Ballater and crathie eagle, summer 2016, issue 82

THE

eagle

£1

Ballater & Crathie Community Magazine no. 82 summer 2016

“I like this place and willingly could waste my time in it” William Shakespeare, As You Like It

Balmoral S c ot t i S h h o m e

to t h e

R oya l F a m i ly

Open daily from 25th March until 31st July 2016 Exhibitions, Gardens, Castle Ballroom, Audio Guide, CafĂŠ and Shop.

For further information telephone: 01339 742 534

www.balmoralcastle.com

Inside Your Summer Eagle:

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As this issue goes to print Ballater and Crathie have been bathed in days of glorious sunshine. With barely a pause for spring, summer has burst forth and we can look forward to a packed calendar with something for everyone. Make the most of the long days and (hopefully) balmy nights and get out and about in Royal Deeside.

Diary

4-5

Local Groups

Station Plans Proposal

16

Ballater & Crathie CC: 15

Local Resilience Plan

17

Ballater Caravan Park (BCE): 13

Flood Recovery Report

22

Ballater Films: 42

Buttony Bear

26

Ballater RHS: 8

National Park Update

29

Ballater SWI: 8

CAT Cash News

30

Churches News: 24

Writing Competition

31

Crathie Opportunity Holidays: 28

Ballater Highland Games

32

Crathie School Project: 37

A Walk in the Park

34

K&D Befriending Request: 36

And The Sun Rose...

38

Library News: 14

Pottering

39

Rotary: 12

Walkers’ Warning

40

St Kentigern’s: 25

Police Report

41

Upper Deeside Music: 10

Tasty Invitation

43

V&A Halls Trust: 50

The Abergeldie Cradle

44

Victoria Week: 32

Introducing AVA & CHiP

45

Visit Ballater: 23

My Walk in the Forest

47

Keeping Council

53

Craigendarroch Activities 56 Schoolday Memories

58

Handy to have Advertisers’ Index: 62

Front and Back Cover Photographs courtesy of Amy Muir

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

Thank You Thanks to Ian & Sheena Hepburn, Les & Avril Alderson, Mike Forbes, and a donor who wishes to remain anonymous, for their very 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 June

Sat 4 Sat 11 Sat 11 Sun 12 Thur 16 Sat 18 Sat 25 Sat 25

BRHS Annual Plant Sale in Victoria Hall 9.30am until noon Ballater’s Street Party, Ballater Green, 2 - 11pm (see poster on P42) Knitty Kitty Bang Bang Craft Market, Victoria Hall 10am – 4pm FOCUS Craft Fair, Victoria Hall, 10am – 4pm Ballater Community Council Elections, Victoria Hall Hands On Conservation, Glen Tanar Visitor Centre, 10am – 4pm Ballater Farmers’ Market Glenmuick Church Green 10am - 2pm St Kentigern’s Summer Fayre, Victoria Hall, 2 - 4pm

Sat 2 Sun 3

Opera at Riverside Cottage, 7-10pm, T: 013397 55126 Afternoon Tea & Music with Alastair Savage, Albert Hall, 2.45pm “Alone with History”, new CD recorded at Crathie Kirk BRHS Annual Outing to Leith Hall Garden and Dean’s Shortbread Factory, Huntly Ballater Farmers’ Market, Glenmuick Church Green 10am - 2pm Cairngorms Ceilidh Trail, Victoria Hall, Evening Family Ceilidh, 7.30pm Aberdeen International Youth Festival, Moravian Woodwind Quartet, Ukelele player! Albert Hall, 2.45pm

Wed 20 Sat 23 Sun 31

July

Ten short weeks after the devastation of December, the green bursts into life with a riot of colour.

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

Fri 5 Fri 5 Sat 6 Sun 7 Mon 8

August

Sat 27

Victoria Week begins - Box Office opening BVW Family Film - “Eddie the Eagle” details tbc Knitty Kitty Bang Bang Craft Market, Victoria Hall 10am – 4pm BVW Parade and Fayre BVW “Never work with children and animals Day”, including Messy Play, Dog Show and Small Pet Show Ballater Highland Games Gates open 10am; competitions commence 11am BVW “Duck Sunday” featuring two Duck Races on the River Dee BRHS 140th Annual Exhibition & Flower show 2 - 5pm, Victoria Hall BRHS 140th Annual Exhibition & Flower show continues, 11am - 3.30pm, Victoria Hall Ballater Farmers’ Market, Glenmuick Church Green 10am - 2pm

Sat 3 Mon 12 Wed 14 Sat 24

Opera at Riverside Cottage, 7-10pm, T: 013397 55126 Ballater Ladies’ Probus Club recommences in Mike Sheridan Room 2pm Ballater Men’s Probus Club recommences in Mike Sheridan Room 10am Ballater Farmers’ Market, Glenmuick Church Green 10am - 2pm

Thur 11 Sun 14 Sat 20 Sun 21

Sept

And the Duck Festival in May paints a very different picture as Ballater’s Bridge is lined with people cheering on their favourite giant inflatable duck!

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

Contact Your Representatives

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

Ballater Eagle, c/o Ballater Library, Ballater, AB35 5QB

Alexander Burnett MSP  0131 348 5642 email: Alexander.Burnett.msp@parliament.scot

 email to:

WESTMINSTER

ballater.eagle@btopenworld.com

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

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

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Stuart Donaldson MP  01330 828171 email: stuart.donaldson.mp@parliament.uk

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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, Stella Potter, Ollie Francis 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.

Letter from the Editor

7

As I write this, there have been snow showers followed by spells of sunshine, all part of what has been a rather damp spring, so I hope that by the time this issue of the Eagle reaches our readers, only the sunshine will be in the weather forecasts.

Many Ballater residents who had been evacuated from their homes following the visit of Storm Frank will not have received their normal copy of the Eagle, but I can assure you all that our delivery team tried extremely hard to trace as many people in their temporary accommodation as was possible. I wish to thank them all for their efforts in very difficult circumstances. The staff at Yules Newsagent and at the Library too helped greatly by handing out copies to residents who had not received their copy at their usual address. To any residents who were out-housed further away and who had no opportunity to obtain a copy, I can but say I hope that you will be able to receive this issue, and many more, in your own home once again.

Ballater is now looking to the future, with a great number of activities taking place during the summer months. The Victoria Week Team and the Ballater Games Team will together ensure a week of amusement and spectacle in August, while the Halls Committee has various events taking place throughout the summer. Please support as many of the events which these volunteers are arranging as part of the efforts to ensure that the outside world is made aware that Ballater is “Open for Business and Fun�.

Latest information about the re-building of the Old Royal Station indicates that while retaining many of the external features of that well-loved building, the interior is likely to be somewhat different, but hopefully more welcoming to residents and visitors alike. In addition, the plans for the surrounding area are intended to encourage some outdoor events to attract visitors, who after all are the life-blood of Upper Deeside.

I hope that you all have a warm, dry summer and enjoy a restful and peaceful holiday, with re-charged batteries ready to participate in all the summer fun.

Ian Hay

8

Local Group News

A round-up of news from our local groups

Ballater SWI

by Aileen Barbour President Margaret Finnie welcomed members and visitors to our meeting in February. She introduced Jill Cooper, beauty therapist, who gave us a demonstration on make-up, how to look after your nails and thermal auricular therapy. Jill gave us plenty of tips on how to look your best. Jill was invited to judge the competition “Handmade Xmas Table Decoration - Not Fresh Flowers” which was won by Diane Wright, We had an open meeting in March and our speaker was Innes Simpson from Hearing Dogs for Deaf People”. He gave us a very interesting talk with slides and Ian Finnie with his dog Cinders gave us a demonstration on how they trained the dogs with sounds such as doorbell, fire alarm etc. Innes judged the monthly competition “Pet Photograph”.

Our business meeting was held in April and Margaret welcomed Lumphanan WI who were invited to conduct the meeting. They entertained us with quizzes, three delicious recipes, which were prepared beforehand for us to try, and ending with a game of bingo with a difference.

The new committee was announced: President - Margaret Finnie, Vice President - Thelma Cooper, Secretary - Diane Wright. Treasurer Sheena Fraser, Press Secretary - Aileen Barbour, Magazine Secretary - Jan Williams, Raffles - Pat Fraser, Committee - Annette Brown, Morag Garland.

The President then presented the trophies: Evie Murray Rose Bowl - “Raspberry Jam” Sheena Fraser, Mary McPherson Quaich - “Fisherman’s Hat” - Morag Garland, Marjory Gordon Trophy - “Small table decoration-Spring Flowers” - Margaret Cameron.

For the most points over the season: 1st Diane Wright - Lady Pagent Quaich, 2nd Sheena Fraser

- Lady Pagent Cup, 3rd Margaret Finnie - Iris James Cup. Margaret closed the meeting thanking Lumphanan WI and the tea hostesses, and looked forward to seeing us at the summer outing in June.

BRHS

by Elizabeth Wilson

At the time of writing, Spring has really yet to arrive: instead we have had to endure persistent rain and night frosts. This coupled with the fact that many of our members are not living in the village resulted in a considerable decrease in the number of entries at our annual Mini Bulb Show on 6th April. Many members said that their bulbs were either way past their best or not yet in full flower. However all was not lost and the display was much admired by those who attended the meeting.

Thanks to everyone who helped, entered, and of course, the prize winners. Photos of the Bulb Show can be seen on our website at http://ballaterroyalhorticulturalsociety.weebly.com The Bulb Show was judged by Jim Henderson, the guest speaker, who then gave an illustrated presentation on “Sowing Seeds in the Greenhouse and on the Windowsill”

Got something to say about your group – get in touch ballater.eagle@btopenworld.com T h e s e past couple of months our planned speakers have had to cancel for various reasons; typically this happened after the posters had been put up and the press notified! Jane Oliver did a splendid job of reorganising them at the last minute.

The last talk of the season is “Landscaping Dos and Don’ts” by Professor Gordon Walkden.

