned from this event, not least that planning for any future emer-

FRASER & MULLIGAN We provide a broad range of legal services

photo: Simon Blackett

gency must urgently be set in place. Not enough was known to the emergency services about the areas of the village which were water-logged. The Ballater & Crathie Community Resilience Plan that was commissioned after the August 2014 flood was never given the attention it deserved and was never delivered - “It would never happen again for 200 years”. There is no place for complacency about the risk the river continues to pose.

Arrangements for activation of the Victoria & Albert Halls as our Emergency Centre need to be more widely publicised, and the facilities available there must be re-evaluated. Certainly, the use of the Victoria Barracks to provide warmth and hot food was very welcome, and this facility, when vacant, should be designated immediately as part of the Emergency Plan. Much to learn and consider.

Ballater nonetheless is already rising above the doom and gloom. Many individuals are organising events over the next few months to help bring the community together again. Victoria Week will go ahead, Ballater Films are operating, several individuals are organising events to raise funds and morale at the same time. Indeed, there is much going on to lift the spirits. We must all support these events as much as possible and help our village return to normality as quickly as possible.

The future is bright – let us all greet each other with a smile and cheery word. Ballater’s future depends on everyone being positive!

Ian Hay

ESTATE AGENCY RESIDENTIAL � COMMERCIAL CONVEYANCING LEASING WILLS � EXECUTRIES POWERS OF ATTORNEY SEPARATION � DIVORCE COURT WORK NOTARY PUBLIC WORK RESIDENT SOLICITORS: MARY-JAY MORTON & KATHRYN M REID 24 Bridge Street, Ballater, AB35 5QP Tel: 013397 55633 Fax: 013397 55564 ballater@fraser-mulligan.co.uk www.fraser-mulligan.co.uk

Come and meet “Art” (our gecko) and see our completely revamped bright & cheerful new look opticians.

More an experience than just a visit!

dp opticians

-who always care how you look.

45 Bridge Street, Ballater

013397 56222

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Local Group News

A round-up of news from our local groups

BRHS

by Elizabeth Wilson

The annual Quiz Night in December attracted a good turnout and an entertaining, funfilled evening was enjoyed by all.

January’s usually the time when gardeners pore over the many catalogues and make plans for their garden for the coming year. Sadly many beautiful gardens, some of which were created over many years, were totally devastated by the flood. Getting homes back in a habitable state is the main priority but recreating a much loved garden will also be on the minds of those who were affected. Due to the disruption, it was decided to cancel the February meeting and instead look forward to the 7th March meeting which will be held as usual in the Mike Sheridan Room in the Halls at 7.30 pm. Hopefully Jim Henderson’s

Alpine Tree Care Contractors and Consultants

Tree Surgeons

Covering the whole of Upper Deeside for the past 25 years We offer a complete professional tree care service to all tree owners, including the public, private and commercial sectors We aim to solve tree problems in a safe and efficient manner, promoting industry-leading practice while protecting the environment Call us for advice and guidance on any tree-related issue See our website for a tour of all services we provide and to view our extensive client list

Mark Wright HND East Braehead of Coynach Tarland AB34 4XL

013398 80100 alpinetreecare@gmail.com www.alpinetreecare.com

talk on “Sowing Seeds in the Greenhouse and on the Windowsill”, will inspire those who still have a greenhouse or available windowsill!

April 4th is the date for the Mini Bulb Show, followed by Ian Christie’s presentation on “Growing Meconopsis and Associated Plants, Propagation and Maintenance”. Leaflets about the Mini Bulb Show are available from the Library. Entries for the Show should be submitted between 5.30 and 6.30pm. The last meeting of the season will take place on Monday 9th May when Professor Gordon Walkden’s illustrated talk on “Landscaping Dos and Don’ts” will guide us through redesigning and building our gardens, damaged or not.

Plant Sale

Please note our annual Plant Sale (9.30am - 12 noon) on Saturday 4th June will be held in the Victoria Hall. Contact Elizabeth Wilson, Secretary, tel: 013397 55900 or email: eml_wilson@hotmail.com should you wish to donate plants and home produce to this fund-raising event. The schedule and Children’s Challenge leaflet for the Annual Exhibition & Flower Show on 20th and 21st August will be available at the meetings or can be picked up from the Library, and A B Yule, Newsagents.

Our website http://ballaterroyalhorticulturalsociety.weebly.com/ provides extensive information about the Society, the programme of speakers and events past and, present.

A warm welcome is always extended to all our attendees and refreshments are served after each meeting so why not bring a friend or neighbour along? Visitors can attend a single meeting at a cost of £3. Your support is very much appreciated.

We look forward to seeing you.

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Got something to say about your group – get in touch ballater.eagle@btopenworld.com

Ballater SWI

by Aileen Barbour On November 23 President Margaret Finnie welcomed Sandra Bain who gave us a demonstration on decorating a Christmas Cake. Sandra gave us plenty of helpful tips and she also showed us how to make a rose out of icing. We had two competitions which Sandra was invited to judge.

We went to the Deeside Inn in December for a Christmas Afternoon Tea, at which the members were asked to dress with a Christmas theme in mind. Diane Wright won this fun competition dressed up as an Elf. The special competition for the “Ann Wallace Sugar Sifter” was judged

by Chef Derek McLean, and The Deeside Inn kindly donated a prize to the winner, Diane Wright. Sheila Rumbles led community singing with some of our favourite Christmas carols, after which Margaret Finnie thanked the staff for the excellent meal and service.

In January, our President introduced Kate McKenzie Wilson of County Cartridge Crafts who makes jewellery from cartridges. Kate brought a selection for her work to show us including ear-rings, brooches and bracelets. She had also brought along a large box with a selection of beautiful feathers and invited us to make a brooch using the feathers and a cartridge cap. We were all delighted with our efforts.

Ballater Ladies Golf

by Aileen Howie

Lady members and social members of Ballater Golf Club are invited to the coffee morning on Saturday 26th March at 10am to mark the opening of the 2016 golf season. Coffee, tea and cake will be available for a small charge and ladies will have the opportunity to play golf in the sweeper at 11.15am. The Ladies committee look forward to welcoming you at the clubhouse.

Indoor Bowling

by Sheila Rumbles

Our first meeting after Christmas commenced on 5th January and since then we have had a reasonable turnout despite the terrible floods and devastation in Ballater. We hope that all our members will soon be able to return to their normal routine and perhaps have their spirits raised gathering together to play and have a chat.

We welcome you all back soon.

The closing date for the season is Wednesday 20th April 2016.

Ballater Songsters

by Sheila Rumbles

The Songsters are still singing their hearts out although depleted in numbers due to the recent floods that have affected some of our members. However, we are looking at preparing new singing material for future visits to our friends at the various Care Homes where we enjoy performing. Hopefully our efforts may help to bring a smile and some joy as the ladies and gentlemen are reminded of the wonderful songs of the past. Music is indeed a great therapy for all.

ROY MITCHELL JOINER TELEPHONE:

07792 117963

12 Upper Deeside Music by Jane Angus Since the very enjoyable Christmas party in St Kentigern’s when the Williams Duo of trumpets were joined by Walter Blair at the fine organ in an evening themed round and with, images of ‘Flowers’, and music ranging from James Oswald to the present day, the committee of Upper Deeside Music has managed to start on the activities for 2016. Mrs Jaffray has

Forbes Duguid Painter & Decorator Tel .55816 el.55816

made a start with the prospect of a programme of largely Victorian music and song for the late afternoon of the Friday of Victoria Week so can we all remember to note Gladstone’s Bag for that date?

Our long-standing young friend, the pianist Christine Lawrie from Broughty Ferry, will play at Creag Meggan on 10th April. There will be a ’bus from Church Square at 4.10 pm to the guest house, as there is limited room for parking.

It is essential to book by ringing Jane Angus on 56260, before the Friday of the previous week, so that arrangements can be made.

As usual, tickets for non-members are £10, no charge for H.M. Forces and young people, and as some of our committee have been through the correct procedures, there is provision for some unaccompanied youngsters, as long as we have warning.

We are a well-established family-owned business. We work hard to ensure we offer our customers a warm welcome, competitive prices and great customer service. We look forward to meeting you.

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BCE: Ballater Caravan Park

by Paddy Wright

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by the Spring. Funding is being sought from various sources and there is reason for optimism.

The main stumbling block is clearance of wrecked caravans and debris, as it is difficult to identify the owners to obtain their permission for removal and payment of costs.

As regards the static section, the suitability of the site has to be determined and this will depend on what flood alleviation measures can be taken Photo courtesy of Ross Johnston, Newslline Media and when, and the probability of a return of Mother Nature strikes again in Ballater! a similar flood. It is unlikely that it will be up What was a thriving community business and running before the start of the 2017 season was devastated within a few hours during the recent catastrophic flooding, a fate shared by many other businesses and households in the village.

During the past few years it is estimated that 15,000 – 16,000 people have used the site over the season, spending money in local shops and restaurants.

BCE Ltd has made funding amounting to £50,000 available to community Photo courtesy of Rick Wood projects, including a grant to the Halls. It has also invested £300,000 in improvements to the and the cost is roughly estimated as £250,000. caravan park, including new offices, a playpark BCE’s insurance excludes damage resulting and refurbishment of the toilet block, making it from floods, so funding will have to be found.

As is often the case with such catastrophes, much more attractive to visitors. they can provide opportunities. The layout of In short, the park is vital to the economy the park was not ideal and can be improved of Ballater, and must be re-instated as soon as during re-instatement. possible. To this end, the directors of BCE Ltd are determined to re-instate the touring section

Golf Club “on course for start of season” by Colin Smith

Following the devastation caused by storm Frank, Ballater Golf Club is pleased to report that course repair work is progressing well and, at the time of writing, the club hopes to have a few holes open in February with the full course

being ready for play for the start of the season at the end of March.

The clubhouse suffered carpet damage and, due to the great work done by volunteers, it was open and ready for business on Friday 8th Janu-

C.S.M. Handyman J.Lanigan

All the little jobs you can’t get any1 to do

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

Strathgirnoc Farmhouse South Deeside Road Ballater Tel. 013397 56227 Mobile 07506951506 Email: C-S-M_Aerials@hotmail.co.uk for more details please see: www.csmhandyman.co.uk

ary. Volunteers were at the club on 1st January removing the carpets, the ladies section then began the cleaning and sanitising of the floors.

New carpeting has now been laid throughout the clubhouse.

Unfortunately the course did not escape so lightly - the main areas of damage were caused when the river burst its banks at the 13th hole leaving a mass of stones, sand and debris strewn across several fairways. In addition the area next to the greenkeepers’ shed was hit, creating a new river and depositing a mass of stones and sand across the 1st and 18th fairways at either side of the existing ditch. Bunkers were washed out and paths devastated with the force of the water.

Photos courtesy of CNPA

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With the help of volunteers, most of the debris has now been removed from the course and the area around the shed has been reinstated. Bunker and path work has just commenced and will be completed for the start of the season. The club was very fortunate in that none of the greens or tees were affected. The club would like to thank the many volunteers who have assisted in the cleanup operation, both in the clubhouse and on the course, with special thanks to W M Donald who provided the plant and machinery to move the majority of the stones and sand. The club hopes to have the course looking at its best again this season and attracting the many visitors who have enjoyed our facilities over the years.

A Day in December

by Ian Cameron

the flood in the grounds of the RC Chapel

There are events we meet with in life so extreme, and with such far-reaching consequences, that they become implanted in our consciousness.

To me, dates like the Great Storm and Gale of 31st January, 1953, and the assassination of President Kennedy on November 22nd 1963, never fail to remind me where I was at those moments in time.

The 30th December 2015 now joins that category: ‘The day the River Dee burst its banks and flooded Ballater.’

In my youth, we boys used to watch the Dee come over the bank at Garranmhor and creep up Dee Street as far as Deebank Road, but never further.

My Mother, in 1928, watched the water rush down Victoria Road, after the Dee burst its bank above Sluievannachie, found an ancient river channel, and soon flooded the R.C. Chapel grounds, crossed Golf Road and poured out from behind the Westfield Terrace on to Victoria Road.

The identical break-through took place again at noon on this latest flood, with the exception

15 that a new house had been built in the grounds of the Coyles which impeded the flood waters causing them to overflow along Golf Road to add to the water east of Bridge Street.

I now have two photos showing the damage caused by the water breaking out from behind Westfield Terrace, one dated 1928 and the most recent, 31/1/2016.

There is no one living that has seen such destruction before, the great blessing is that no lives were lost, but like the station, the recovery is going to take time and a lot of thought. below, the damage in 1928

“Start by doing what’s necessary, then do what’s possible, and suddenly... you are doing the impossible.”

Francis of Assisi

Rotary Club of Aboyne and

Following the devastating floods that affected the River Dee area of Aberdeenshire on the 30th December, The Rotary Club of Aboyne and Upper Deeside rapidly launched a fund-raising campaign to help the flood victims and The Ballater and Deeside Flood Relief Fund was formed.

The community spirit shown by Deesiders is second to none. The willingness to help those who are in trouble is quite inspiring, and many volunteers are working as hard now as they were immediately after the flood event. Members of our Club have also helped with the clearing of debris and the distribution of donated food and clothing, and this work is still ongoing.

Local people have given generously to The Relief Fund and the Club is very grateful for all the support and donations it has received from residents all the way up and down the Dee Valley.

Financial support has also come from all over Britain. Royal Deeside has a special place in the hearts of many people who have holidayed in the

photos: Cat Houston

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area. The memories of the scenery and the friendliness of its residents stays with tourists for years after their visit. The Club has had many messages of sympathy for the plight of the residents and good wishes for the recovery of our villages, towns and countryside.

Our Rotary Club would also like to thank other Rotary Clubs from all around the country who have contributed to the Fund and gives special thanks to our colleagues in the Rotary Club

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Upper Deeside by Ruth Powell

By appointment to HM the Queen Purveyor of Meat and Poultry

the affected communities. To this end, the Club has donated to Ballater Victoria Week from its Community Charity Fund to ensure that the town continues this special and unique celebration of its Royal connections.

If you wish to make a donation to support The Ballater and Deeside Flood Relief Fund, please contact our Club at our Relief Fund email address; AUDrotary1010@gmail.com or contact the Club Secretary (Secretary@aboyne. rotary1010.org) for details of how to donate. volunteers from across Ballater help out after the floods.

of Banchory-Ternan, who have not only made a generous donation, but are gathering donations from local shops and businesses in collection tins.

To d a t e , t h e Club has collected over £27,000 and handed out financial help totalling more than £20,500 to over 45 households in Deeside, the majority of which are in Ballater, the worst affected town in the area. Requests for help are still being received on our dedicated phone line and email address.

Because of this, our Club is continuing to ask for donations and is actively planning fund-raising events over the next year. Our wish is to assist in the regeneration and to work on projects to benefit

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By appointment to HRH the Prince of Wales Purveyor of Meat and Poultry

H M Sheridan

BUTCHER • POULTERER • GAMEDEALER

Bigger, better, brighter Sheridan’s (re)opening mid-March

(keep an eye on our Facebook page for date)

We look forward to welcoming customers old and new – bring this advert with you for a 10% discount during our re-opening month.

11 Bridge Street, Ballater. Tel: 013397 55218 Fax: 56042 info@hmsheridan.co.uk www.hmsheridan.co.uk

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Ballater & Crathie C.C.

It was with regret that Ballater and Crathie Community Council received and accepted the resignation of William Duguid, B.E.M. as a member and Chairman of the Council. Brought up in the family of former Provosts of the Burgh of Ballater and after service in REME and with the local ‘bus company (where he was for many years a constructive Union representative), Billy Duguid served in the B&CCC during difficult times of reorganisation in local government.

Community Councils were formed to be an interface between any authority and concerned registered voters, but having no powers and very little money granted for administrative purposes.

Recent years have fortunately allowed the Ballater (Royal Deeside) Trust, which has fund raising and using powers, to carry out some greatly needed projects in our area. Bringing community needs and opinions to the attention of distant offices is a perpetual task, but there is no guarantee that actual listening is effective, and the loss of Mr Duguid’s local knowledge and persistence is a loss to us all.

With the election of Francis Duguid as Chairman and Jim Anderson as Vice-Chairman,

the voices of people who have grown up in our area continue to be expressed. The expertise and energy of Iain Latta, who was recently co-opted as a member, is welcome.

It has been estimated that a third of residents of Ballater have suffered water ingress to their homes. The work of the Police and Fire Services in Aberdeenshire cannot be praised too highly.

Teams from the Council, the Churches and many other organisations like the Charitable Chiels, Aboyne & Upper Deeside Rotary, the Business Association and a huge number of individuals and businesses have worked hard and long, in many different ways, helping anyone affected by the very sudden and traumatic changes to their lives..

Aberdeenshire Council has held restricted discussions recently on possible re-use of the Old Station site but there is no firm report yet of what may actually happen by 2017. It is hoped that the Darroch Learg Hotel may be open in early spring, having had work continuing during the winter months.

Certainly our river birds will not find nesting easy on the large-stoned banks now exposed where

photo coutesy of Simon Blackett

by Jane Angus there used to be smaller ‘chuckie-stanes’. The prospect of allowing clearance of field-drains and ditches, and dredging in ‘small rivers’ is at least some activity without bureaucracy for farmers.

Perhaps we may see a return to removing accessible gravel beds from the upper river for local use which could make some reduction in the scouring effects of high waters, as well as strengthening their sub-surface banks.

We wait to see what constructive, stimulating and progressive ideas come forward as we meet, listen, cope with the recent shocks, and move toward re-stabilisation and recovery. It is hoped that there will soon be meetings where there can be general discussion on all these matters.

I still believe that a National Park should be an ideal place for modern independent businesses to develop with free-lance and co-operative uses of IT for learning and community co-operation.

The people of Aberdeenshire have the ability and strength of character to tackle just that.

Opening Hours: Monday 2pm - 6pm Tuesday Closed Wednesday 10am - 5pm Thursday Closed Friday 10am - 3pm

Tel. 013397 - 55134 24 Golf Rd Ballater AB35 5RS

David Barr, with Wullie Inglis of the Brothers in Arms Motorcycle Club. Photo courtesy of Ross Johnston, Newsline Media

“Adversity provides the opportunity for the best part of us to shine” - Gail Lynne Goodwin

20

Pottering...in the Flood

Before the momentous events of December themselves upstairs. I knew they were safe with 30th we already knew what a great wee commu- the instantly edible and drinkable contents of the nity we live in - a community with heart, energy fridge. They had another fright when they saw and creativity. I think I can safely say that if I and smelt what seemed like smoke coming from was going to be flooded out anywhere, Ballater downstairs, how could this be happening?… the was a darn good place to have it happen. Not fire brigade attended and reassured them it was just the amazing individuals and groups in our just dirty steam from the submerged storage racommunity but the fantastic emergency services, diators. Many hours later I delivered them to the the wider community and the wonderful facebook warmth and safety of the fabulous Gow family. I was taking refuge with other good friends, as were communities, especially Hope Floats.

So here’s my Pottering About in the Flood assorted flood evacuees and small menagerie, in with huge thanks, appreciation and apologies the other world-ness of the intact village over the for missing anyone out. Like many, I have been Station bridge. It still feels a completely different flood-brained so far this year so please be gentle world there.

We went out to assist some of the vulnerable on me…

December 30th was a day of fear, worry, hugs who had evacuated to the barracks. There were and many tears, but also tremendous energy from so many locals who had been working hard all the emergency services, community volunteers, day: the great team in the halls; people identifying friends, neighbours and family. I was woken by and finding places for the vulnerable to shelter the police to evacuate, grabbed random stuff and amongst the chaos; the amazing organisation of gave cat double rations. The policewoman who the barracks and people listening to and sharing banged on my door told me to leave NOW. There stories, holding hands and hugging. Ballater at its was fast knee deep water to my car, I chucked finest. Some had worked non-stop all day not even rucksack and myself in - thanked goodness that knowing if their own houses were flooded. Huge it started - reverse gear and foot down. I checked respect to you all. As I wrote that evening: “A on my Mother-in-law - where my youngest was very scary day. Ballater has had a hard year. But keeping her company - who said her house has we’re a mightily resilient and supportive bunch that can make somenever flooded so thing from chaos. As went to do what far as I’m aware noI could, with one has died or been many others, bereft of support. in the Halls.

Stuff is stuff.”At What everyone the barracks early wanted was dry the next morning a socks. Thank huge mobile catering you so much to van had seemingly the good folk materialised from in the random Sheila’s garden, taken by Sasha from upstairs at M-i-L’s nowhere. Whilst in houses I knocked on who kindly filled a large bag of clean dry the queue to get some breakfast for a couple of socks and towels. The centre of the village was refugees I chatted with a young woman who was by then two torrents with my daughter and M-i-l serving. They had been sent up by SSE leaving on the river side of it. They’d moved stuff and Glasgow the previous afternoon and had a very

by a ‘flood-brained’ Stella Potter

21

long, hair-raising journey to reach us due to the in. When I was asked where it had all come from appalling weather and damage on the roads. many didn’t understand the power of social media Those of us in the affected areas became very used but were, like me, astonished and humbled at the to the many electrical engineers who worked so hard to get the power back to the village and individual households. The destruction of a substation was innovatively solved by the coastguard shooting a line over the river. The coastguard in Ballater! Surreal.

All the outside meter boxes had to be replaced and the internal boxes checked. The engineers were kind, supportive and took time to explain what they were doing. When, a few days later, my internal box was photo courtesy of Ross Johnston, Newsline Media declared safe and power restored to my upstairs flat I almost hugged the lovely chap who generosity of strangers. Indeed, that generosity did it. But as one friend put it: “You’re only al- was so overwhelming that a tent opened on the lowed to hug leccy guys if you have a sticker green to distribute the mountain of food to all. All to say you’ve been properly earthed.” the practical help Hope Floats so swiftly provided Many had no conception of the swift and most in immediate and ongoing needs - food, clothing, volunteers, machinery, muscle-power and expertise - and the well-organised sub forums were, and still are, invaluable. Thank you all for so selflessly contributing to our needs, giving up your New Year and beyond to assist us, and a few days later those in other communities in the Shire who were also flooded. Social media may be dissed in the mainstream media but this is a fine example of it being used hugely effectively utilising the kindness and goodness of strangers.

It’s heart-warming how adversity brings out kindness and gentleness. The neighbour photo by Sasha Potter heart-warming response of the facebook group set who stopped me in the street and spoke so kindly up on the 30th: Hope Floats. Our community I burst into healing tears. Flood refugees who’d was pulling out all the stops, but this event was lost everything coming into the library, in foul bigger than us. The good folk of Aberdeen and weather, to use our services for fellow refugees Shire swept into action, collecting clothing, bed- not fit to go out. The feeling that we are all in it ding, food and delivering it to the barracks, with together. I was told that hitching into Ballater on volunteers sorting donations as they came flooding the South Deeside Road was a breeze.

22

Although I am very fortunate in living on the first floor so internal damage was just my stairs, our gardens were another matter. A neighbour’s shed had been washed to a teetering angle but righted by volunteers with machinery after an appeal on Hope Floats. My

including my winter supply of sawdust logs. My woodshed and much of the carefully seasoned, stacked and dried wood were nowhere to be seen or soggily sitting against fences. As my woodburner heats my hot water and central heating this was a huge problem. It’s hard to have a full heart with a floodswept away woodshed. But not for long! A veritable torrent of kind and generous people brought me heaters, dry wood, kindling and sawdust logs which kept me going till I could sort storage and delivery of logs. Big thanks to

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a happy Stella wearing her ID badge

the Woodfuel Co-op who swiftly provided four households with pallets of logs at a discounted flood rate. My sheds still needed emptying and clearing, a task I certainly couldn’t do alone. Cue another facebook group, Ballater Volunteers, who sent three delightful men from the charity IsraAID to join some of my wonderful friends in the work.

They arrived just as I returned from work, I didn’t even have time to take off my ID badge. What an amazing team! They made the whole process of turning chaos into order seem simple. They were all well hugged. One of the IsraAID chaps even knew the kibbutz I was on half a lifetime ago. I was reminded yet again of the small world we live in and the preponderance of good people.