Thanks to Rev David Barr’s initiative, the generosity of Mains of Drum Garden Centre and Jim Clark and Colin Wilson’s planting, you will have noticed the pots of daffodils on the downpipes at the lower end of Bridge Street also the primulas and daffodils in the many tubs around Bridge Street. The aim was to brighten the area and lift the spirit which many have said it has. Thanks to a generous donation from the Charitable Chiels we will be able to maintain the tubs and ensure that they continue to flourish throughout the growing season.

Our Annual Plant Sale is to have a change of venue! This year it will be held in the Victoria Hall on Saturday 4th June from 9.30 am – 12 noon. This will guard against inclement weather and enable the plants to be more clearly displayed as well as making the sale easier to set up! Donations of plants, unwanted gardening books, gardening tools and home produce would be most welcome and can be dropped off at the Hall on Friday 3rd June between 1 – 7pm. Please

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come along and bag a bargain on the day!

This year’s outing takes place on Wednesday 20th July. Firstly we will visit Leith Hall Garden, a hidden gem of the NTS with spectacular views of the surrounding hills. The garden features extensive herbaceous borders and a fine collection of alpines and primulas in the rock garden, which is being restored to its original 1900s design, as well as the striking Moon Gate, orchard and vegetable garden. After lunch at and a tour of Dean’s Shortbread Factory in Huntly, we will spend the afternoon at Laundry Cottage, Gartly. This informal, cottage-style garden of about 1½ acres comprises an upper garden around the house of mixed borders, vegetables and fruit. There are steep grass banks to the south and east which are planted with native and non-native flowers, specimen trees and shrubs. Narrow grass paths lead down to the River Bogie. The owner Simon McPhun has spoken to the Society about his extensive career in horticulture at Trinity College, Cambridge, Leith Hall and Inverewe. For more than a decade, Simon has been self-employed as a Garden Makar (not a misspelling!), designing, creating and caring for gardens and landscapes.

We are looking forward to this day out.

Schedules and Children’s Challenge leaflets for the 140th Annual Exhibition and Flower Show on Saturday 20 th (2 – 5pm) and Sunday 21st August (11am – 3.30pm) are available from the Library and A B Yule Newsagent. Your support is essential to ensure the future of this long established event.

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Upper Deeside Music by Jane Angus

One of the finest, and possibly among the most enjoyed concerts of the Upper Deeside Music programme, took place at Creag Meggan in April. Christina Lawrie came north with a programme of pieces which I for one, thought I had known and liked since I could listen. Then I realised I had not been listening properly, or had not previously heard the full length or strength in such a performance. We have had the pleasure of hearing Christina play before, and the concert when her husband enlivened us with the Kruezer sonata, is remembered clearly by many members, but this was truly another enlightening experience.

Sitting in an excellent venue in the spring evening sunshine, Handel’s ‘Harmonious Blacksmith’ was followed by the Beethoven ‘Pathetique’, Grieg, ‘songs’ of Mendelsohn, Chopin and Schubert’s ‘Wanderer ’ sonata - pieces which we had thought we knew but have never heard so clearly performed. We just regret that our numbers were not larger, as this performance again shows us the quality available through the system which allows us to bring fine musicians to small communities

and offers young people the standards of music reached in cities and other countries.

I argue (a habit of which you all know) with some of the precepts and requirements of Enterprise Music Scotland, and especially at this time of year when we have to fill in all the forms called for in dealing with grants from government.

However, since it gives us such experiences as we had this April in Deeside, we must give thanks and hope that we can continue to bring such musicianship to our area.

The Victoria Week concert is planned for Glenmuick Church again but at a different time when a lively team bring ‘The Gladstone’s Bag’ of varying Victoriana for both young as well as older people. So far, next season’s plans will bring both known and new–to-us groups of musicians.

These include ‘Ugly Bug Ragtime’ incorporating members of the Nova Scotia Jazz Band who came at the Jubilee time while en-route to the Shetland Festival, and the Scottish Reed Trio whose previous visits have been greatly enjoyed.

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Rotary Club of Aboyne and Upper Deeside by Ruth Powell

It’s been a very busy year so far for your local Rotary Club!

The local feeder schools heat of The Rotary Primary Schools Quiz was held at Torphins Primary on 8th March. It was a lively evening with much hilarity and enjoyment. Aboyne Primary won through in the end and they will go on to represent our area in the next heat. The Aboyne Academy Young Photographer Competition has been receiving submissions from pupils with the theme “My World”. The closing date for entries was 1st June. All details of the winning photos can be found on The Rotary Club of Aboyne and Upper Deeside Facebook page. Continuing our Youth theme, the Young Musician of the Year was held on the 30th March and a fantastic evening’s entertainment was had by all. The Junior section winner (S1-3) was Grace Hally, with Jessica Lindsay as runner up and the Senior section winner (S4-6) was Ellie McLaren with Osh Arthur as runner up. The overall winner was Ellie McLaren. We are grateful to the teaching staff of Aboyne Academy whose time and effort allow these events to continue every year.

At the time of writing, the Club has a few events coming up on the calendar. The Ballater Duck Festival, running a BBQ at the Aboyne

Play Park Fun Day on the Green and the annual Golf Charity Day at Aboyne Golf Club will all be over by the time this is published in June. No time to rest though, as lots of activities are planned for the summer, including our annual appearances at local Highland Games raising funds with our Whisky Stall and an appearance at the Etape Royale cycle event in Ballater in September.

Many thanks to all Rotary Club supporters in our communities and further afield. If you would like to help us in our work without the commitment of full membership of the Club, we are now running a “Friends of Rotary” scheme. This allows people to assist us at events and share their skills for the good of the community and national and international charities under the Rotary banner.

No cost involved, no regular meetings to attend; just help when you can – what’s not to like?

A last word about our on-going Flood Fund; anyone seeking support from the fund should contact the Rotary Club of Aboyne and Upper Deeside on Tel. No: 07724 144 355 or by email: audrotary1010@gmail.com

If you wish to know more about joining AUD Rotary or becoming a Friend of Rotary, please telephone 01339 886369 or email: mikepowell.obe@gmail.com

A big cheer for The Rotary Primary Schools Quiz winners - Aboyne Primary School!

BCE: Ballater Caravan Park

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by Allan Harrison

We are delighted to announce that the first phase of reinstatement of the caravan park is progressing well and we hope to open up to visitors during May. Many thanks are due to HRH The Duke of Rothesay for his very generous help and support in assisting with the speedy process of redesigning and reinstating the touring site layout to a modern day standard. HRH initiated a Deeside Flood Appeal in early January and we are most grateful to HRH and staff for all their generous support, financially and in kind, for all they have done to assist Ballater Caravan Park at this time.

Part of the previous static caravan area has been taken over for use by touring vans and we have been able to accommodate a total of 42 touring pitches.

This is less than we had previously, but the new layout will be much more attractive and provide our guests with a better holiday experience.

Thanks are due to Aberdeenshire Council who arranged for the removal of the wrecked caravans and debris from the site at no cost to BCE or the static owners.

Funding is in place for this first phase reinstatement and thanks are due to the Prince of Wales’s Charitable Foundation, the DB Foundation, Aberdeenshire Council, Hilton Grand Vacations, Foundation Scotland and the Boy’s Brigade. We also are grateful to Mr. Ian Scott from Aboyne who has helped us manage the project. Many others have contributed by sponsoring the turf at some of the pitches and many companies have carried out work or provided materials at less than cost. All these will be acknowledged at the park once we are fully operational. Anyone wishing to sponsor the turf for a pitch, at £300 per pitch, can do so by contacting BCE at Park House (013397 55467) or by email at ballaterdeeside@btinternet.com.

Finally, we have to report that one of our founding directors and Chairman, Paddy Wright, resigned at the beginning of the year.

His place as Chairman has been taken up by

Gordon Bruce. Gordon has worked tirelessly in ensuring that the refurbishment work runs smoothly and the Board expresses their grateful thanks for all his efforts. The entire Board also wishes to thank Paddy for all his hard work since the project inception and we trust that he will be able to enjoy some leisure time with his wife, Mary.

Glenalmond Linsey Blyth

Beauty Box

Qualified Nail Technician 16 Dee Street, Ballater, AB35 5RH 013397 55207 / 07879 924480 glenalmondbeautybox@gmail.com

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Library Page by Sabine Muir

Summer Reading Challenge

Yes, it’s that time again! The Summer Reading Challenge starts on Thursday 23rd June and will run until Saturday 20th August.

It encourages children aged 4 to 11 to read six books during the long summer holiday. Children can read whatever they like – story books, fact books, joke books, picture books, audio books just as long as they are borrowed from the library.

Every time children finish a book, they get stickers and rewards and there’s a certificate for everyone who finishes. The Summer Reading Challenge is open to all school children and is designed for all reading abilities. The theme for this year’s reading challenge is about personal reading spaces, the places we go to relax and enjoy a good read - “Your Place, Your Space…Just Read”. Alongside the reading challenge, there will be a photo competition for children to enter. (a photo of yourself reading a book anywhere in Aberdeenshire.)

Prizes this year will be books by Roald Dahl, as it would have been his 100th birthday, also books by various other authors. Please pop in for more information.

Monday 8th August at 10am in the Halls. Children are invited to make their own felt or sock puppets, make up a story and perform it using our puppet theatre, courtesy of Deeside Books. Book Prizes will be given for the most original puppets. This event is sponsored by Deeside Books via a James Patterson grant.

Knit and Natter

We’ve been busy making baby blankets for flood victims. Many of the squares were crocheted by Helga, our butterfly lady. Sadly she has moved to Fettercairn. We wish her all the best in her new home and hope that she will be able to join a craft group there. Everyone

Library Events during Victoria Week Author Visit

We will be hosting an author visit by acclaimed Scottish author Kenneth Steven, who will read both from his new poetry collection, ‘Letting in the Light’, and from his novel ‘The Well of the North Wind’. This is to take place on Wednesday 10th August in the Halls at 7.30pm. Refreshments will be provided. For more information, please pop in and see us or contact us on 55628. This event is free.