A few days after I moved back we welcomed two flood refugee friends who were away when their home had been inundated. I could see them going through the same cycles of emotions that we were going through on day 2. When I’m anxious

I lose my appetite, and it seemed anxiety levels were never going to get to a cope-able level. It’s catching, so we lived off pots of homemade soup and my New Year cheese supply for many days.

The seemingly constant high winds and rain banging on my roof windows were not conducive to sleep. I was ill-nourished and exhausted. These last few weeks have taken a huge emotional toll on many of us, and it’s vital we recognise that. Please don’t be afraid to ask for help… from friends, family, our lovely GPs. As I write there are two support groups, one on Saturdays in the golf club and the Deeside Inn’s alternate Thursday coffee and chat. The flood changed so many lives and that can be hard to get to grips with, especially for those who face the long wait of restoration. A virtual hug to you all.

The first two flood refugees managed to get back to their home, so I now have the delight of another and her cat. Readers with long memories may remember my lovely lodger. I never thought I would be so lucky to share my home with someone

23

as lovely again, but I am! My flood friend and I are grateful for each-other, and we’re eating really well!

Currently life has a different rhythm. The devastation around my home and facing the tented station at work in the library has its own rhythm.

During the week the streets around me are hives of activity with skips, gaggles of white vans vying for parking spaces and a fascinating array of trailers. By around 6 it’s dark, empty and silent, bar an occasional dog walker with headtorch.

Weekends see no white vans but steady trickles of refugees attending to their flood ravaged homes, to trickle away again to the silence of the empty darkness. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it, neither do I want to. I’m hugely looking forward to neighbours moving back but know for many it could be a year’s process. So in the meantime my neighbour’s and my lights will shine our beacon of warmth and life bolstered by the presence of my lovely flood refugee.

And spring is just around the corner…

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24

Due to the flood, we’ve had a few very busy weeks sending our foot fall numbers soaring.

The library has become a centre for people to turn to for advice and a haven for people who needed to use our computers to get online, or use our photocopier for insurance documents etc.

We’ve had the Aberdeenshire Council Ballater Flood Response Team in from Monday to Friday from 10am - 5pm providing advice and guidance with flood related issues and signposting to further assistance. They are still available on Tel: 07342085698 (office hours only), but some representation will remain during the next few months, so do pop in if you need any advice. There are a number of advice leaflets and application forms for grants available.

The admirable Ballater Chiels have been dispensing cheques to flood victims and taking in cash from donors, helping

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Library News

by Sabine Muir

many people cope in the meantime. We’ve also had the first meeting of a support group for those affected by the flooding as well as workers and volunteers. The session was coordinated by Simon Spoor, for anyone who needed the comfort of shared experiences and emotional support offered by the team. The group then went on to meet at the Golf Club on Saturday afternoons during February. It’s great to see so many people willing to give their time for free to support and help people during this devastating experience.

Damaged Books

Books that were damaged by the flood will be discarded and written off. If you have any, please let us know. Even if they have been thrown out, we need to get them discharged from the system.

Spydus Rules

We have now changed over to our new operating system Spydus and would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding whenever any inevitable teething problems arose.

Flood of Memories Book

We cur rently have a lined journal in which you are invited to write a few thoughts about anything concerning the floods and its aftermath. You can either give your name and address or leave your comments anonymously. If you prefer to email us with your story, please do. Our email address is: ballater. library@aberdeenshire.gov.uk The project has three aims: 1) Putting your thoughts in writing is considered therapeutic, and may help you cope with any trauma resulting from your experiences of the flood.

2) A booklet produced by collating all the thoughts might be used to raise funds for flood relief purposes.

3) An historical document could be retained by the Ballater Local History Group.

(Please note: providing your personal informa-

tion will be assumed as being permission to identify your documents in any publication)

Newly In

We have recently started stocking Playaways in Fiction or Mystery. A Playaway is a solid-state pre-recorded audio player about the size of a deck of playing cards and weighing 2 ounces. The digital content is an audiobook preloaded at the factory. A 3.5 mm stereo jack provides output to earphones or an external amplifier, for use in cars or at home.

These are particularly handy if you go out walking. As with normal audio books, they are free to lend and come supplied with batteries. For hygienic reasons, we ask if people either supply their own headphones, or buy them at the desk for £1.

Activities in the Library

Baby Rhymetimes - Tuesdays at 10.45 Bookbug Story Times - Tuesdays at 11.15 Junior Craft Club every Thursday after school during term time and Junior Craft Club / Writing Club is on Fridays after school Knit and Natter - Tuesday evenings 7 - 9pm

Free Professional Advice

for Flood-Related Issues

Announcing drop-in sessions for Ballater residents affected by the flood on Saturday mornings 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th March (10-midday): Alan Nicoll from Laurie & Co Solicitors LLP will give his time freely to help deal with insurance issues arising from the flood.

Michael Rasmussen, DA FRIAS RIBA is a chartered architect and can offer advice on buildings damage, building contractors, planning & building warrants (if relevant), etc. Those unable to attend can call Michael on his mobile (07968 19688) for advice or email: mike@rasarc.com The illustrations here are some of the Craft Club kids’ artistic interpretation of the flood.

It’s quite a dramatic portrayal of what they have witnessed.

David Cobban, McCue & Porter, Chartered Quantity Surveyors will offer advice on 5th, 26th and possibly 12th March. If you can’t attend but would like advice please call 01224326122 or 07917 186622 or email: dgc@mccueporter.com

Scottish Flood Forum

Paul Hendy from the Scottish Flood Forum will be continuing to run an advice drop in centre in Ballater Library every Wednesday from 12 5pm. This is an opportunity to get expert advice and support regarding insurance claims, drying out properties, property repairs and any other questions related to flooding and its impacts. Paul can be contacted by phone 07747702299 (if he is unable to answer send a text with your number and he will call you.

Ballater poet Hugh Stewart has written ‘Dee fur Deluge Dee fur Disaster’, a poem about the flood. Copies can be obtained at the library for a donation to the flood appeal.

ALEXANDRA HOTEL Open daily serving lunches, evening meals and local ale En-suite accommodation from £40 Our thoughts and best wishes are with everyone who has been affected by the recent storm Bridge Square, Ballater 013397 55376 email: enquiries@ alexandrahotelballater.co.uk www.alexandrahotelballater.co.uk

26

Letter from the Churches

Dear Friends The New Year is over and done with and by the time this issue of the Eagle comes out we will hopefully be heading into early spring. It has not been a particularly happy time for Upper Deeside recently. January in particular seems to have been a long hard month. We know there is no quick fix solution for this area, just a long slow slog uphill again. It can be difficult – almost impossible at times – to focus on rays of light in this time.

Yet, as ministers, we are not despondent; we are not discouraged. If anything, we are encouraged. As Christians, we believe we are called to build our lives on the rock that is Jesus, so that when the world starts to shake around us we can stand firm. To consider what is of importance, what is essential in our lives, and focus our hearts and minds on those things. This is easier said than done, especially when all around us there seems turmoil and trouble. Where is the positive in all of this?

We believe in a God who loves us and cares for us; who supports us in our journey through life. That does not mean that there is not questioning, anger and frustration. There is, and will continue to be. God has been asked ‘why’ a lot recently. But there is also a confidence that in all things God is with us, in our tears, frustration, tiredness. Being here in this community at this time has reminded us of our reasons for being, for believing. We are here to love and to serve, as ministers and as churches. We are here to be part of this community, in the midst of our people. We are not just here for those who believe in God, but for everyone. If you are struggling – emotionally, physically, financially, in whatever way, please do get in touch. We might be able to help. We might not be able to help. But we can stand alongside you, wherever you are.

There is an old chorus that some of you may remember from your childhood: the wise man built

his house upon the rock... the rain came down and the flood came up...’. The communities we are proud to serve have shown that they are truly wise, built upon firm foundations. Despite the devastation and destruction, the sadness, and the shock, the people here have worked together to serve all.

In their love, support, and understanding; in their practicality and sheer grit; in their consideration for others - they have demonstrated what it means to be “community”. The council, the voluntary organisations, the emergency services, the multitude of volunteers - all have been working together with this community. We have been reminded of the kindness of strangers – and the joys of belonging. There will be very challenging times ahead - times of sorrow and sadness, stress and worry.

But Upper Deeside has firm foundations, so there will also be laughter, love and joy alongside.

As this issue of the Eagle comes out, our churches will be in the season of Lent – a time of preparation, of journeying with God, of refocusing our lives. We are heading towards Easter, that great celebration of new life, of joy. We hope and pray that for Ballater and the surrounding area, Easter joy and celebration will spread into all of our lives.

We will be thinking of you and praying for you, that the light will shine in the darkness.

Rev Vittoria Hancock, St Kentigern’s, Rev David Barr, Glenmuick Church, Father Chris Brannan, St Nathalan’s

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Floods 2015 by Betty Wilson

27

When the floods came to Ballater, The angels were the Barrs!

They filled the manse with refugees, They really were the stars!

Sandwiches and biscuits, Double Sandy on the couch, Children on the floor, Houses full of river, The manse an open door.

Tea and coffee too, The loaves and fishes born again, Enough for all the crew.

Ryah Scripps P2

St Kentigern’s by

Rev. Vittoria Hancock

Since the last edition of the Eagle, Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany have been and gone.

We waited through Advent and celebrated with joy at Christmas. At Epiphany – just after the flood – we took the opportunity to pause at the beginning of the New Year, to ask God to bless our hearts, our homes, our church.

If, in your travels round Ballater, you see a chalked door with 20+C+M+B+16 on it, don’t panic. It’s not a mad graffiti artist, but an outward sign of our inward prayer – that God will be with all who come in and all who go out of our places where we live. The service was bittersweet in parts – as with the rest of the community, some were there who have had to move from their homes. So we prayed for restoration, for peace, and for renewal. And as they move back in, we will ask God to bless those homes once again.

Lent and Easter are fast approaching – as usual we will have our Lent course, and our Easter services. We will again be joining with the other churches in Ballater on Good Friday, and on Easter Sunday morning, when we will celebrating the dawn of Easter with a service down by the river bank. You are very welcome to join us at any or all of our services. Please see the diary pages for more details.

Inverness Military Wives’ Choir

by Dianne Lennan Diane Lennan, formerly Emslie, was born and brought up in Ballater, but is now living in Inverness where she founded the Inverness Military Wives’ Choir one year ago. The choir is part of the Military Wives’ Choirs Foundation which was created after Gareth Malone’s series “The Choir” set up the first 2 choirs in Chivenor and Plymouth.

The choir has been chosen to sing backing vocals for Lulu on her upcoming UK wide tour in Inverness on the 18 March at Eden Court.

They will be singing for her new single “Cry” which will be raising funds for the Foundation.

Lulu has linked up with the MWC due to her own battles with PTSD. In addition, they will be teaming up with another choir for the Inverness event, and 2 more choirs will be doing the backing vocals for Lulu’s performance in Aberdeen.

Inverness Military Wives’ Choir is also performing at Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival main stage on Saturday 6 August, then will be joining Military wives’ choirs from Kinloss and Lossiemouth for the Highland Tattoo from the 9th to the 11th September.

28 Community Meeting - Post Flood by an Observer

It was standing room only at the Victoria Hall for this meeting, chaired by Peter Argyll. Presentations were made by the police and fire service on what had happened on 30 December 2015 and thereafter. It has to be said they, along with the Mountain Rescue, did a fantastic job on the day of the flood. This was followed by Aberdeenshire Council, the Scottish Flood Forum, SEPA and the Chair of the emerging Ballater Community Resilience Group, with limited time for questions from residents affected by the flood.

An account of recovery measures and the production of a Ballater resilience plan in event of emergencies was given. The timetable for the Ballater Flood Management Plan (2022 – 2027) is far from satisfactory and should be high on the agenda for revisiting by the Local Authority and the Scottish Government and made fit for purpose through more adequate consultation with the community.

There was debate about short term and long

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term solutions for flood defences. Survey work

by SEPA is proceeding but no guidance was given about where this might lead. It may be early days, but there was little comfort for residents about what might be planned as a short term solution on flood prevention, particularly in view of the reconfiguration of the river course and the very real concern that flood defences have been considerably weakened.

Two distinct schools of thought emerged on short term measures, one concerning the reinstatement of the flood defence work at the golf course which was regarded by some as the cause of the surge of water through the village, and the other regarding further dredging of the river bed immediately, which historically has led to bank erosion and failure. An interesting mix, and we can all hope that SEPA, in the public interest, have the resources to find a timely solution that is fit for purpose from its current survey work, bearing in mind that its modelling to date has failed to predict the extent of major flooding in both 2014 and 2015.

It was very clear that there was awareness of a serious flood event in Braemar well ahead of the flooding of Ballater, with the SEPA flood warnings for the village lacking with respect to severity, content and timing.

Residents had the opportunity to make further comments at a drop in centre the following day.

An assurance was given that a further community meeting would be held around mid-March 2016 to give a progress report on flood defence work, plans and recovery activity. Considering the devastating effect this flood has had on individuals, families and businesses let us hope for application, relevance and clarity along with constructive consultation with the community from the public agencies involved. Many members of the community worked unbelievably hard together to coordinate efforts to mitigate distress and it is the least they can expect.

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30

Cairngorms National Park

by Grant Moir, CEO, CNPA

Where to begin? Ballater has not had its troubles to seek recently with the two fires at the hotel and Old Station last spring, and then the devastating floods that affected the village over the Christmas period. There has been a tremendous collective spirit in the area throughout this time with people helping each other and showing real resilience in the face of the present difficulties.

The National Park Authority has been collating information on the scale of the damage to the public infrastructure caused by the flooding. This includes 15 bridges damaged or destroyed, nearly 8km of path damaged or destroyed with gates, fencing and signage all needing replaced.

Obviously the main thing is for businesses

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and homes to recover from the flood but tourism is such an important part of the offer in Deeside and the path network is integral to that. The National Park Authority along with Aberdeenshire Council will be submitting this information to Scottish Government and looking at how we can work with the communities to get the network fully back up and running.

In saying that, there is also a need to ensure that people know Deeside is open for business and that most paths (around 85%) are still open and able to be used. There was a meeting of tourism businesses on 18th February and we discussed the messages and the marketing for the area in the year ahead. The joint marketing campaign that we’ve been working on with VisitScotland and the Cairngorms Business Partnership already has a focus on the Deeside area for Spring, which is coincidental, but in the light of events, good timing.

Finally, we need to understand what we can do in the long term to look at how we can lessen the impact of flooding downstream with changes of management in the uplands. We must look at everything afresh and look at what the most sustainable approach is as the climate gets more and more unpredictable and we have to adapt to more intense weather systems. We will be consulting on the NP Partnership Plan from June onwards and expect considerable discussion about how we manage the uplands and our rivers to minimise flooding.

I would like to finish by thanking everyone who did so much in Ballater and throughout the area. The National Park Authority will play its part over the coming months.

Where Can I Walk?

If you are planning a walk, horse ride or cycle trip in the Cairngorms National Park, please be assured that most of the paths are open and accessible. Others are passable only with care, or are temporarily closed. The following is based on information supplied by Aberdeenshire Council, Cairngorms Outdoor Access Trust, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Glen Tanar, Invercauld and Balmoral Estates, and National Trust for Scotland. Details were correct at time of going to print.

Ballater - Cambus O’ May Bridge closed. Walks from Ballater to the bridge on either side of the river remain still open. Polhollick Bridge closed. Seven Bridges walk on the north bank open as far as Bridge of Gairn. Beyond this, bridges over the Gairn and Dee are closed. Riverside path upstream of Dee Bridge in Ballater currently closed, pending inspection. There has been significant damage to the wall and steps at Cornellan Square. Golf Course path closed until a temporary alternative can be found.

Braemar - River Dee path can’t be accessed from the bridge over the Clunie Water below the car park opposite the Invercauld Arms. The river is accessible from all other points.

Cambus O’ May - Three trails, Lochside, Two Lochans and Pine Tree Trail are closed pending further assessment.

Crathie - Riverside path next to the Visitor Centre has been washed away.

Dinnet - Dalmochie to Dinnet (Cambus O’ May path) linking to the Deeside Way cut off after damage to Cambus O’ May bridge. Paths around Burn O’ Vat have been damaged, but are passable with care. Public toilets at the Visitor Centre are closed.

Glen Tanar - All way-marked trails within the glen passable with care, except Strone circuit (closed as the track is now in the Water of Allachy). For more information contact the Glen Tanar Ranger Service tel:013398 86072 or 07790 387 019.

Invercauld - Corndavon Lodge access blocked at the Black Hillock (NO235014) due to landslide. Otherwise, tracks OK with small amount of water damage in the Gairn area.

Routes from Keiloch to Slugain, and Culardoch OK but take care over fords. Baddoch bridge washed out at NO129822, but ford just passable, although very slippery.

Footbridge at Baddoch Wood NO131828 still present, but not recommended as far side has large cracks in stonework.

Bridge at Dunmay NO135667 not passable due to far side being washed away.

Bridge over River Gairn at NO172988 badly damaged and is currently closed.

Loch Muick - Bridges at west end of Loch Muick washed away. Bridge across River Esk above Monzie washed away.

Lochnagar via Gelder Shiel: Bridge standing on stone abutments and track damaged.

Mar Lodge - Allanaquoich road bridge suffered serious damage and is impassable.

Quoich footbridge closed at tea room, no access to east side of Quoich at this point. West track at Quoich has significant loss of track, and fords washed out.

Bridge at Derry Lodge is fine.

Please take great care if accessing any part of the Cairngorms National Park, especially near water courses as all footpaths and bridges have not yet been assessed and stones may have moved in fords following high water levels. Please use the above information as advice only, take sensible precautions and act accordingly. If you are out and come across damage to the path surfaces, bridges or gates, please contact the Park Outdoor Access Officer (see below).

For further, more up to date information, contact: Aberdeenshire Council: https://online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/apps/news/ Police Scotland – Roads North East - https://twitter.com/PolScotRoadsNE Cairngorms Outdoor Access Officer - outdooraccess@cairngorms.co.uk T: 01479 873535

BALLATER GOES FOR A SWIM!

By Aidan, P7

Wednesday, 30th December, 2015

On Wednesday 30th December 2015 it was a peaceful morning in Ballater. At 8:00 lots of people woke up to find their power switched off. At 8:30 lots of horrified people

woke up to see 4-5 feet of water in their house.

Around about 8:35 lots of Emergency services such as the police, ambulance, coast guard,

The Ballater

by our ace pupil repor

fireman and even local residents were helping old folks and familys evacuate their destroyed homes. The current was so strong that when the firemen got to someones house they had to get air lifted and the woman got stuck in her house all through the day. The flood effected areas near Ballater such as the Cambus o’may, Breamar, the A93 and Aboyne as well. Around 9:00 lots and lots of people gathered at the Albert halls for drinks and food. Later trucks came loaded with sandbags and food for everyone. The services were still rescuing the victims and most of the people were stuck in their houses.

There was even people who were refusing to leave their homes because they wanted to try save the water in their homes from getting worse or even ruin valuables. One of the residents said “Its outrageous!” and that “ There has never been this bad a flood since 1927!”

FRANK SHOCKS BALLATER CITIZENS

By Jemma, P7

On the 30th December 2015, Storm Frank takes a massive impact on Ballater. It all started at around 8:30 in the morning when the river burst its banks at the golf course and flowed down Salisbury road. Then it made its way through half of Ballater. By this time the coast guard and firefighters were rescuing people and their pets on the boats. After they were evacuated to the halls.

CARAVANS Meanwhile caravans were charging down the River Dee and were making there way to Aberdeen Harbour. As the caravans went down the Dee they caused lots of bridges to be closed because of the rubbish that hit the bridge. The Cambus O’may bridge got some planks taken up and the bridge went squint.

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BALLATER GOES SPLISH SPLASH SPLOSH!

By Fin, P6

Ballater village has gone underwater on the 30th of December 2015. The River Dee just couldn’t hold on. It happened around 8:30 onwards.

Around about 420 people’s homes flooded and about 250 people got sadly evacuated, the most unfortunate of the number 300 lost their homes.

FIREMEN It started to flood at Salisbury Road. Then it carried on and on and everything got wrecked. Volunteers tried their hardest to make everyone feel safe and secure. People were getting distressed cause they were worried about their houses. Firemen were pumping water out of people’s houses.

While all of the houses were getting flooded something else really bad was happening, the caravan park was going quickly under water.

Caravans were floating down the river, it was horrifying, the golf course was also wrecked.

People were just shocked at how such a bad thing could even happen no one was happy to see stuff floating down the River Dee. WATERS RECEDE The water started to go down at about 2.30-3pm, it left Ballater to be a ghost town. Everyone was shocked and devastated. People were anxious if it were to happen again, would it get worse. It will take years and years for people’s homes to be the way they were again and for Ballater itself to get back to normal again. There are many other places have been affected by the River Dee, there is the Tullich Pond which overflowed and Aboyne which got a little bit flooded and the Abergeldie Castle and many other close places.

NEW-FOUND CITY OF ATLANTIS

Times Exclusive By Cluan, P6

On Wednesday 30th December 2015 at 8:30 the River Dee in Ballater burst its banks after being in spate. The citizens of Ballater were reluctantly evacuated from their homes. Around 300 people have lost their homes, moreover 420 homes were flooded. People were evacuated to the barracks where they anxiously awaited food packs to arrive and for news of their homes, they were anxious, scared, distressed and devastated.

Cars were swept down roads, smashing into houses and mobile homes. Many businesses have been lost, leaving many employees unemployed. The caravan park is wrecked. It originally had around 180 caravans but now only has around 40. No caravan that is still intact is in its original state. Parts of caravans have been lodged up trees, it looks as though a bomb has taken a direct hit, it will be a permanent memory.

HELICOPTERS There have been no human fatalities, but pets and game have been lost. It is thought that Salisbury Road was the main source and therefore was worse affected. Helicopters were brought in to get people out of the way from the worst of the flooding, and boats being pulled by diggers for more minor problems and the coastguard was called in. SEPA and the weather forecast were the only agencies who foresaw the flood and therefore the flood came as a big shock to most.

The insurance company have made many people unhappy as they have put important information in tiny writing on their policy sheet and are not paying up.

Prince Charles has been asking people about how they feel about the flooding and has been touring into people’s houses to have a look at the damage and to talk to the victims of the flood.

Ballater wasn’t the only place affected by the flood, Abergeldie Castle was on the brink of falling into the river and other towns have been affected.

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Crathie Opportunity Holidays

by Allan Harrison

First of all, our thoughts have been with all those in Upper Deeside affected by the recent catastrophic flood. The communities have shown spirit and resilience in coping with the immediate emergency and now in helping those who have been affected. This is the spirit which we at COH have seen over the last 14 years with the tremendous help we receive in running our enterprise for those members of society worse off than ourselves.

One of our cottages was slightly flooded during the storm and we had to evacuate a family on the morning of the flood. Luckily, they were due to depart that day. Although they had an unfortunate and abrupt end to their holiday, they were very understanding and are returning later this year. The damage to the cottage was minimal and, thanks to the hard work of our staff, it is now back in operation. We have

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already welcomed our first guests for 2016 and we look forward to a busy season.

The new reception/office building is now complete and occupied and the wood pellet biomass heating system is installed and operational. As part of the 2016 Disabled Access Day on Saturday 12th March, we will be holding an open day event between 11am and 3pm when coffee and home bakes will be served.

This will also afford people a chance to see our new facilities. All are welcome on that day.

Fundraisers The major fundraisers for 2016 will be our Golf Day in October and another of our successful Film Evenings in the V&A Halls.

Further details of these events will follow in due course. We are also hoping to help with fundraising for repairs to the Victoria and Albert Halls in Ballater, where so much emergency assistance was centred during the recent flooding. We have become an affiliated sponsor to the Balmoral Road Races in April and will have places available for those who wish to run in the 10 and 5k races. Sponsorship forms are available from our Manager, Maggie MacAlpine, on 013397 42100. Our book, “Essays on Life” by Thomas Mitchell, Farmer, is still available. Copies can be obtained from Maggie on the above contact number.