Children’s Puppet Workshop

There will also be a puppet workshop on

is welcome to join us on Tuesday evenings from 7 - 9pm. Bring your knitting, crochet or needlework.

Refreshments are provided. I would mention that we shall be having a break for a few weeks during the month of July.

Ballater & Crathie Community 15 Council by Jane Angus

As B&CCC is about to have an election on June 16th, this may well be the last time I have the duty of providing a report of the activities of an organisation, which I think may not be fully understood by most sensible people who get on with their own business and do so very well.

Community Councils were set up to give a formal voice on any local matters and to pass on the opinions voiced to local or national authority, or businesses. B&CCC has enjoyed admirable relations with our local Councillors, with BRD which is concerned with economic matters, with the BBA and Visit Aberdeenshire in different forms and spheres of activity. So the CC members have concentrated on the job of bringing problems to the attention of the various authorities which ‘encompass us about’, and who are legally responsible for their resolution. One of the splendid things about Aberdeenshire people is that they want to help if their neighbours have need of it and yet are often reluctant to ask for that themselves. So CC members have to listen hard and persist when outside authorities do not.

In the last few months individual members have spoken both quietly and loudly when they weren’t involved in business or family activity, and still problems continue, of missed and misunderstood messages from various local and national organisations. B&CCC is still in correspondence and holding meetings with the Post Office, Royal Mail and the Co-op in Manchester, and more

ROY MITCHELL JOINER TELEPHONE:

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locally with Aberdeenshire Council Landscape Services, and the Cairngorms National Park Planning Authority, which is starting discussions on the next Local Development Plan. In addition, the Cairngorms Leader Group is asking about future projects and their finances, and there are the immediate local concerns relating to parking and potholes, education and buses, hospital transport and dentistry. Locals are also anxious to know about progress on The Old Royal Station, provision of bicycle racks and conveniences.

Sometimes there are resolutions, always there are slow processes if any form of government is involved, and often it is a case of finding the right person in the right place to press a simple button.

And officials have holidays…

But please, please, let there be candidates for the Election on June 16th as well as a large turnout of voters to support local voices.

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

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

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Community Supportive of Proposed Station Plans

by Lizzy Shepherd

The Grade B-Listed Station in Ballater, historically used by Royals travelling to their home at nearby Balmoral Castle, was devastated by a fire in May 2015. Aberdeenshire Council quickly committed to rebuilding the station, and has since been in discussions with Historic Scotland, VisitScotland, the Cairngorm National Park Authority and the local community to agree the way forward. Following the fire investigation and the installation of a temporary structure, a hoarding was put in place, while plans were progressed for the station’s renovation. Of particular importance have been efforts to safeguard the Royal Waiting Room and replica Royal Carriage.

At the Ballater Open Day event held on 2nd April in the V & A Halls, the community had a chance to view the proposed plans for the

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rebuilding of the Station. On hand to answer questions were Janelle Clark, the Marr Area Manager, Craig Matheson, the Aberdeenshire Council Project Manager and David Lawrie from Halliday Fraser Munro. They had a busy day discussing the proposals with the many community members who attended. The plans showed the renovated Station housing a VisitScotland facility, the relocated community library, an exhibition space, and a restaurant, as well as having a covered exhibition space for the Royal Carriage.

The plans also reflected community aspirations to reinstate Ballater Square as a more pedestrian and cycle friendly public space. Feedback from the Open Day was generally positive, with the proposals for the Station and the Station Square being welcomed by the vast majority of those expressing an opinion.

There were more mixed opinions about the housing of the Tullich Stones and the parking proposals. The comments and suggestions received are currently being considered. This Open Day event followed on from an earlier well-attended public meeting at which residents gave their views on the overall development of the wider Station Square area. Feedback from this event showed a real appetite to put heritage at the heart of the community.

At the Council’s Policy and Resources committee meeting on 21st April 2016 Councillors agreed to the estimated cost of reinstatement of the station building itself and work will now progress with identifying any shortfall and sourcing the required funds for this significant project. Work is currently ongoing to develop detailed design estimates and to submit the major planning application by 26th May. It is hoped that work can get underway in December of this year and that the new station will be opened in December 2017, in line with the Winter Festival.

Community Resilience Plan

by John Bolton

August 2014 is when I first raised the issue of effective planning for any flooding event, as this was an issue which I considered to have been neglected.

I met with members of Aberdeenshire Council and was told that Community and Parish Councils throughout the UK were being encouraged to establish a Resilience Plan, to be devised, implemented and deployed by willing members of the local community.

The objective of the plan is to prepare for any major event likely to impact upon the community.

So in the first instance it’s a question of identifying what risks we are faced with. Thereafter it’s a matter of examining how we, the community, would cope with such events until such time as the emergency services arrive and take over total control of any recovery.

In order to achieve this, we have to build up a team of people with local knowledge, useful skills and of course a willingness to give up time and be available when the community needs protecting.

To provide those volunteers with the instruction, guidance and protocol needed, we must have a plan which contains: • Identification of Risks • Local information containing details of all facilities available • Communications Directory • Local maps, some of which would be adapted to ensure that the emergency services can be given up-to-date maps, even showing the flooding impact on 30 Dec 2015 • Structure, reporting, description of tasks to be performed and an action plan • Care of volunteers • A list of assets, their owners and whereabouts which could be called upon, if required.

I spent quite a lot of time preparing a plan, which was based on a generic document favoured by councils, but I was having difficulty with the

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mobilisation, action and procedural element. So I was delighted when I was approached by Mike Forbes from Cambus o’ May, who has recently retired after 20 years running his own business, Response Consultants UK Limited, based in Holborn Street, Aberdeen. The company provides consultancy services to the oil and gas industry, specialising in emergency response, evacuation reception procedures, training and exercises, and Mike is therefore well placed to confidently introduce his experience into our resilience planning. So what better person to take over the preparation of the plan and I am pleased to tell you that Mike is doing just that.

With Mike at the helm we will not only have someone who can competently produce and develop the plan but someone who will be able to provide training for volunteers and be able to devise and conduct regular table top exercises, to test the robustness of the plan and the effectiveness of the team.

There are still a number of issues we have to resolve, such as the most efficient way of alerting the community to impending flood, and how to capture information so that those vulnerable people within the community can be quickly identified and earmarked for early evacuation to the designated rest centre. It would be interesting to have feedback on this from the community.

Please email me.

Clearly, flooding is our most likely threat and I would like to take this opportunity to remind all residents that they should produce their own checklist and plan to cope with flooding, particularly in the preparation for evacuation. If anyone wants help with this, please let me know.

The Charitable Chiels are now involved in the Community Resilience Plan and are being represented by Stewart Archibald. Volunteers are needed and we are keen to hear from you.

Your Resilience Team is no substitute for the Emergency Services. Its purpose is to offer to

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Your Community needs you!

As part of the development of the Ballater and Crathie Resilience Plan, we are recruiting residents in both communities, male and female, to form a pool of volunteers who could help to organise support for people in both villages in the event of an emergency or serious situation, for example, flooding, excessive amounts of snow, prolonged electricity outage, major incident, etc. In such circumstances, a small team will be formed from the pool of volunteers and will be based in the village hall, probably working alongside the emergency services and other agencies and organisations. The main role of the team will be to organise the provision of immediate shelter, warmth, food, short-term accommodation, etc to those in danger or affected by the incident, especially the elderly and vulnerable. Are you willing to help? If you have good communication and team skills, drop us an email to johnboltonesq@me.com and we’ll invite you to a ‘Q&A session’ in June when we will give you more information and answer any of your queries or concerns. If you then decide to join us, you will receive a half-day training on the role. Please help your community to help themselves.

the community whatever help it can, safely and effectively, to protect people and their assets, and to provide the Emergency Services with accurate reporting and direction before and as they arrive on the scene, to provide, from that moment on, whatever help they are asked for.

EDWARD J E MSLIE House Furnishers and Floor Covering Specialists

My email address is johnboltonesq@me.com.

Please do contact me with any thoughts arising from the above article, if you wish to volunteer, or need assistance in drawing up your own check list and plan.

BW

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Set just outside the village of Ballater in the idyllic Cairngorm hills, next to the Cambus O’ May Forest walks, and across from the old railway line, sits Riverside Cottage. We are a friendly, family run Café/Bistro esatablished in the Summer of 2014. We try to use local produce where possible whether it is our daily menu, or our Bistro evenings in order to provide the best quality we can for our customers. We also offer free WiFi, disabled access and free parking.

Riverside Cottage is attached to the Crannach Bakery which provides us with all of our wonderful fresh bread and cakes made daily. We have a range of breads to choose from when selecting one of our sandwiches or toasties. We pride ourselves on offering a wide variety from our all day menu. Enjoy a full ‘Scottish’ with all our produce locally sourced.

There are homemade soups, sandwiches, toasties and baked potatoes with many fillings to choose from and all available to take away. Why not try the newest addition to our menu “Riverside Eggs Benedict” with bacon or John Ross smoked salmon.

We are proud to be one of the few establishments who stock Equi’s Ice cream. Equi’s is an Italian Award winning family run business with over 140 years experience. We offer Sundaes, Cones, Tubs, Double Nougats or enjoy with one of our warmed cakes.

Come and try! You wont be disappointed!

Relax in our large peaceful Tea Garden where you can enjoy al fresco dining while admiring the local wildlife. If it gets a bit chilly don’t worry we have blankets on hand to keep you warm!

Dogs are always welcome in our garden and we even offer dog bowls if your pooch gets thirsty.

We are open 7 days a week from 10am, always ready with a warm welcome especially when the wood burner is on. We will be opening on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. But watch this space!………

Our alcohol licence will be arriving very soon and we will have extended opening hours throughout the summer.