Understandably, people will be otherwise occupied this year but, if you have some spare time, we would be delighted to welcome you as a Friend of COH. This could involve helping out at some of our events, or joining the team who host our coffee mornings for guests, or just a bit of gardening. These are not onerous tasks and Friends come along when they can. If you would like to join us, again, please phone Maggie.

As always, thank you to all our local friends and supporters.

Crathie School campaign to End Polio Now

Over the winter, pupils at Crathie School have planted and watered crocus bulbs in support of the Rotary Club’s campaign to end polio. Although the disease still causes paralysis and death in children, it is hoped that it can be eradicated in the not too distant future through an immunisation programme.

The pupils at the School have grown the bulbs and decorated the pots. They have taken the finished products home and asked for donations in return.

This lastest fund raising project in the School also supports the work being done towards being a Level Two Rights Respecting School. The pupils have been learning about Article 24 of the

35

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child which states “Every child has the right to the best possible health…Richer countries must help poorer countries to achieve this.”

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36 A Perspective from further up

Braemar got off very lightly indeed compared with Ballater (even if it did not feel like it at the time for some) and our thoughts are with you all in these very challenging times and I know Geva, as your local councillor, is working hard at many different levels to do what she can to help.

the Invercauld Bridge (where the iron railings had been torn across the road) and noticed a hole in the side of the road above one of the flood arches. We reported it to the Roads Department and within a short time the road was closed as it was deemed unstable. The trouble had started.

We were now effectively cut off from the rest of Aberdeenshire, where many worked, went to school, our post and newspapers came from, nursing and care staff for the vulnerable, medical supplies, hospitals, car parts etc etc.

To make matters more challenging, after the power went back on, we had telephone and internet shutthe A93 at wester micras, with Aberdeldie castle behind down without even 999 services.

We had a big flood a few days before 30th Fortunately we have a resident doctor but he felt that damaged a few fences and disturbed some very exposed as nobody could call him and he sheep grazings; but there was no real warning could not call an ambulance if needed.

The Fire Service quickly realised what was of the difficulties ahead. The first indication of trouble was when the residents of the Caravan going on and stationed a second crew from Park had to be roused at 5.30am as some areas Dundee in the village as obviously we could started to flood. Caravans were moved where no longer call on another Aberdeenshire crew. possible and residents moved out of harm’s way. Some awnings were lost but fortunately nothing more serious.

By midmorning the A93 was closed in several places and it was clear we had very high water to cope with. Some managed to escape via the Glenshee Road, but things were equally difficult down there. Water surrounded some properties and started to get inside but fortunately for us, nowhere near the extent of what you had to cope with in Ballater.

By mid afternoon the waters had begun subsiding and assessing the impact began. I went for a walk over the media waits, but Aberdeldie castle stands firm

Royal Deeside by Simon Blackett 37 BT also stationed a satellite phone for emergencies in the village, which fortunately was not needed. Once communications were restored the community set in place arrangements to allow people to get on with life by using the 1750 Brig of Dee as a walkway between the closed sections of road. Cars were left on the “other side” and a shuttle bus set up so that those who needed to travel east could and supplies could be brought in. A routine was established walking the Academy pupils to a waiting bus,

walking to school over the bridge

the post, papers and supplies were walked over to waiting cars. Hospital patients were helped over and the Community really pulled together.

It was akin to living on an island with the shuttle arrangements replacing a short sea crossing. A crew of volunteers helped clear the village and fences of debris and life took on a semblance of normality.

The A93 washout at Wester Micras meant a longer and more difficult journey along the South Deeside Road. Fortunately the snow and frost largely held off and getting about was not too hazardous. Trade was very quiet indeed for the local businesses, but we knew it was only temporary. In short time Aberdeenshire Council had the bridge fixed and open to traffic. Life could return to a

reconstruction of the road more normal winter pattern. But sadly not for some as Braemar began to understand the scale of the difficulties Ballater was suffering.

Abergeldy Castle had its garden and wall washed away and very nearly indeed collapsed into the River (much to the disappointment of waiting TV crews). Fortunately some very sensible and incredibly quick decisions were taken and work started to shore up the Castle and dredge the river to try and reduce the chance of future floods damaging the Castle. Sadly two of the 19th century suspension bridges have been lost and two severely damaged.

We know that we were lucky in Braemar: Nobody was forced out of their home or business and damage to roads, fields, bridges and fences can be fixed.

damage to the Brig O’ Dee (Invercauld Bridge)

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Crathie News

Parish Programme

During lent there will be a joint Study Group meeting from 15 March, alternate Mondays in Braemar and Ballater. For further information contact Karen on 013397 42344. On Good Friday, March 25, there will be an Interdenominational Walk with the Cross, starting at St. Andrews RC Church, Braemar, at 3pm. On Easter Sunday, March 27, there will be an open air service at Kindrochit Castle at 8am and a joint service at Crathie Kirk at 11.30am to which all are welcome. For information on upcoming services and events, Please see our website: www. braemarandcrathieparish.org.uk

by Karen Garioch Coffee Mornings

It will be our tenth anniversary this year and we are so grateful to our many supporters and invaluable volunteers who have helped raise over £20,000 in that time. In December we held our Christmas coffee morning in aid of the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS), and raised a fantastic £500. We support this charity every year and always receive a lovely letter of appreciation from them. Our Coffee mornings will start again on Monday 11 April from 10am to 12.30pm and we look forward to sharing our home baking and friendly chat with old friends and new.

30th December 2015, by Rev. Kenneth McKenzie Throughout the day the River Dee rose to a level not seen since ‘The Muckle Spate’ of 1829.

By mid-morning the waters had broken through the top end of Ballater Golf Course, and had engulfed the lower part of the village with some areas where the water reached 1.5 metres, and many people had to be evacuated. Up and down the valley, roads and bridges were washed away, Abergeldie Castle undermined with the Dee threatening to claim it. As well as around 400 properties in Ballater, homes in Crathie area were also rendered uninhabitable.

The Glebe here at the Manse became part of the river as the walls were washed away.

Given the speed with which the situation developed, and the ferocity of the water, it was quite remarkable that no one was killed or seriously injured, and equally noteworthy has been the extraordinary community spirit demonstrated in “In every community there is work to the aftermath of this devastating event. be done... In every heart there is the Our Kirk Hall was used for the many donations of emerpower to do it” gency supplies including clothing, food and warm blankets.

Marianne Williamson, American Writer, Founder The Peace Alliance Within a few days, most of the households had been visited and a real sense of ‘community spirit’ and compassion shone through the unending rain and water. Many people in Crathie opened their doors and their hearts to those who had lost their homes.

The emergency phase may be over, but the dull, aching reality is that this has been a community changing event, and the recovery process will be long and sometimes painful, not just for those directly affected, but for everybody in the area. That being said, we look forward to a bright future and will continue to do all we can to support our friends and neighbours.

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Keeping Council ...with Peter A. Argyle

Along with many others, I was somewhat sceptical about the Met Office’s decision to name the various storms that reach our shores. After all, having an Atlantic and maritime climate, storms are a feature of our weather and events can happen at any time of the year. And then along came Storm Frank...

The impact and repercussions of the storm will be with us for many years to come.

The River Dee has changed, in a way that has graphically reminded us of the immense power that natural forces have at their disposal. In places the course of the river has shifted; a natural and continuous process that has seen the river change over the centuries and millennia but which on this occasion – within a couple of hours – carried away a section of the A93 and came within inches of destroying Abergeldie Castle, which only a month previously had stood well over 20 metres from the

river bank, as it had for over four centuries What has been most striking about this very real crisis is the way that the community responded to the emergency itself and in the days and weeks that have followed. Ballater folk achieved a huge amount, supporting friends, neighbours and fellow residents, working together for the good of all.

The response by Aberdeenshire Council has been rightly praised. Staff dropped everything to help, including those who had themselves been flooded. The bridge at Invercauld was repaired and re-opened. The section of the A93 at Micras was replaced – land acquisition, design, planning and delivery of the new road – in only 16 days. Other council services swung into immediate action, with staff working long hours to help everyone impacted by the flood.

I would like to thank all those from the council and other agencies, the teams from SSE, the

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volunteers; everyone who came to help.

As well as my ‘day job’ as a councillor, I also have the huge privilege of being Convenor of the CNPA and can thus act as a bridge between the two organisations in a way that I hope will be of genuine assistance to our community. I have never been flooded but I did have my home destroyed in a fire back in 1987 so I do understand the complete sense of loss felt by those who bore the brunt of Storm Frank.

The CNPA’s role kicked in with the recovery phase and there is much to be done. At a basic level, as the access authority, officers are working to get a full picture of the destruction of the low ground path network that used to exist around the village. Much thought will have to go into the repair or re-creation of the network. It is an essential part of the village’s offering to tourists and visitors as well as being really important to the community but there would be little to be gained in simply putting back what was there previously, without careful consideration about the risks of future flooding.

The CNPA has a clear role in working with the community to address the social and economic impacts of the flood and I am committed to doing this with officers from the CNPA. We also need to give careful thought to what can be done to reduce the amount of run-off from the hills; the more rain water than can be held high in the river catchment the better. Work done on peatland restoration and reforesting has been brought into sharper focus as a result of flooding events. Peatlands are vital, not only by storing over 3 billion tonnes of carbon, but also by acting as giant sponges, by holding back water.

Ballater has suffered greatly but the extraordinary community spirit shown since December 30th has clearly demonstrated that Ballater can and will recover and be all the stronger as a result of the experiences of the past few weeks.

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...with Geva Blackett

There will be many people in Ballater hoping that 2016 brings better fortune than 2015 did! First the Station fire and then Storm Frank which destroyed homes and businesses. Walking through the devastation on Hogmanay with first the Council’s Chief Executive Jim Savege, and then our Deputy First Minister, John Swinney MSP, was a surreal experience and hearing of the treasured and irreplaceable possessions people have lost is utterly heartbreaking. Speaking to business folk whose livelihoods lie in tatters is indescribable.

What can I say but “I am so, so sorry for you” and as you know, I am always here to help in whatever way I can.

I have brought the Council leadership back to Ballater on a number of occasions since that horrible day and we are determined to help the village back on its feet, as of course are my fellow ward councillors. As I write, I am working closely with the caravan park and some of the business folk to try and help obtain funding to get the necessary work done so that touring caravans can be welcomed back – hopefully by Easter.

But there IS some light at what will hopefully prove to be the end of the tunnel. On Sunday, 18th September the village will again be host to the Etape Royale and this presents a great opportunity to show the world what a fantastic destination this area is. At least year’s event I had the honour of greeting riders back and of presenting the prizes on behalf of the Provost.

Every person I spoke to – and there were many – said what a fantastic day they had had, how well organised the event was – some said it was the best they had ever ridden in – and many, who were visiting the area for the first time, said they had never realised just how beautiful the area is and they would be back.

This year’s event is being planned well in advance – not everyone in Ballater enjoyed it as much as the participants did. However, lessons were learnt from last year’s event and, for exam-

41

ple, a special ‘Keep catering Local’ group headed up by Davinia from Rock Salt and Snails will ensure all catering outlets maximise on potential, and where possible all produce and products will be sourced locally There will again be a 65 mile option from Rhynie and this year a 45 mile option from Dufftown is being introduced to attract even more people. The A93 will be open at all times for incoming traffic from Aboyne after 7.45am on Sunday morning. (N.B. this section was closed all day last year.) Also the A93 West of Ballater will also remain open with a traffic light system in operation between the A939 and Pass of Ballater turn off. There will be 25 trained professional motorcyclists (same as 2015) operating during the event assisting with any locals that need out during the event. They will call HQ and be escorted.

There are plans to create a Cycle Festival and have special cycle events for family members - this will be headed up by Richard of Cycle Highlands and Dan from the Bike Station. Dan is working with the Etape organisers with his Autumn Leaves event and much clearer and simpler to understand road maps and signage, clearly indicating that Ballater is open for business, are in the pipeline. But that’s not all… Joanna Whysall, Daidh Barr and Bell Macaulay are organising musical events and bands over the weekend all over the village with a Ceilidh in the Victoria Halls.

I have recently written to both Event Scotland and Fergus Ewing MSP (who is Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism) and asked him to help support the application for funding being made to Event Scotland. The more financial assistance the event can attract, the more there is to support local charities and organisations after the event.

As always – please feel free to contact me on 013397 41541 or by email cllr.g.blackett@ aberdeenshire.gov.uk – or via my Councillor Geva Blackett Facebook page. Here’s hoping for a far better 2016 for everyone.

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...Katrina A Farquhar

The following information may be useful to those whose homes and businesses have been affected by the recent flooding:Grants Available to Flood Victims

Aberdeenshire Council: Complete an online form at https://online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/ flooding-grant-scheme/ Applications are being dealt with as swiftly as possible. If you have no access to the internet please call Marr Area Office 019755 64800.

Ballater Charitable Chiels: Contact Simon Fedo Tel: 07807 518538 The Rotary Club Ballater and Deeside Flood Relief Fund email: audrotary1010@gmail.com or Tel 07724 144 355 Foundation Scotland 0141 341 4960 email: grants@foundationscotland.org.uk https://www.foundationscotland.org.uk/floodrecover-appeal/apply-for-funding/ Scottish Flood Forum Anyone affected by flooding can get expert advice and support regarding insurance claims,

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drying out properties, property repairs and any other questions related to flooding and its impacts. Paul Hendy can be contacted by phone 07747702299 (if he is unable to answer, send a text with your number and he will call you back) or email paul@scottishfloodforum.org Waste line Phone: 03456 08 12 07 can be used to arrange collection of flood damaged items.

Useful Numbers Marr Area Office 019755 64801 or marr@ aberdeenshire.gov.uk Housing Assistance (24 Hours) 03456 081203 Council Tax: 03456 081201 Benefits: 03456 081200 Social Care 03456 081206 (24 hours) SEPA Floodline 0345 988 1188

CNPA

National Park and Aberdeenshire Council Access Officers, Rangers and the Cairngorms Outdoor Access Trust are out and about on the ground assessing the damage, making sure paths can be open to the public. A few popular paths, such as the Golf Course Walk in Ballater and the path around Loch Muick, have been extensively damaged and it may take some time for repairs and reinstatement to take place. Please check the following link before heading out in the hills http://cairngorms.co.uk/park-authority/adviceguidelines/outdoor-access-advice At the time of writing, Invercauld Estate will be carrying out repairs at Sluievannachie, so hopefully it is accessible now.

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Flooding Update by Lizzy Shepherd 43

Since the floods, Janelle Clark, the Marr Area Manager and her team have been working closely with the community to ensure that Ballater gets back to normal as quickly as possible. The Ballater Flood Recovery Plan has identified a number of priorities including getting residents back into their homes, enabling businesses to resume trading, repairing damaged infrastructure (roads, bridges, footpaths), reopening the golf course and caravan park, clearing up the river banks, informing the community of progress and promoting the area to raise awareness that Ballater is still “open for business”.

Aberdeenshire Council’s Flooding and Coast Protection team have been busy providing support to residents by giving advice on flood protection products (these can be obtained from the Council at cost price). They have also been gathering information in the form of resident’s knowledge of the flooding event and are planning a topographical survey to record flood levels and extents. This

information will be invaluable to inform the future Flood Protection Study. They have arranged for hydraulic modelling work to be carried out to ascertain the impact on the flood bank around the golf course and to determine whether it provides protection to the village for a standard 1 in 200 year event. If so, the Council will work with the landowner to reinstate this, but the landowner may choose to carry out this work themselves.

This modelling work will be completed in a few weeks and the results will be shared with the community. The team will also be in discussion with the Ballater Flood Action Group.

On the business side, Aberdeenshire Council worked with Visit Royal Deeside on their event on 18 February at Glen Tanar where there were discussions on the best way to support tourism on Deeside. The Council is also supporting events throughout the year to bring visitors to the area. To assist individual businesses the Council held an event on the evening of 24th February

Deeside Inn where experts were 44 inon the hand to help businesses affected by

the flooding with VAT, tax, funding and other business issues. An economic impact study has been commissioned which will determine the scale and impact of the floods. Further business support includes helping affected businesses to trade on-line if premises are closed, supplying storage containers, raising the issue of slow insurance companies through Business in the Community and general infrastructure repairs.

Although there is still a great deal to do, a significant amount of work has already occurred including the ongoing distribution of Scottish Government Flood grants to residents and businesses, repair of bridges and roads, clearing of flood debris from roads, and the provision of support from the planning, housing, and other teams. Aberdeenshire Council has a flood Service Point in Ballater Library on Wednesdays from 10-5pm and staff are able to provide advice with flood related issues and signposting to further assistance.

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by Bell Macaulay

Autumn 2015 heralded the return of all our regular halls users, each making full use of our facilities, enjoying companionship, music and films, and looking forward to a comfortable, if uneventful post-Christmas period leading up to the usual flurry of Spring activity. Alas, that was not to be, as Storm Frank hit the village like a sledgehammer, and all was thrown into confusion.

Rest and Rescue Centre For many, our Halls were the first port of call after traumatic rescues, some by boat and even helicopter. The community spirit was magnificent, with everyone pitching in to provide hot drinks, food, dry clothing over the course of the day, catering for flood victims, pets, and the rescue services, anyone who needed a hot drink, advice, a listening ear or just a cuddle.

Work on the roof of the Albert Hall complex had started before Christmas, but unfortunately the wind and rain battered the building, and water poured in bringing down part of the ceiling

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in the Mike Sheridan Room, damaging ceilings throughout and flooding t h e Yo u t h Club room.

January was a time of regrouping and the first phase of recovery – a miserable time for all those involved. By midmonth, The Halls timetable started to return to normal, an important milestone providing some respite and a place to chat and to gradually pick up the pieces of community life.

Victoria and Albert Halls (Ballater) Trust Following the Halls Annual General Meeting in November, office-bearers were elected as follows: Chair - Bell Macaulay, Vice Chair - Doug Glass, Treasurer - Willie Meston, Minutes Secretary -Gordon Riddler, Website and bookings -Faye Swan.

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Ballater Youth Club The club room has been dried out, and a new vinyl floor laid – much more practical in an area which is prone to flooding, and we hope to see activities going from strength to strength under the guidance of Rev. David Barr.

Events and fundraising BBC Radio Scotland’s Big Debate with Gordon Brewer comes live from our Albert Hall on Friday 11th March and the producers are looking for members of the public to take part in the audience. If you want to air your views on the big questions of the week join the audience of The Big Debate with Gordon Brewer. You can book a seat and submit questions by emailing bigdebate@bbc.co.uk or phone 0141 422 7773.

Raise the Roof... ...on 23rd April at our Big Band Ball at the Victoria Hall! Keeping the beat going will be Totico - a 10 piece function band from Stonehaven delivering a big sound – they come with their own lighting rig and sound system, and we have been lucky enough to be offered their services free of charge – one of several charity functions they support throughout the year.

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Have a listen at www.totico.co.uk We have several Sunday Afternoon Teas at the Albert planned for the coming months as well, so plenty of opportunities to join us for an hour or two!

Funding

Our team is constantly on the lookout for opportunities to tap into external funding, and Isla Imrie recently applied for assistance from the Co-operative Local Fund.

She has just heard that we have been awarded £500 – a very handy boost to our coffers to help pay for leaking roofs and collapsing ceilings - thank you to all who voted for us!

line system. The accuracy does depend on the information supplied, and formal submission of a booking form by all is the only way to ensure you get what you want. If you wish to check, go to www.victoriaandalberthalls.co.uk.

HANDY NUMBERS – Bell Macaulay – 013397 55745 Gordon Riddler – 013397 55308 Karen Forsyth – 07921 460368 Frances Hutton – 07736 886687

Keeping the Halls in Good Order

Trustee Dr Doug Glass has responsibility for maintenance issues. Don’t forget we rely on users to tell us when problems arise - please record in the diary which is kept on the windowsill in the Mike Sheridan Room store. You can also email Doug on douglas.glass@nhs.net.

Website, Information & Bookings

Spring is here, and Ballater is open for business – what more can we ask for?

It has been no mean task to keep the Halls in good order over the last few months, and we are indebted to Karen and Frances, our hallkeepers, who take such pride in the building.

Thanks to Faye, we have a very useful on-

FINALLY!

Back in Business

by Sue Cunningham

What an absolutely awful end to the year, and our hearts go out to all the people affected by the devastation.

Our Manager Willie Beattie, our Assistant Manager Rebecca Coull and myself visited the barracks to attend some of our customers on January 2, the day we went into our Bank of Scotland branch to assess the damage.

We, like the rest of our end of Bridge Street were badly affected, but we tried to do what we could for our customers, by providing a pay in service so that they could use the cheques that they had received from the Ballater Charitable Chiels, in order to buy essentials. We got the ATM up an running as soon as we could, but we had no phones, no computers, no furniture, no heating and no carpets. Rebecca and myself were there every day with the workmen, including some Saturdays, clearing out, getting filthy and oh, drying out the money. A lot of it was wet, but the

47

cash centre needed to know how much had been contaminated, and the only way we could count it was to dry it. So, operation ‘money laundering’ was born. We had four washing lines made of string and pegged the money up, and with the help of a dehumidifier, dried it out. Rev. David Barr likened it to a cross between Widow Twankey’s and a Mexican drug baron’s boudoir !

One thing that did make us feel better were the glowing comments of the customers who are insured with us, about the fast, caring, professional way in which their claims were dealt with.

Most of the work is now well under way, although the drying out process proved quite lengthy. So finally, after 4 weeks and 4 days, we officially reopened on February 1st, offering a full service, albeit with temporary furniture, and we can’t wait for the surrounding businesses to start re-opening over the coming weeks, and for people to get back into their homes.

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48 Ernie Rattray- “the wagon driver” The following is a speech delivered by Stewart Archibald at the dedication of Ernie’s Bothy in Glen Gelder in October 2015 – as referred to in Eagle 80.

The word “character” I believe is over used nowadays, but when mentioned as a reference to Ernie Rattray then it truly is being used exactly as it was originally intended.

Ernie in his own words “loved life.” He loved living in Ballater, he loved the hills and glens around Deeside, and in fact he loved everything Scottish. He was born in Ballater in 1941 and during his all too short 71 years, only left Scotland on a handful of occasions, and if you discount Ireland, actually never left the British Isles. He had no need to, everything he loved in his life was here, Dot, the kids, his pals and his hills.

Destined from the start to be an outdoorsman, Ernie, on leaving Ballater school, started work with Hardy’s Hens at Headinch, before moving onto the sawmill at Ballater, where he studied closely the noise of the rip saws then mimicked them perfectly during his sleep. Then at the age

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of 23 he joined the local County Council Roads department where he stayed until he retired nearly 37 years later and where he picked up his nickname as “The Wagon Driver”.

Ernie was an uncomplicated man, preferring the simple things in life with no interest whatsoever in material objects or modern technology in particular – well, perhaps apart from the video recorder. If Dot was at work he would have to nip hame from the pub and switch it on to record her favourite soaps.

Ernie enjoyed watching football and closely followed the fortunes of Scotland, the Dons and Man. United, obviously enjoying most success with Man. United, although the Dons may do something special this year. It was on a couple of visits to Old Trafford that his total lack of interest in technology became evident. Having to walk down 12 flights of stairs because he couldn’t operate the lift and having to phone reception to come and switch on the kettle in his room. Mind you, with Tiger there as back-up, it was maybe a case of blind leading the blind.

Ernie was totally involved in the village life and more than keen to do his bit for the community. He was a stalwart of the Ballater Highland Games, positioning himself at the top of Craigcoillich ensuring all the hill race participants actually reached the top and then managed to get themselves safely back down again. He also played his part at the other “kindred gatherings”, either making sure the cars were properly parked at Lonach and Aboyne or making sure “abody” paid their dues to get into the Braemar Gathering, standing proudly on sentry duty at the main gate.

Ernie was probably best known for his community involvement and volunteer work through his time as a member of the Braemar Mountain Rescue team. Over a period of 30 years he participated in countless rescue missions covering not only vast areas of the Cairngorm hills, but also lower lying areas of Aberdeenshire and the

North-East as well. There’s probably very few hills in the Cairngorms that he hasn’t actually stood on the summit of, and I doubt if he himself would know exactly just how many times he had tramped up and doon Lochnagar.