Hope to see you soon!

Cambus O’ May, Ballater, Aberdeenshire 01339 755126 riversidecottagecafe@gmail.com

22

Ballater Flood Recovery

Ballater continues to take great strides forward in the flood recovery with a number of businesses re-opening, events being planned and houses being renovated. Of course, there is still some way to go and many people are still not back in their homes.

The Council is still offering support and advice; a questionnaire was recently sent to Established 1998

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by Lizzy Shepherd

all residents affected by the flood and staff in the Marr Area Office are busy responding to all requests for assistance. Some residents in temporary accommodation may have to vacate their rented or temporary accommodation and may be experiencing or threatened with homelessness.

The Housing Options Team will be able to provide housing advice and assistance and can be contacted on Tel: 01569 768562 during office hours (8.45am – 5pm Monday to Friday).

Updates are still being distributed via the Flood Bulletin which is available on the Ballater Community web site or in paper copy throughout the village.

The knowledgeable and ever helpful Paul Hendy from the Scottish Flood Forum is in the Library every Thursday and can provide support and expert advice to anyone with problems and concerns relating to the flood insurance problems, loss adjusters, drying out properties, dealing with builders,stress etc.

At the Ballater and Crathie Community Council Public Meeting held on 23rd March 2016, Gavin Penman from Aberdeenshire Council’s Flood Team explained that modelling work on the river shows that the bund around the golf course does provide some protection for the village in the majority of flood scenarios.

Consequentially, work is currently ongoing to repair the bund and return it to its previous level.

The Flood Risk Study for Ballater which was originally scheduled to be developed in the period 2021-2026 will also be brought forward and will now happen in the period 2016- 2021.

Anyone needing advice with flood related issues from Aberdeenshire Council please contact the Marr Area Office Tel: 01975 564803 or email: marr@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Visit Ballater

by Richard Watts, Chairman of the BBA

Formed over 20 years ago, The Ballater Business Association (BBA) focusses on representing the businesses of Ballater in dealings with public agencies and marketing the village as a visitor destination. We are blessed in this village to have many varied and successful groups from the Chiels to the History Group who rely on tireless volunteers – all with the aim of doing good for Ballater. The BBA is one of these groups, and while it will largely go unnoticed, the association has been working hard for Ballater on many fronts. Funded solely by its modest membership fees, the BBA pays for the Christmas Reindeer visit, the Visit Ballater website, www.visitballater. com and contributes significantly to events such as the Winter Festival and Victoria Week.

It has been clear now to those in business for a number of years, that Ballater is struggling and our sustainability is an issue. The recent fires and now the shocking events at the end of

23

2015 are in short a catastrophe for residents and businesses alike. The BBA is a stakeholder of the Royal Station rebuild group, and of the Business Regeneration group. We are working with key businesses and organisations to focus efforts on getting the village economy up and running as quickly as possible. It is a huge task, yet I also feel in the long term, an opportunity – we are in the spotlight and we must maintain the attention of those with the power and finances to make a difference. The flood has shown what an amazing community this is and the list of those to thank is endless. On the business front, I urge you all to maintain your membership to the BBA to help us play our part and if you can help, then come along to any advertised meetings. It’s also a chance for a beer and a catch up!

For a membership pack or any other info please email info@visitballater.com. The very best of luck for 2016!

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24

Letter from the Churches

Dear Friends

As we write this, we are looking forward to the warmth of Spring and Summer. Hopefully we have now had the last of the ‘lambing snows’.

As the lighter nights come, it is wonderful to see steps forward being made as Ballater picks itself up and looks towards the future. It seems to have been a long year so far.

There have been times to celebrate - some businesses are now open, and some people are back in their homes. There will be more celebrations as the year progresses. But there have also been times of struggle, and these too lie ahead. The waiting can seems endless, and at times, unendurable.

There is a wonderful verse in the Bible, from a book called Ecclesiastes. It says “for everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die... a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance....”

Whatever season you are in, in your life, as churches, we seek to walk alongside you, offering help and support. We will weep with you; we will laugh with you.

We will listen; and we will celebrate.

In our churches, we have gone past Easter and are now heading towards Pentecost, a time of celebration in the Christian year. Pentecost is when we celebrate the birthday of the church, the

day when the Christian church was established by the followers of Jesus. This is a time of celebration.

We celebrate the church of which we are part; and we celebrate the God whose love we share.

We believe the church still has something to offer, whether you are going through good times or bad. We will sometimes get it wrong; we will sometimes get it right – but we are convinced that this is a world worth living in, and that goodness, mercy and love starts with the individual and spreads out. We invite you to join us in that. Whatever you are experiencing and whatever you believe, for those who laugh, those who mourn, those who seek, those who believe and those who do not... we are here.

For everything there is a season…we pray that for Ballater and Crathie this will be a season of celebration.

With every blessing, Rev David Barr, Glenmuick Church of Scotland Father Chris Brannan, St Nathalan’s Roman Catholic Church Rev Vittoria Hancock, St Kentigern’s, Episcopal Church

News from the Churches Easter Sunday

Members of the different churches in Ballater met together early on Easter Sunday. Our riverside

service was to celebrate the resurrection and to renew our baptismal vows together. The service was followed by bacon sandwiches and croissants together in the church hall. It was wonderful to meet together as churches on such a special day.

The symbolism of meeting by the river something that has been a source of loss for so many, was very powerful. Yet as we renewed our baptismal vows with water, we remembered the Easter promises of joy and hope for our lives. We asked for God’s blessings on ourselves and on this community in the weeks and months to go, that the love of God may be present with us.

St Kentigern’s News

After our ecumenical Easter sunrise service, we went on to celebrate at St Kentigern’s with our Easter communion, and the baptism of our youngest member, Oliver. Bishop Michael Adie,

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a member of St Kentigern’s congregation joined us in baptising Oliver and celebrating Easter together.

We’re looking forward now to our Summer Fayre on Saturday 25th June in the Victoria Hall, and to joining in the fun of Ballater Victoria Week.

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

Buttony Bear -

THE SILVER THISTLE FEATURING LOCAL ARTISAN CRAFTS INCLUDING TWEEDIE BEASTIES AND HOWARD BUTTERWORTH ART

46 Bridge Street, Ballater, AB35 5QD Tel: 013397 56200 www.silverthistleballater.com www.tweediebeasties.com

We have just celebrated the first anniversary of the launch of the Buttony Project. Buttony is a bear that we have adapted to have a stoma and pouch. The bears are donated directly to families through the Buttony Bears Facebook page or through a network of paediatric stoma nurses. In our first year, we have dispatched an amazing 522 bears, not quite what we expected this time last year!

We have recently produced our first educational video which you can find by searching YouTube for Buttony Bears. The video shows Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital Paediatric Surgeon, Chris Driver, explaining the different ostomy surgeries using an anatomical apron. We hope to develop this aspect of the project in the future.

To celebrate our anniversary we asked families if they might give us feedback on how they felt Buttony helped. Here are some of their responses: “I used to feel like I was the only one with a stoma but now I don’t, because my furry friend is by my side.”

“My son Jake was given just 24hrs notice for his colostomy bag. That night I was frantically searching for a way to help him understand what was happening to him. I messaged a bear named Buttony and they sent his bear out first thing the next morning (the day of his surgery). By time he had come round enough from surgery, Buttony had arrived. He stayed up with him through the nights in hospital (he has a huge hospital phobia) and we took Buttony to introduce to family to help Jake accept it wasn’t something to be ashamed of.

Then Buttony came to school to help his school friends understand what had happened without having to cause Jake any distress as he hadn’t fully accepted it at that point.

Then Jake had surgery complications and had to have more surgery, A Bear Named Buttony sent him a batman outfit for being so brave I know I say it so much but it’s because I can’t put into words how thankful I am, they’ve made the most

A Ballater Project - by Jenny Gow distressing time of our lives that little bit easier and for that I will be eternally grateful.”

“Buttony and Amy have been inseparable for the last year. They enjoy Brownies and dance club and day trips but are also together for the hospital stays and operations that have been frequent in the last year too.

Amy has had her ileostomy for nearly four years now and calls it Matilda. Buttony goes to school and helps Amy’s friends understand why Amy is different but also helps Amy feel less lonely about her differences. Amy is now nine years old and this last year has been the easiest as Amy and Buttony educate her generation about bowel disease and hopefully together they can end the stigma of stomas.”

“Buttony has helped my daughter a lot.

Before, she used to just say Mummy had a bad tummy but now she is understanding what I have and what it’s called. She comes into the bathroom and changes Buttony’s bag when I change mine.”

“The only way I can really explain A Bear Named Buttony is at a time when we were at our lowest point and I as an adult was struggling to explain what was going on

27

to myself let alone my little girl - Buttony came along and was a little ray of sunshine (something lovely for her at a time when not so lovely things were happening). It enabled me to explain things in a simplistic way that until then I couldn’t - it made her feel a little bit more “normal” and gave her someone that could go on this journey with us - someone just like her. To some it’s just a teddy bear but to others it means so much more.”

We are extremely grateful to everyone for supporting the project.

If you would like to find out more, please contact Jenny at the Deeside Deli or by email at buttony@breakawayfoundation.org.uk

Pictured here are the photos from April’s Facebook photo competition prize winners.

28

Crathie Opportunity Holidays

by Allan Harrison

We held our open day event on 12th March as part of the 2016 Disabled Access Day. A good number of people attended, some for the first time, sampled the delicious home bakes and saw around the cottages as well as our new office and biomass heating facilities. Both are proving to be really beneficial, both for the guests’ overall enjoyment of the cottages and for the running of the complex by the staff.

We are delighted to have been short listed in the 2016 Elevator Awards for the Alick Buchanan-Smith Enterprising Community Award. The result will be announced in June.