Even after retirement and finishing his association with the mountain rescue, he still spent as much time as possible in the hills, working with the local estates either heather burning, grouse

beating or deer stalking. He was in his element, getting paid for doing what he enjoyed most.

Ernie was one of the founder members of the Chiels and was always 100% behind any project or challenge we undertook. The trek across Scotland and the 4 x peak challenge saw him in his element and who could forget him and Hilly serenading the village with “Islands in the Stream” during the Victoria Week float parade.

At least Ernie did a pretty good impersonation of Kenny Rogers, but Hilly’s take on Dolly Parton left quite a bit to the imagination. Apart from his occasional stage performance, he usually preferred to stay in the background, let others be the focal point or spokesman, but when there was work to be done, the getting your hands dirty and the unglamorous side of things, then Ernie would be there, guaranteed.

When we decided to undertake a project in memory of Ernie, it really was a no-brainer when the bothy idea was mooted and with the Gelder Shiel bothy in need of some modernisation and situated so ideally within the shadow of Lochnagar, we had the perfect opportunity. After

49

consultation with and full support from His Royal Highness the Duke of Rothesay, Balmoral Estate and the Mountain Bothy Association, plans were put in place and after a hectic but thoroughly enjoyable and worthwhile weekend in May, the refurbishment was complete.

If Ernie is looking down on us today, he’s probably a wee bit embarrassed with all this palaver and would judge himself as unworthy of it all, but that’s where he’d be wrong. The size of the congregation at his funeral clearly demonstrated the respect he was held in by both the local and wider communities. The bothy refurbishment is indeed in memory of Ernie but I believe it’s also a legacy from Ernie himself. He may no longer be able to assist and aid people who get into difficulty on the hills, but at least he has ensured they have a safe and comfortable bothy to head for when the weather turns nasty.

Please raise your glasses, turn and face the hills and join me in drinking a toast to the memory of “Ernie”.

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50

Buttony Bear - A Ballater Project

A quick update on the Buttony Project for the end of 2015.

The project was launched on the 1st of May 2015 and by the end of December we had despatched 326 Bears.

The Bears are dispatched direct to families through our Facebook page www.facebook/buttonybears or direct to stoma nurses. Paediatric centres in Aberdeen, Inverness, Cardiff, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Birmingham, Brighton, Belfast, Bristol, Cambridge, Derby, Dublin, Jersey, Leeds,

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Liverpool, Leicester, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, Plymouth, Sheffield, Shrewsbury and Southampton are now able to give children one of our stoma bears at the time of their operation.

In December we were able to provide R oyal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital with an Anatomical Apron. This was welcomed with great enthusiasm as a fantastic teaching tool and will make explaining the procedure prior to surgery much easier for the team. It is an apron with a model of the digestive system on it which you can move to show how a stoma is created and how it might look.

We couldn’t do this without your support, so thanks to everyone who has helped us. Looking forward to seeing what the rest of 2016 brings!

If you would like to more information on the project, please get in touch with us at buttony@ breakawayfoundation.org.uk

Victoria Week 2016

by Cat Houston

With so many people out of their homes and multiple businesses affected, the core committee of folk that bring you BVW had to have a bit of a head-scratch and ask themselves how best to proceed with BVW 2016.

That we would carry on was itself obvious; by August hopefully much remedial work will have been done, and some of the shops able to reopen.

BVW changes shape every year, with a collection of regular and new events – 2016 will be no different in that respect. By saying BVW will go ahead, we are not assuming that anyone who has run an event in the past will do so again this year.

With enough support, our hope is that residents will benefit from the annual injection of fun and the economy from any resulting visitors. The loss of the caravan park will be keenly felt, with many of the regulars becoming friends over the years, but hopefully we will see as many familiar faces as new ones.

The largest concern early on was how to cover the essential costs of putting on BVW, when fundraising for such a cause seemed inappropriate and many of our supporters and advertisers were directly affected by the force of Storm Frank.

But support for BVW, in its 29th year in 2016, and the desire to help continue to put on fun things for the village, was such that we have already been offered funds to cover the cost of producing the brochure, from Aboyne and Upper Deeside Rotary, and our insurance bill is also set to be covered by another, so far silent, benefactor‌ We are immensely grateful for this support, which allows us the space to get with the important (and more fun) task of putting a programme of events together. The last Brainstorm will have taken place by the time you read this, but we are always open to new ideas and offers of help, however small. Get in touch via email to info@ ballatervictoriaweek.co.uk, find us on Facebook, or call Cat or Ade on 55243. Updates and details can also be found on our website www. ballatervictoriaweek.co.uk Be Amused.

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52

Deeside Inn Hits the Right Note

Every year more than half of the Crerar hotel and dancing workshops followed up later in the group’s distributable profits are entrusted to the evening by a community ceilidh and the followCrerar Hotels Trust for gift to local charities and ing day by a further session. Located in Ballater, community projects. A pilot scheme for 2015 saw Braemar, Glenbuchat, Lonach, Tarland and the launch of the inaugural Crerar Hotels Community Prize, with a winner’s prize fund of £25,000 being awarded to a local community project bringing together young and old people in a meaningful way. The first winners of the prize - The Deeside Inn’s Dee and Don Ceilidh Collective – set out to develop a Deeside revival in traditional (and less traditional!) Paddy Crerar, Chairman of the Crerar Hotels Trust, presents The Dee and Don Ceilidh Collective with their cheque at music through a two- year programme The Deeside Inn in December 2015. Photo: Amy Muir to bring together schools, old folks, village halls, local pubs, and hotels along both Tullynessle, the programme kicks off in Ballater the Dee and the Don to encourage music, singing over the weekend of 21st & 22nd May with and dancing through coordinated teaching and renowned musicians Paul Anderson and Jonny ‘ceilidh’ing’ – an ambition for everyone to buy into. Hardie. They will be lively and energetic affairs The Ceilidh Collective has already scheduled and everyone is welcome – whether they play, sing six dates throughout 2016 for music, singing and dance or not.

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ROWAN JEWELLERY We would like to express our thanks to the Deeside community for its fantastic support.

We hope to be open again for the summer season.

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54

Then and Now

The River Dee made Tullich, the early settlement that developed into Ballater. In 2016, the river “unmade” Ballater and surrounding areas.

Community life began in Tullich and here Nathalan founded his kirk. Years later the area was granted by successive monarchs to the Knights Templar and the Knights Hospitaller.

The area became “civilized”, with contact with some of the most travelled and cultured men in Europe. How much of this rubbed off on the locals is unknown. The earliest “Income Tax” record of which we have details was produced by the Knights.

Later, this area was a quiet backwater with a very basic agricultural life in the Glens of Muick and the Gairn, as well as in Tullich. After a long period of “seclusion” the water at the Wells of Pannanich was discovered. Visitors flocked to “take the waters” and the ferry across the Dee could not cope with the numbers. The solution?

Build a bridge across the Dee. Once this was

by Sheila Sedgwick

built in 1783 – about 100 metres east of the present bridge at a cost of £1,700 – the situation improved.

A settlement was planned by Francis Farquharson of Monaltrie, the feudal superior, and developed by his successor, William. Some historians say, mistakenly, that the new settlement at Ballater was built because the Laird was primarily concerned with establishing stock markets for cattle and sheep. This theory is not conclusively backed up by the Invercauld records.

The 1783 bridge was destroyed by a flood in 1799 to be replaced in 1809 by a five-arch Telford bridge for £3,800. That too went down the river in the Muckle Spate of 1829. Locals were in despair after the devastation, with goods and stock floating in Aberdeen Harbour. Much money had already been spent on bridges, but the area could not do without a bridge. A wooden bridge was erected, costing £2,000 and its supports are still visible below the present bridge.

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By 1885, Ballater had grown. Visitors continued to flock to the area, and the railway had arrived in 1866, bringing both day and longer stay visitors. The upper classes came for “the season”, complete with staff. Ballater was popular – after all if the Queen loved Deeside so much, it was worth a long-term stay. So, Ballater built a new church and a new bridge in 1885. This, our present bridge, was opened by Queen Victoria.

The oldest building in the area, Abergeldie Castle, dating to the 16th century when built by the Mowats, was then acquired by the Gordons, and over time became involved in Scottish politics, warfare and witchcraft. In January of this year, endangered by the river, the castle has been saved by labour, skill and many lorry-loads of stone, and is a symbol of survival.

From the top of the valley at Inverey to beyond Aboyne, the Dee and its tributaries have caused hardship over the years, but the latest floods are the worst yet, with homes and businesses destroyed, bridges damaged like the one at Invercauld, caravans washed away and golf courses ruined. However, given time, Ballater and the devastated areas will survive and become again centres of local life and visitor attraction once more.

My old school – an Elizabethan Foundation – had the motto “Carpe Diem” (Pluck the Day or do the best you can each day). That is what the people of the flooded areas will do again. It may not seem so to people at present, but with the help which is available, dwellers will survive and will re-create the vibrant valley of the Dee and a much-loved Ballater, with homes, commercial enterprises and the benefits of tourism. Carpe Diem?

IsraAid helpers in Ballater.

More on Page 20.

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56

Ballater Films

by Cat Houston

that we would make the films free entr y for the foreseeable future, with donations welcome.

A generous contribution from the many friends of Glenmuick Church enabled us to launch this format with Inside Out at the end of January and a good turnout with lots of new faces proved that we could be on to a winner.

By the time you read this we Dame Maggie Smith taking charge in ‘the Lady in The Van’. will have also treated the village’s movieThe combination of an occasionally tricky goers to a free Daniel Craig in the form of Bond’s 2015 followed by the effects of Storm Frank rather Spectre, and we’ll be looking forward to a showforced a rethink of the format for ticket sales for ing of The Lady In The Van (PG) on Easter Ballater Films. It was decided early in January Saturday, March 26th, at 7.30pm. There’s no need to reserve seats, just turn up. We have room for 80 people in the Mike Sheridan Room and it’s first come, first sat! A range of refreshments are also available.

Other films planned for the year include Star Solicitors Notaries Public Estate Agents Wars: The Force Awakens, Moby Dick tale Providing a comprehensive range of In The Heart Of The Sea, Kung Fu Panda legal services to Deeside residents 3 and Batman vs Superman: Dawn of JusWe have operate service fromtoBallater.

Despite thecontinued damage totoour officesa we continue offer a full pressing for restoration of our in tice, but if there’s anything else you would like to It isservice. likely toWe beare several months before the offi ce isoffice ready Ballater and will return to normal service as soon as we can. for re-occupation. see, get in touch by finding on us on Facebook, Allour ourexisting existingtelephone telephone numbers used All numbers cancan be be used andand will be emailing info@ballatervictoriaweek.co.uk or callanswered at our Aberdeen Office Reception. will be answered at our Aberdeen Office Reception.

Solicitors clients’ to to meet, if if Solicitorscan canattend attendatat clients’properties properties meet, ing Cat or Ade on 55243. Updates on coming required. required. movies can be found on www.ballaterfilms.co.uk • Commercial litigation, contractual disputes and • employment-related Contractual disputesmatters: and employment-related contact Linda Fyffe matters: contact Linda Fyffe 01224 645085 01224 645085 Matrimonialmatters mattersand and all all family-related family-related issues: • • Matrimonial issues: contactAnne AnneCassidy Cassidy01224 01224645085 645085 contact • Legal property-related matters: contact Alan • Legal property-related matters: contact Alan Nicoll 01224 645085 Nicoll 01224 645085 • Property sales and leasing: contact Michelle • Property sales125448 and leasing: contact Michelle Gray 07803 or Gillian Coutts 07917 Gray 07803 125448 or Gillian Coutts 07917 625311 625311 Ballater: 01339 755535 17 Victoria Street, Aberdeen, AB10 1UU Tel: 01224 645085 Fax: 01224 645114 info@laurieandco.co.uk

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58 Cairngorms Nature Festival 2016

by Charlotte Milburn

We live in one of the last wild places left in the UK, the Cairngorms National Park is a place of abundance. It has more high level mountain ground than anywhere else in Britain or Ireland, it has the largest Caledonian forest, some of the UK’s purest rivers and, despite only covering two percent of our landmass, it hosts 25 per cent of the UK’s threatened species. This is a place for people across Scotland to enjoy our fantastic nature and landscapes.