Planning for the major fundraisers for 2016 is underway. Our Golf Day at Balmoral will be held on 22nd October and, as part of Ballater Victoria Week in August, we hope to show the film, Dad’s Army, in the V&A Halls. This

will also feature, of course, our now renowned canapes. Our orange ducks will be racing in the BVW Duck Race. Further details of these events will follow in due course. Our book, “Essays on Life” by Thomas Mitchell, Farmer, has been reprinted and copies can be obtained from Maggie on 013397 42100.

As ever, 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.

Finally, thank you to all our local friends and supporters.

By appointment to HM the Queen Purveyor of Meat and Poultry

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

H M Sheridan

BUTCHER • POULTERER • GAMEDEALER

Bigger, better, brighter Sheridan’s and

open every day: We’re open on Sundays 10am - 2pm July - end September 11 Bridge Street, Ballater. Tel: 013397 55218 Fax: 56042 info@hmsheridan.co.uk www.hmsheridan.co.uk

Cairngorms National Park

by Grant Moir, CEO, CNPA

29

Big Park, Big Questions The Cairngorms National Park is one of the last remaining wild places. It has more high level mountain ground than anywhere else in Britain or Ireland and covers a huge 4528sq km. Living and working in such a unique place raises some big questions and we want you to help us answer them.

This summer we will be consulting on the next National Park Partnership Plan. The plan will run from 2017 and sets out how all those with a responsibility for the Park will co-ordinate their work to tackle the most important issues. This time we are doing it a bit differently with a focus on nine big issues that face the Park area. These include housing, deer and moorland management, visitor infrastructure, community development, as well as, flooding.

We want to engage with as many people as possible and the consultation will run from the end of June until the end of September. Loads more information will come out nearer the time through traditional and social media and hopefully the questions will get people thinking about what big

issues they want tackled over the next 5 years.

The annual Cairngorms Nature Festival took place on the 14/15 May with events all across the Park. The main focus however was in Deeside where TV presenter Nick Baker gave a Saturday evening talk to a packed audience on some of our more interesting bugs and beasties and on Sunday he hosted a family fun day at Loch Muick with over 70 people leaving for the event by bus from Ballater Green. Thanks to all that attended and every year this event gets bigger and better It has been a difficult 2016 for so many in Ballater and Deeside after the flood but there has also been so many folk working together to make a difference and hopefully this summer will be a good one for the area.

30

Cash up for Grabs for Keen Young Athletes - by Penny Lawson

PART IN...THINGS TO DO...PLACES TO GO...CHALLENGES TO ATTEMPT...PE Preparations are well under way for the tenth annual Cairngorm Adventure Triathlon (CAT) on Saturday 17th September, and grant funding from the proceeds of the event is available to help young local athletes.

Up to £1000 per applicant is on offer to pay for equipment, training, travel to events and other costs which can be a real barrier to progress for many of the talented youngsters our area produces. Over the years, CAT funding has been put to good use by cyclists, mountain bikers,

...aims to reopen in early July with a brand new refurbishment We thank you for your patience and look forward to welcoming you for the summer season Enquiries to 07557 355653

skiers, snow boarders, biathletes, footballers and others, some of whom have gone on to national and international success. The only requirement for applicants is that you are aged 16 to 21, live in the National Park, and have bucket-loads of talent, commitment and ambition in your sport.

Over the years we have been delighted to hand out up to £3000 to deserving young athletes from a variety of disciplines. Most of our applications have come from the Strathspey area but we are keen to offer this support to people across the Cairngorms and would welcome interest from Deeside, where I’m sure there is no shortage of talent and keenness.

The photograph shows one of the athletes who received a grant in 2014, Donald Rogers, participating in the Enduro European Mountain Biking Series.

The application is very straight forward and details can be found on the CAT website at www.cairngormadventuretriathlon.org or by emailing pennymlawson@googlemail.com. All applications must be submitted in full by the date of this year’s CAT, Saturday 17th September.

Authors aim for the heights

Mountain writing competition open for entries

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TEMPT...PEOPLE TO MEET...COMPETITIONS TO TAKE PART IN...THINGS TO D The excitement and intensity of mountaineering has always inspired great writing – and now the Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) is looking for authors to blend their writing skills with their mountain experience for its longrunning literary competition.

Entries are now open for the MCofS annual Mountain Writing Competition, which seeks out the best writing – prose or poetry, fact or fiction – to emerge from the climbing and walking scene. And, with more and more people taking part in outdoor activities, there should be no shortage of climbers and walkers ready to put their experiences into words and share what makes mountains, or the act of walking or climbing so special to them.

Entries should have some connection with mountains and mountaineering, rock or ice climbing, walking or ski-mountaineering, and winners will receive a cash prize and the chance to see their entries in print in the Scottish Mountaineer, the quarterly MCofS magazine which goes out to its more than 12,000 members.

The first placed winners in prose and poetry categories will also receive a free weekend pass (worth about £100) to the 2016 Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival. Winning entries are also published on the MCofS website at www.

ordinator, Mike Merchant, preferably by email to article@mcofs.org.uk or by hard copy to MCofS, ‘MWC2014’, The Old Granary, West Mill Street, Perth PH1 5QP.

Full entry details are available on the MCofS website, where you can also read the 2015 winners.

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Run since 1987, the competition is open to members and non-members alike and regularly attracts entries from all over the UK. Prose entries should be a maximum of 2,000 words long. Poetry entries can be of any length.

The competition is open to anyone resident in the UK, whether members of the MCofS or not.

Deadline for this year’s competition is 31st August. Entries should be sent to the MWC Co-

George Melvin Rennie The Clunie at Braemar Golf Course, Oil

The McEwan Gallery Ballater, AB35 5UB (300 yards off A93 on A939) 013397 55429 www.mcewangallery.com

Ballater Victoria Wee

by Cat Houston

Sink or Swim is the theme for BVW 2016 and true to form there will be TWO duck race events this year on Duck Sunday (August 14). The Ballater Crew of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service will blast the little ducks of every colour down the green at 1pm while the inflatable duck race will take place on the river (weather permitting) at 3pm, following the success of the trial event earlier in May, thanks to Aboyne Rotary, BRD, the Chiels and the many other community groups, businesses and individuals who came together to make it happen.

New events for 2016 include a proposed Rio Opening Onesie Party (tbc), a model railway exhibition in the old post office, an author talk and a special storytelling event - Weel Kirkit.

Never Work With Children and Animals Monday (August 8) has a PT...PE new slant, ATTEM

The much missed Tom Potter gets into the spirit of Victoria Week.

By kind permission of the Potter family

CES T

O...PLA S TO D

...THING

PART IN

ES TO

G HALLEN .C ..

O G O

Ballater Highland Games

by Ron Drever

Following another very successful Annual Dinner, the organising of the Games, to be held

on Thursday 11th August, continues apace.

One of the tasks at this time of year is to collate all the information and articles for the Games Programme, which has to be completed and printed so as to be available well before Games Day. Patrons’ Applications have to be processed, and sponsorship needs to be in place in good time to enable us to recognise our Sponsors in the Programme.

We have been absolutely delighted by the tremendous response we have already had from not only our Patrons a day guaranteed to bring a smile to every face and Sponsors, but also from stallholders.

ia Week

as CLAN have taken on the running the time...!) and the family of Messy Play while the Pet Show has film (Eddie The Eagle been divided into a Dog Show (on the green) and tbc). The Parade and separate Small Pet Show (in the halls). It is hoped Fayre on Sunday 7th is entries to the Pantomime Horse Trials will be as hotting up with all forms of transport taking part. wacky and competitive as last year.

The Scarecrow Trail will go ahead for anyone Watch out for the Duck able to produce one and we hope enough homes Crossing!

All this alongside the and businesses will be up and running again by BVW to be able to help boost the village and usual quizzes, sports, outdoor, musical and food events, there really is something draw folk in with their imaginative for everyone, running from August displays. And for those a little 5 to 14. The BVW brochure, strapped for time, a Best Decorated with details of all events, will be Sandbag event has been introduced available early July. for this year... Forms etc will be available soon.

Be Amused.

It will all kick off on Friday HINGS .T ..

N I August 5 with the Box Office RT AKE PA Sponsorship is T opening (look out for flashmob O T ONS details nearer PETITI open to families and individuals

Very rarely have we had this level of support offered by all, so early in the year.

We extend to them our grateful thanks.

We are happy to say that many of our previous Sponsors have again confirmed their sponsorship in 2016. Locally we have George Strachan Ltd, Deeside Deli & Garden Shop, The Silver Thistle, Braemar Mountain Sports, Hilton Grand Vacations, L a u r i e & C o m p a n y, Cycle Highlands, and H.M.Sheridan. Another returning Sponsor is The Glenmuick Estate. New Ballater businesses, and now also Sponsors, are the Brakeley Gift Room, and Ian Rodger Architects, while, from outside Ballater, we welcome another new Sponsor, Tomintoul Venison.

EO EMPT...P

T

...COM

MEET PLE TO

as well as businesses, so, if you are inspired or excited by a particular event or competition, you might like to consider becoming its sponsor.

We look forward to seeing you all at the Games!

The presentaton from the Chieftain to retiring committee member, Bill (Tiger) Lyon, in 2015.

TO DO

34

A Walk in the Park

A walk in the Cairngorms National Parkpark is always enjoyable but a few weeks ago I went out on Sunday morning and discovered a real find by accident!

On leaving Logie Coldstone passing the war memorial, over the bridge then I took the first road on the right leading up past the Curling Pond on the left which is over 100 years old. This is a good track and easy walking, and shortly you arrive at a fork in the road.

Follow which ever takes your fancy, as they both join together further on around the track. Once

you are at the end of this track, you arrive at a tarred road. Take a right and you shortly see another track on the left signposted Auchnerran.

Follow this road all the way up and you will pass North Auchnerran on the left. Go through the gate, follow the track, and you will see a small house up on the hill, - this is Barglass. What a delight! There is an old fashioned pump for your water in the garden. Opposite the garden is the old mill and it is all intact, right from the water wheel and lade on the outside, to the mill in the inside. Unfortunately the roof has fallen in and the wooden part of the mill is rotting away but you get the idea of how it all worked. I was fascinated, - what a find! It just added to the enjoyment to my walk.

I decided that as this was my first time walking up here, I would continue on up this track, winding its way up Morven. It is quite steep in places but the views over Cromar are well worth

...TH

by Katrina A. Farquhar

35

CNPA and the hard work of volunteers organised by my former neighbour Fred Bull who is sadly no longer with us.

Walk up the bank behind the wells and find another path which takes us down past the lovely Cairngorm Lodges out onto the main road and back into Logie Coldstone.

This is a lovely walk with lots of different routes depending on how long you have. This one took about two hours.

it. There is an old fence on the hill and a lovely granite seat, an ideal resting place after the steep climb. Further on, the track meets up with another land rover track, so depending on what time you have, you can take a right which leads up onto the shoulder of Morven and onto other tracks. I however take a left, and this takes me down past Redburn. I decided to take the track in front of Redburn and went through a pedestrian gate, taking an old track to the right which goes into a wooded area through a gate arriving at derelict houses at Allalogie.

Leaving the houses, carry on Cairngorms Scenic Photo Posts is an initiative to gather the track in the woods and again it information about our landscapes as they change comes to a fork. If you take the left, daily. There are currently 14 photo posts throughout this leads along a wood and onto the park. The nearest ones to Ballater are number the A97 just beside the end of the 2, Parkins Moss at Muir of Dinnet close to Burn O’ Raebush road. Either go straight Vat, 5 River Dee View, located at the Southern lay-by across the main road onto the track coming down from the Linn of Dee, while Number 4 is in the woods or walk along the main Morrone. From the Morrone car park go up through road for a few yards and take the the Birchwood and as you approach the boundary next track into the woods and this fence the photo post is on the right beside the gate. leads down to the Poldhu Wells on Once you find the post you will see a bracket where the left. These were famous wells you place your camera, phone or tablet, take your picture and you can register and upload onto the and frequented by visitors from all website http://cairngorms.co.uk/photo-posts/ and you over the area until the discovery of have contributed to the visual record. You may want to the Pannanich Wells at Ballater. A collect all 14. On the website it gives you details of each few years ago they were all cleared post and how to get to them, as some are quite a walk. up and restored with funding from

...THINGS TO DO...PLACES TO GO...CHALLENGES TO ATTEMPT...PEO-

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An Honorary Treasurer is needed to support a successful local charity in its quest to reduce loneliness in older people. Kincardine & Deeside Befriending is looking for a Committee Member with financial experience to oversee the organisation’s financial affairs.

This is an opportunity to become involved with a local charity that is operating a muchneeded befriending scheme for older people with three members of staff and 100 volunteers.

It was established in 1996, and has recently been nominated for the Queen’s Award (this is like an MBE for volunteer groups and recognises the outstanding work volunteers in the field and on management committees have done in their own communities).

The Treasurer will be working in co-operation with the Administrator in the Stonehaven office, and will guide and advise the Management Committee on all matters relating to the financial administration and charity accounting of Kincardine & Deeside Befriending. The Treasurer will be a member of the Management Committee, and will need to attend its meetings (2 hours every 6-8 weeks).

The Charity is able to reimburse reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

Anyone interested should call the office on 01569 765714 or email info@kdbefriending. org.uk

Space Seeds at Crathie Primary School

Crathie School is taking part in a very exciting project organised by the Royal Horticultural Society, the UK Space Agency and the European Space Agency.

On Tuesday 19th April, gardeners from Balmoral Estate came to the School to help plant two packets of very special rocket seeds.

Each packet contained 100 seeds but only one

37

of the packets of the seeds has been on the International Space Station with Major Tim Peake.

No-one will know whether it was the seeds from the red packet or the blue packet until after the end of the 35 day experiment.

Since planting the seeds, pupils have had to take responsibility for watering and turning the seed trays every two days. There have also been maths related tasks to do, measuring and calculating percentages. The results are presently recorded on a chart in the School but have to be submitted to a national database at the end of the experiment. It will be very interesting to find out which, if any of the predictions pupils made about the space seeds come true.

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And The Sun Rose...

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by Rev David Barr

Steadfast, hopeful and resilient! I could easily be describing Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, but no - I am thinking of the people of Ballater and the surrounding areas. No wonder the Queen enjoys coming to this area as the community demonstrates all the qualities we would expect from the leader of our nation.

The aftermath of the floods could be seen around the world, but what was not shown was the care and comfort given to everyone. When ANYONE was asked, “How are you doing?” the answer was always the same - “I’m fine, there are people worse off than me”. This phase was used by even the worst hit residents of Ballater. Always thinking of others. This is Ballater – Steadfast.

A reoccurrence of a flood of this magnitude is highly unlikely, due to the extraordinary weather conditions needed, but the fact that it is at all pos-

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sible, even remotely, is a blow to the people who were affected by the floods. Did they crumple under the weight of this thought? No – Hopeful.

Balloons are flying, flowers are blooming and shops are opening. Visitors are returning to Ballater to see the aftermath of the floods. They are shown the true spirit of this tiny village. Joy, laughter and happiness – Resilience.

Her Majesty has been part of this community all her life and throughout those ninety years she has been, and still is this community’s beacon of steadfast hope and resilience. Her Majesty fully understands how devastating it is to lose personal items due to the fire in Windsor Castle.

I would like to propose the planting of 90 trees, one for each year of the Queen’s life.

- To celebrate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday.

- To commemorate the continued restoration of Ballater to its fully glory.

- And finally, to help prevent, environmentally, the re-occurrence of a flood.

These would be planted on the south side of the River Dee across the river from the Golf Course.

I am hoping that members of the community will be willing to sponsor a tree or group together and sponsor a single tree or a group of trees.

Each tree will be between 6-7 feet tall. The cost of a tree will be no more that £32, but we hope to get it cheaper.

This legacy would remain as a reminder of the community spirit within Ballater, supporting and shielding each other and the future children of the village from outside forces. It will also represent a symbolic comfort to our community and identify with Her Majesty’s continued love and care of this area of Scotland.

If you would like to know more about how to get involved in sponsoring a tree, contact either Lorraine Barr on 01339 756111 (or David on the same number).

Pottering About...

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by Stella Potter

Well, it’s been an interesting spring. My lovely flood friend, and her cat, moved to new northern pastures and it seems they are just as verdant as she’d hoped. It was rather sad to say goodbye as we had had a ball supporting eachother during dark days but I’m delighted she’s hugely enjoying her new life and challenges.

My cat, Willow, had a few weeks of enjoying being the sole feline in the household. Alas for him, not for long. Just long enough to lull him into a false sense of security. My eldest’s cat, Boris, has now temporarily joined the household. He’s a good travelling cat and used to my home, but he’s such a different animal to Willow. Boris seems to think he’s more canine than feline. Although, like Willow, he seems to think it OK to stop dead right in front of me - why do they do that? Unlike Willow he lays on his back and will not be satisfied until his belly has been well and truly rubbed. I wouldn’t dare even attempt that with Willow as I’d be ripped to shreds. Also unlike Willow, he has a quiet squeaky meow, but a huge bodyrippling purr. I have noticed myself responding to cats’ meows with “I know, I know.” How daft is that? I don’t have a scoobie what they want except it’s clearly something that I have to work out through a process of elimination, occasionally with a few unladylike words whilst going through the process.

As I write, Willow has gone on one of his jaunts. Most likely because I was away a few days and despite two kind daily visits from my lovely cat sitters the lure of warm sunshine and longer days was stronger, but also because the restorations downstairs have progressed to joiners with the attendant banging, sawing and constant loud pop music. The silence of weekends is a joy. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. I do know how lucky I’ve been and that restoration is a noisy process. We’ll all be so happy once it’s done though.

A kind friend gave my - currently gardenless - mother-in-law a spring garden in a tub and me a box of flowers that are in pots by my door now cheerfully showing someone lives here. Some households have been trickling back to the war zone. It’s just wonderful to see some lights in the evenings, laundry blowing in the wind and a few more residents about. It was beginning to feel like I was living in a white van and fluorescent jacket land but am delighted to see it’s slowly changing. I still, however, feel mightily uncomfortable with the weekend tourists who seem to come in their droves, meandering down the streets with cameras, peering into stripped out households. How would they like such intrusion around their home and community? So far I’ve managed to keep schtum in the hope they will finish their nosey disaster tour with generous spending in our shops. I must add that, to my relief, since the caravan park has re-opened the happy campers have not behaved in this insensitive way.

Our esteemed editor didn’t want us to dwell on Storm Frank, and I do understand that. As our last edition’s front page stated, we can let it define us, destroy us or make us stronger.

We are certainly a stronger community than we were and many hoorays for that. Life beyond the white vans is slowly returning to the streets around me. Yet so many folk who still may not be home for months are still flitting between the generosity of family and friends, holiday lets

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and hotel rooms, many now outwith the village which has the knock-on effect to local businesses that are open. They are juggling their insurance - if they are lucky enough to be insured and have a company that’s paying out - missing their homes, their gardens and the warm sunshine that should be shining through their own windows. I cannot ignore their plight, nor fail to recognise their daily struggles - my mother-in-law for one - and many I meet in the street and in the library when the lovely Paul from the Scottish Flood Forum is there every Thursday. Whilst a new normality grows, they need to know we are still walking with them now that the white heat of the media has long gone.

Restoration is a long process.

So, when the homes in the war zone are re-occupied, we surely need a street party celebrating life returning to these streets. And a village-wide one when the very last flood refugee is home.

Are you up for that good people?

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Tick Munros Don’t let Munros tick you With winter hardly gone from the mountains, mountain safety experts are advising walkers and climbers: “Tick the Munros – just don’t let the Munros tick you!”

Those perennial pests of the Scottish hills and countryside are back, and while the physical and mental health benefits of hill walking are well known, walkers should still be aware of an almost invisible danger.