If you want to get out and see some of our amazing nature for yourself then the Cairngorms Nature Festival is the event to put in your diaries.

It takes place over the weekend of 14-15 May and is a great opportunity to get up close and personal to nature. It will be a weekend of celebration where people can get first-hand experience of some of the fantastic wildlife that lives and grows in the Cairngorms National Park.

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Once again TV’s Nick Baker is our special guest and this year he is coming to Deeside. You can take your family to join him on a special BioBlitz or come and listen to him talk about his life as a wildlife presenter, which was the highlight of the festival last year. Nick Baker told us that he rates the Cairngorms as one of the number one destinations for nature in the world, and he has travelled the globe filming wildlife!

In Upper Deeside there will be events across the weekend for all the family, from Braemar to Muir of Dinnet. There are also three other hubs of activity in the National Park in Speyside, Tomintoul and Blair Atholl with activities and events to participate in for all ages and abilities, from hands-on experiences such as bird ringing to guided walks and 4x4 safaris.

The Cairngorms Nature Festival promises to be a weekend of fun for all the family. Most of these events are totally free of charge, but some do require booking in advance. Visit www.cairngorms.co.uk to find out more information and see the full programme.

Cairngorms Nature is a partnership where people and organisations come together with one thing in common - a desire to safeguard and enhance the outstanding nature in the Cairngorms National Park. Anyone can support Cairngorms Nature they just need a passion for the Park. Like us at www.facebook.com/cairngormsnature to be kept up to date with all the conservation projects and nature news from across the Cairngorms National Park.

Ballater Highland Games

by Ron Drever

Firstly, the Games Committee extends our sympathy to all those in our community, including some of our own members, who are affected by the recent horrific flooding.

Although 2015 didn’t prove to be the happiest of years for Ballater, there were some happy memories of good times in lovely weather, and one of those was the 2015 Ballater Highland Games.

To bring back such memories at this difficult time, have a look at the photos on our website at www. ballaterhighlandgames.com or on our Facebook page.

Be assured that the organising of Ballater Highland Games 2016 on Thursday 11th August is in hand, and Games Day is something for villagers to anticipate with pleasure.

We look forward to welcoming many visitors to enjoy the Games and help support the recovery of Ballater.

We are sad to report that Robbie Shepherd, our Games commentator for over forty years, has decided to ‘hand on the mike’, but we’re delighted he chose to bow out in 2015 with the three Deeside Games. Robbie has told us: “I have thoroughly enjoyed all these years commentating at Monaltrie Park, which I am on record as saying is one of the bonniest venues with the closeness of the hills in all different colours.”

We’re also delighted that Robbie has accepted our invitation to become an Honorary Patron of Ballater Highland Games, and look forward to seeing him often at Ballater.

In a previous Eagle, we thanked all our volunteer helpers. Readers might be interested to know how many helpers we actually have. In addition to our 22 Committee Members, we were surprised to calculate that we had over 130 unpaid volunteers

59

actively helping in various ways on Games Day. The vast majority of these volunteers are from the Ballater area, showing that Ballater Highland Games is a truly community event. Without you all, the event just wouldn’t happen, so again our thanks for your wonderful support.

Bear in mind that anyone interested in becoming a Sponsor or a Patron of the Games, or helping in any other way, can contact us by email at: info@ballaterhighlandgames.com

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The bank of the Dee at Balmoral showing (in front) the river level during the ‘Muckle Spate’ of 1829 and (in background) the level reached in the recent flood.

60 Memories o’ Victoria an’ Albert Halls – Part 2, by Mary Munro

Doon the stairs, aneth the Albert Hall wis the Post Office, weel-run by twa maiden ladies, aunties o’ Alice Ferguson. Syne, the Council Chambers were in ahin, far the Town Council presided an’ ruled the village, the Provost wearin his muckle, gold chain o’ office. Far the Library is noo, wis jist the Reading Room – a place o’ calm an quaet, far fowk could sit in peace tae read the papers an magazines.

Next door wis oor Library – a sma, dusty roomie wi shelves o’ books an’ a heich, widden desk for Mrs. Scott, oor librarian. Nae nonsense here, for there were signs a o’er the wa’s – “Silence is Golden” an “Think of Others!”, an’ ye didna daur conter Mrs. Scott. Gin ye raised yer voice abeen a whisper, she glared o’er her halfspecs an’ ye shriveled intae silence. We aye thocht, as young bairns, that she “owned” the library, an’ ye were feart tae be late back wi books or damage ane in ony wey.

Some o’ us eased tae ging tae the Readin Room o’ a Sunday efterneen. Holy John an’ twa wifies, I think his sisters, held Evangelist Bible meetings for the youth. The three o’ them mynt ye o’ three hoodie craws, a’ dressed in black, bit

fine couthy fowk, jist tryin an uphill job tae instill values an’ gie religious training tae the young.

I feel guilty noo, for we really jist went for the sweeties, tae be honest! They would hand oot bonny-coloured stamps wi religious texts on them an’ gin ye could recite them parrot-fashion the next wik, ye got a sweetie! Mither aye lat ye oot o’ a Sunday if ye said ye were gaen tae Holy John, sae ye aye hid time efter the meetins tae rake aboot the village wi yer friens.

The main hert o’ the Halls wis Victoria Hall.

Lofty ceilins, big windaes an’ a stage – a’ the big events o’ the village were held there – Burn’s Suppers, Basket Whists, Concerts an’ Dances, files on a Friday an Setterday nicht. They were the highlights o’ yer life as ye grew in age. We hooched an’ birled an sweited at Rock an Roll tae bands fae a’ o’er the North-East. We were young an’ swack, swingin roon the slipperined fleer tae Quicksteps, Foxtrots an’ Scottish dances as weel.

There wis ae loon I likit tae dance wi (he will remain nameless!) – he wis a good dancer, bit it wis the smell o’ his sark I likit best. I sweir his Mither aye ironed his white linen sark afore he cam oot, an wi the heat, there wis aye thon fine smell o’ new ironed cotton or linen. I dinna really myne muckle aboot the loon – I jist myne the Unfortunately (like many others) we smell o’ his sarks! suffered greatly from the effects of The Victoria Hall Storm Frank in December 2015. was the focus o’ Hogmanay celebrations. That We are working hard to get the shop wis the day fan the Litrefitted in order to reopen in the near tle Masons mairched future. throwe the village, o’er Ballater Brig an up tae Check out our Facebook page for Glenmuick House far regular updates! they were treated tae fine 14 Bridge Street, Ballater Tel: 07591 921 521 pieces an’ scramblin for Wendy & David Cobban pennies, files in the snaw.

Brakeley Gift Room

This wis the domain o’ the loons, an’ we quines watched fae the Brig as the lang snake o’ loons, wi their adult watchers, wound their wey, cheerin an’ waving flags as they walked up Glen Muick.

For months afore, some o’ us eesed tae ging o’er tae Killarney for practices for the Little Masons’ Concert that nicht. We learnt sangs, dances and little plays fae Rose an’ Matt Michie. She gave her time an’ effort for years tae produce hamegrowne “talent” for thon concert. I wisna a great singer, bit she hid me singin “Marie’s Weddin” wi a lad Paul Ledingham, an’ she socht in vain tae get him tae pit his airm roon me some o’ the time. Nae eese – I dinna think he likit me a’ that muckle, an’ forbye, we were only 11 year auld – gey early for that kine o’ thing!

What an endin tae the year! The Hall wis decorated wi flaggies an’ there wis aye a muckle Xmas tree. Gordon Croll, Alec Brandie, Myra Henderson, Lulu Gillies an’ mony mair local fowk wi talent performed alongside the bairns, sae there wis a real atmosphere o’ community spirit! At the end, Santa cam on tae the stage wi muckle, bulging secks. We a’ kent it wis Donal Coutts an’ a feow o’ the loons eased tae yell oot “Aye, aye Donal!” Ye were wi a loon partner an’ we a’ got presents, gweed presents we aye thocht – fitbas an’ brush an’ mirror sets an’ sic like. Syne, it wis oot the big door wi an aipple an’ an orange an’ intae the dark freesty nicht. I aye think o’ that nicht as magical, bit we were maybe easy pleased. Aince back hame, we were hished aff tae oor beds an the aulder fowk got roadit for Hogmanay an the New Year.

The Halls in 2015 are still the hub o’ Ballater community life, jist as they were lang ago.

Changed, updated an’ modernized they micht be, bit the village still needs them tae keep community life tae the fore. Lang may they thrive an’ gie us thon warm feelin o’ bein pairt o’ the village community.

(Life is jist a series o’ remembered snapshots – they will be different for abody. I’m sure mony mair fowk hiv ither memories o’ the Halls an’ their events o’er the years).

Help Required

61

Balnacroft, Crathie

The Cinnamon Trust is the national charity whose wonderful volunteers help people over retirement age and those in the latter stages of a terminal illness by offering all kinds of pet care.

We urgently need dog walking volunteers to help a resident of Balnacroft and their lovely dog, an 8 year old cross breed, who would love to go for a good walk. If you would like to help we would be delighted to hear from you.

A large number of elderly or ill pet owners become ver y worried about their ability to care for their pets, feeling that their only option is to rehome them. This is where our national network of dedicated volunteers steps in to offer support, enabling them to stay together.

We’ll walk the dog for a housebound owner, we’ll foster pets when owners need hospital care, we’ll fetch the cat food, even clean out the bird cage or litter trays. We always need new volunteers so even if you can only spare an hour a week we would love to hear from you.

Please call during office hours 01736 758707 or email us at volunteer@cinnamon.org.uk or check out our website for more details www. cinnamon.org.uk.

Carnelian

“Feel Good Factor”

Lynn Park – Massage Therapist Swedish Remedial Massage Thermo Auricular Therapy 1 Netherley Place, Ballater Tel 07793 354249

Advertisers’ Index Alexandra Hotel

25 Allan Milne Joiner 44 Alpine Tree Care 10 Atholl Countrywear 18 B.W. Book Keeping 28 Balmoral 57 Brakeley Gift Room 60 Brian Smith Funeral Services Ltd 53 Cairngorm Crafts 54 Carnelian 61 Celicall Crafts 50 Classic Abode Garden Services 47 C.S.M. Aerials

48 C.S.M. Handyman 14 Cordiners 46 D P Opticians

9 D’Tangled 42 Davidsons Chemists 55 Deeside Inn 63 Deeside Tree Care 16 Drummond Enterprises 45 Edward J Emslie 12 Flame Boiler Services 51 Forbes Duguid

12 Fraser & Mulligan 9 Glenalmond Beauty Box 26

Glen Lui Hotel H M Sheridan Ltd Highland Yurts India On The Green Keiller Brasserie Laurie & Company Marie Chapman McCue & Porter

McEwen’s of Perth McKay & Innes Morven Veterinary Centre Myriad Pro Phoenix Chip Shop Riverside Cottage Cafe Rowan Antiques Roy Mitchell Shanghai Takeaway Speedwell Framing Stephen Clark (SRC) The Hair Loft The Lochnagar The McEwan Gallery The Oven Valet The Silver Thistle Tornaveen Plumbing Wee Jim Firewood

39 17 55 23 2 56 51 52 29 35 19 56 24 59 53 11 34 22 43 44 40 23 49 58 53 30

Extra copies of this issue of the Eagle are available, free of charge, in the Library for those residents not currently residing in their own homes.

It’s FREE

Pop - in

COFFEE MORNING February 25th; March 10th & 24th then every alternative Thursday thereafter

10.30am – 12noon Everyone has been affected by the recent flooding’s, so enjoy a free tea and coffee while you take some time out for chat and to talk to those in a similar situation.

For more information on the pop-in coffee morning, contact:

Vittoria Hancock: 013397 55919 or David Barr: 013397 56111

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

Nelson Mandela

photo courtesy of Sasha Potter The Ballater & Crathie Eagle is made possible by:

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