Ticks are small arthropods (related to spiders and scorpions) and are common in vegetated areas in the Scottish hills. They are particularly suited to mild damp climates and therefore thrive on the west coast mountain regions of Scotland. Aside from being a nuisance, ticks carry diseases, including Lyme disease which can be extremely serious if not diagnosed early.

Heather Morning, the Mountain Safety Advisor with The Mountaineering Council of Scotland is advising hill-goers to check themselves carefully after a day on the hill to ensure they haven’t picked up any unwanted guests.

For even after the cold and snowy spring time of 2016, the wee beasties seem to be out in force. Heather said: “Last weekend we were climbing at Duntelchaig, near Loch Ness. At home later, we noticed several ticks on our feet and since then have found several latched onto our bodies even though we had checked ourselves when we got home. The dog didn’t escape either; we have been removing ticks from her for several days now.”

Heather recommends that hill walkers are vigilant and take some simple precautions such as tucking trousers into socks or wearing gaiters when on the hill. It’s also well worth taking a good look at yourself when you return home to spot the ticks before they latch on. She said: “From experience, they seem to appear even a few days later. If you find one attached to you, remove with a tick hook. If in doubt seek advice from your doctor.”

Report by

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PC Donald Macleod It is good to see people slowly getting back on track after Hogmanay’s events. The Police office here is hopefully going to be back to full running order by the end of June.

Unfortunately over the last few weeks, crime trends have risen in the Deeside area in relation to thefts, particularly vehicle related ones. We have been successful on a number of occasions where persons have been caught and put to court for a number of offences and that has been down to members of the public being vigilant and reporting suspicious activities as they happen.

I have mentioned in reports before that we do live in a good area where crime levels are low but we cannot afford to be complacent in this. Individuals know that out here, personal home security

is possibly not as good as in suburban areas and they are taking full advantage of this whether it be in relation to houses, outbuildings or cars.

Please ensure that cars and outbuildings are secure when not in use, lock your doors, do not leave keys, electronic devices or any other valuables in full view through windows and if you see anything suspicious please report it to us at the time.

If required, officers can attend at your house and carry out a home crime prevention survey (which is free of charge). Please get in touch if you feel you would benefit from such a visit.

Until the office here at Ballater is fully operational, Aboyne Police Office public service counter is manned Monday to Friday or you can contact us on 101.

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Ballater Films

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by Cat Houston

Ballater Films has had a stunning spring with a full house in for The Lady In The Van and very successful Star Wars Quiz at The Deeside Inn. At the time of going to press we were looking forward (through our fingers) to our showing of The Walk.

We will be taking a break in June to deal with other commitments but will be back in July with a children’s film for the summer hols and then it’s Victoria Week in August, when we will be bringing you two terrific films. The family film is shaping up to be Eddie The Eagle (PG), starring Hugh Jackman and perfect (sort of!) for the opening night of the Rio Olympics on Friday August 5th. The “grown-up” film for the Crathie Opps event on Saturday 6th has just been confirmed as Dad’s Army. Full details will be released as soon as we have them.

Enjoy your summer movies!

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Fancy Yourself as a Restaurant Reviewer?

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That’s the invitation from the team at The Deeside Inn, who are setting out to recapture the essence of Royal Deeside and revive the fast-disappearing art of Innkeeping. Five couples are being sought to try out the Mrs Beeton era-inspired menu and dining experience - which includes old-fashioned roasts carved at the table, proper Afternoon Tea by the fire and an irresistible sweet trolley – and offer their critical feedback.

Joanna Whysall, G e n e r a l M a n a g e r, ex p l a i n s t h a t t h e i r ambition is to be one of the best and most authentic inns in Scotland. ‘I was fortunate to travel a good deal as a child and remember great old inns, wonderful Scottish traditions and hospitality. This lovely old building evokes those memories and reflects our local sporting history of field, loch and glen.’

That means meeting a range of needs from Sunday lunch, to afterschool, to a celebratory Saturday night – and your views can help the team get it right. If you’re interested, please contact Joanna directly.

And even if reviewing isn’t your forte, you may still be curious about the changes afoot. Everyone at The Deeside Inn invites you to ‘take another look’.

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.”

John Lubbock

Duck Day - August 14th Have you got yours?

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The Abergeldie Cradle – a 19th Century Tragedy

by Sheila Sedgwick

Abergeldie Castle has survived the New Year deluge and is now more visible from the North Deeside road. It has figured in many incidents throughout history, at both national and domestic levels. A local tragedy happened in 1824.

There were two little settlements across the river from the castle – Torgalter and Greystone.

The Browns had lived there for generations and George Brown was a skilled weaver. He was a well-educated man and was friends with the Crathie minister, the Rev. Murdoch McLellan, author of the Ballad of Sheriffmuir, He read the minister’s newspaper daily and had access to his books.

Among George’s children was Barbara, noted for her beauty and called “The Flower of Deeside.” After many suitors, she chose Peter

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Frankie, a handsome man with a steady job as gamekeeper at Alltnaguisaich. The marriage in 1824 appears in kirk records.

Until the keeper’s house was renovated the couple spent some time with George. Invitations came from many friends and one Sunday they visited the Smarts at Abergeldie Mains. From father’s house they crossed the Dee by “The Cradle”, the only means of crossing the river. A cable went round a windlass on each bank and on it was a “cradle” – actually just three planks fastened by iron hoops, shaped like a cradle, hence the name. At the ends there was an upright, linked by a cross-bar. Two grooved wheels ran along underneath. The Abergeldie gardener worked it, for two passengers at a time.

The Dee was high but not in spate. The Frankies left their hosts at 9p.m. on a lovely clear night. When half way across the river the rope broke and the occupants were thrown into the water. When the alarm was raised, locals, including George ran along both banks with torches, the whole night.

The following morning Barbara’s body was found. A week later Peter’s body was recovered at Coilacriech. I have been unable to find the fate of the cradle operator. No reason could be found as to why the rope had broken An earlier accident happened when whisky was being smuggled and a gauger called Bruce needed to cross the river. The operator refused to go as the river was in spate, but was forced to cross. On the way back the rope snapped. Bruce – a good swimmer – was drowned but the cradle operator was rescued.

In 1885 the Cradle was dismantled and a bridge erected. By now it is in a state of disrepair and out of action.

Introducing AVA and CHiP

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(CHiP) Officer at the end of 2015. I am one of a team of 7 people who between us cover all of Aberdeenshire.

I consider myself very lucky to have Marr as my area which includes Braemar, Ballater and the surrounding communities. The Team are linked to Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action who are the Third Sector Interface (TSI) for the Shire.

My name is Aileen Longino and I am the new Development Officer for Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action (AVA) working in the Aboyne Ballater and Braemar areas.

AVA helps: • Support volunteering • Support local groups and communities • Promote social enterprise • Provide the connection for groups and communities between Agencies and Public Service providers.

I’m here to provide support to the voluntary and community sector by providing advice and information in any area that is requested. This could involve the creation of a new group, charitable status, constitutional arrangements, promoting your group to attract volunteers, funding and fundraising or resolving issues that may have arisen in your group.

I am also here to help support volunteers find suitable groups and access training if required.

If you would like me to help please contact me below. I look forward to hearing from you.

Aileen.Longino@avashire.org.uk

or T: 07824096531.

Community Health in Partnership Team My name is Alison McPherson and I came into post as Community Health in Partnership

Our team of CHiP Officers are directly linked to supporting the integration of health and social care services which is happening across all parts of Scotland and went live in Aberdeenshire on 1st April this year.

This sees health and social care professionals working together to make best use of their skills and resources and offers a more streamlined service to people at the point when they need it.

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We know lots of communities also do a huge amount of good work complementing the work done by the statutory services. Often this difference can mean someone being able to stay independent longer in their own home or keeping up interests and connections with others, especially important to those who may find themselves caring for a loved one or a friend or living in a very remote part.

The impact of all this community support should never be underestimated and it is an important element of my work to encourage community groups and voluntary organisations to see the value of what they do and how it fits into the bigger picture of Integration.

A key aspect of the CHiP officer role is to develop stronger links between community supports/services and the health and social care professionals so that closer working relationships can be fostered.

This means sharing information so that all

available options are considered when offering care and support to meet a persons needs – we are after all unique in our preferences, lifestyles and priorities in what keeps us well.

Most of my time, since coming into post, has been spent meeting people across Marr, listening to their views and ideas and getting a feel for what is working well and also what is not, or learning about some of the gaps which, if addressed, would make a positive impact on people’s health and wellbeing.

If you are involved in a community group or voluntary organisation and you would like to know more please get in touch at: Alison.McPherson@avashire.org.uk or T: 07342881529.

For anyone not too familiar with the work and services we offer, please visit our website at www.avashire.org.uk or have a wee look at our facebook page www.facebook.com/AberdeenshireVoluntaryAction - there’s always lots of interesting information and updates.

My walk in the Forest

by Ian Cameron

In a little book which I am still working on, I have tried to describe the strong influence that our Deeside woods have exerted on my life. I was born under Craigendarroch, I grew up playing on its slopes, climbing its oak trees and rocks. Our Sunday walks in autumn were ankle-deep in rustling oak leaves, when we collected acorns and chased squirrels, and, at the back of the hill, in the Pass of Ballater, there were hazel nuts and brambles to be gathered. We were seasoned ‘gatherers’, as the school encouraged us to collect rose-hips and oak moss each year. Nobody thought of collecting or eating wild mushrooms then - the ‘puddock stools’ were left to witches and travelling people.

I am old enough to remember the war years and the busy station where sawmills worked and train loads of timber left Ballater. We lived in a LNER company town and nobody noticed until they lifted the line! The Newfoundland lumberjacks and Canadian soldiers made a huge impression on our young lives. The Canadians arrived at Ballater School every month with a monster truck and unheard of treats - chocolate, tinned salmon, cocoa and fruit.

Post-war was a grey time. Our elders would tell us of the good times pre-war, of parties, toys and the eccentric generosity of the local lairds, but the late 1940s was a time of ration books and scarcities as the UK paid war loans back to the USA. Forestry was also in the doldrums.

With bare hills, it was a time of replanting, and then the 1953 gale started everything up again. National Service took two years out of my life, before Margaret and I left for the next eight years in Perthshire where I worked with the Forestry Commission.

The new plantations of spruce I saw there were a far cry from my beloved Deeside fir and larch woods, but the experience I gained in ploughing for tree planting and constructing forest roads has served me well.

But we have lost so much. Today two ma-

47

chines and operators can do the same work in harvesting trees as whole squads of the old characters with hand saws, axes and horses used to do. The saw mills are undoubtedly safer places than before, now being largely automated and simply factories. No longer steam-driven engines, no huge ‘Yankee’ circular saws screaming through a hard pine log. No more family units living in wooden huts running a little rack-bench mill by contract in the confines of a pine forest, only to venture out once a week to the nearest village for provisions and whisky.

On the transport side, many of the hauliers were owner-drivers, with payment by the weight of logs hauled into the saw mill or station, and all loading and indeed unloading was done by hand.

The method of unloading was hazardous to say the least. The logs were loaded on bolsters laid across the truck’s platform, and at each end of the bolsters were vertical steel ‘pins’ to hold the load.

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Once the truck was loaded, a chain was thrown over the logs and a tensioning device, known as a ‘dwang’, tightened the load.

At the mill, the chain was loosened and a ‘slipping link’ was inserted into the chain links.

Now the ‘dwang’ re-tensioned the chain to allow a rod to be inserted through the ‘slipping link’. A length of light rope was attached to this rod. The load was now held together by the chain, and the two steel pins were taken away at the side of the truck from where the logs were to be unloaded. At this point everybody stood clear except the driver who gave a sharp yank on the rope and the slipping link opened the chain.

This was described as ‘bursting the load’ and that is exactly what happened - the unsupported 12 tons of logs burst out and off the truck down on to the waiting set of skids that led them to the saw mill bench.

This was the accepted method of gravity unloading practiced for years. The Canadians speeded up the unloading of their huge trucks by by-passing the procedure of re-tensioning and

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inserting the ‘slipping link’ at the unloading point, and driving all the way from Mar Lodge with this ‘slipping link’ already in place, so all that was holding the load was this ½ inch steel rod!

There were other hazards to log hauling.

The trucks were often old or ex-army, modern air brakes were years away and brake failures were frequent. The trucks were invariably overloaded and top heavy with logs. Overturning off forest tracks happened frequently and again the Canadians had more than their fair share of wrecked trucks.

The other deadly situation occurred when, for whatever reason, sudden braking, punctures or running off the road, the load slipped forward crushing the cab. We can recall several instances of this happening with associated cruel loss of life.

General forestry practice in the woods has changed. In my youth, woe betide a tractor driver who allowed a tree that he was ‘dragging’ to ‘skin’ a standing tree. In a thinning operation, all the trees to be removed were previously marked with an axe blaze, all other trees were to be left to grow.

Today, the harvester operator selects the heaviest trees in his rush for tonnage. In earlier years, after the trees were extracted, all the discarded branches were gathered up into neat heaps that were later burnt.

Nowadays, after timber operations, the woods, regretfully, resemble a First World War battlefield. The Somme comes to mind. All the natural drainage and ditches are disrupted causing water to run down the deep ruts made by the forwarders. The waste is incredible, especially in spruce woods, and the damage to the flora and fauna simply criminal. Woods are reduced to waste land for years!

However, time moves on and economics drives forestry increasingly into short-term exploitation rather than a sustainable industry.

I am just happy to have lived through earlier eras and to be able to recall memories of a time when you could enjoy the old natural forests. In my Forestry Commission days, I could never get enough of the Black Wood on Loch Rannoch with

its old pines, while over the hill in Glen Lyon at Meggernie there was another stand of ancient pine growing along with the original European larch trees that Col. Menzies had brought over from the Tyrol in the early 1700s. It was more than a privilege to work in such an environment, and to be actually paid for it, was a bonus.

But back to Royal Deeside. The largest remaining areas of native pine are in Glentanar, Ballochbuie, on Balmoral estate, and the Mar woodlands scattered on the banks of the tributaries of the River Dee as they come off the high Cairngorms. Our little company, Castle Plant (Deeside) Ltd., has been privileged to have been allowed to work in all three forests, constructing and repairing forest roads, all the time respecting nature and almost manicuring the landscape to leave the work as natural looking as possible.

There are small pockets of original native pine left throughout Upper Deeside, often to be found on the summits of hills where it was simply too much trouble for loggers to extract.

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A short, sharp climb from Ballater is the summit of Craigendarroch hill.

You pass through ancient shrub oak for a start, before climbing through a belt of birch trees, which in winter, flaunt bark of the purest silver that I know. On the top of the hill you find yourself in a primeval world, 650 feet above the bustle of Ballater and you could be back 4000 years in time, so untouched is this place. After the glaciers retreated, the melt water was trapped by a high rock barrier at the present day Cambus o’ May. The water damned back and the top of our Craigendarroch was a small island for thousands of years. Somehow, that aura hangs on and walking amongst the ancient, yet dwarf firs growing improbably out of solid granite, one can sense the antiquity and spirituality of a special place.

(Editor’s Note:- The above is an extract from Ian’s as yet unpublished book, “A History of Forestry on Royal Deeside”).

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Spring was long in coming to Ballater this year. The village had a derelict air, as much of the community was scattered far and wide whilst properties dried out.

The Victoria Hall played host to several heated community meetings as we all came to terms with the trail of devastation, tried to understand what had happened and, feeling curiously vulnerable, looked for reassurance.

Gradually however, the green shoots of recovery spring up with every shop opened and every house becoming a home again. It will still take some time, but the future is now much brighter, and indeed there have been many opportunities to make improvements.

Resilience Plan As ever, our community has taken charge, learning from the past, and uniting to pull together a Resilience Plan which will make sensible preparations should we be faced with any such emergency in the future.

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Victoria & Albert Halls

At the heart of these plans are our halls – the designated Emergency Rest Centre for the village and surrounding area. Better use can be made of our extensive facilities to ensure we can provide warm, dry shelter, hot food and drinks, and space for the emergency services to co-ordinate operations.

What we did learn was that a standby generator is an essential piece of equipment when there is a power outage and a hall full of displaced people!

Emergency Generator Having taken advice, we are now fundraising to ensure we have money set aside which we expect to be matched by other agencies and external sources – in the region of £50k will be required.

The generosity of many groups and individuals has been stunning – Sir Andrew Walker-Okeover set the ball rolling with a donation of £2,500, the Totico dance and raffle raised £2,391, and a bucket collection at Pittodrie, courtesy of Aberdeen Football Club, undertaken by twelve willing helpers from members of Ballater Probus Club, Ballater Football Club and Aboyne & Upper Deeside Rotary raised £689.03. Further events are planned.

Ongoing Maintenance

by Bell Macaulay Having commissioned extensive roof repairs with the aid of a donation from Ballater (RD) Ltd, we are still struggling with various leaks and staining. We need to be certain the building is watertight before the refurbishment team can proceed with the next phase of insulation and heating.

Fire Safety The upgrade of our system is now complete.

Ed Bushnell is looking at all the smaller issues highlighted in the Fire Risk Assessment such as consistent signage throughout the buildings – job done!

Events

We have a great programme of events coming up – Afternoon Tea at the Albert brings a variety of music from old friend Alastair Savage, to a woodwind quartet and ukulele player from the International Youth Festival, and the Glasgow School of Art Choir. We also have ceilidhs, and Frieda Morrison in Concert, rounding off the year with a Hogmanay party!

Website, Information & Bookings

Please don’t forget to complete a booking form if you wish to use the halls. Check what is available on www.victoriaandalberthalls.co.uk and look in the calendar. We are certainly getting busier!

Membership

We need your support – it costs nothing, but demonstrates that the Halls play an important part in community life. For further information or to obtain Membership Registration Forms call/leave message for Janet Riddler at 013397 55308 or email: membership@victoriaandalberthalls.co.uk

Keeping the Halls in Good Order

Karen and Frances continue to do an excellent job, and the Halls look and smell clean and shining! Please help by leaving rooms as you find them.

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Trustee Dr Doug Glass has responsibility for maintenance issues.

Don’t forget we rely on users to tell us when problems arise - please record any 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.

FINALLY! Summer is here, and there is

every reason to be optimistic about the future. Join us and enjoy all the action whether it be ceilidhs, afternoon teas or purple ducks!

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

The Duck Festival in full flow in May. Get ready to do it all again on August 14th!

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Keeping Council ...with Geva Blackett

In the middle of April I brought Aberdeenshire Council Co-Leaders Cllr Richard Thomson and Cllr Martin Kitts-Hays back to Ballater for their fourth visit since Hogmanay to view recovery progress. They were very impressed with the clear up at the caravan park and it is really great news that the site will be opening for tourers at roughly the same time as this magazine comes out - and of course that protects the warden’s job.

Certainly on the business side of things - and leaving McEwens of Perth aside for a moment - things in Ballater are definitely looking up at the bottom end of the village.

Walking round some of the residential streets however told the Leaders a very different story still, and they were clearly quite taken aback at how many houses are still being dried out.

The mess on the grass on the OTHER side of the fire station (watch out for glass if you are walking a dog or have children) and the hole by the riverbank have been reported to the Director of Infrastructure Services. If

anyone still has housing concerns - please let me know. You will not be the only ones unfortunately

Solicitors Notaries Public Estate Agents Have pleasure in announcing the appointment of Mary-Jay Morton as full time Solicitor in their Ballater office.

Providing a comprehensive range of Legal Services: • • • •

Estate Agency - Residential & Commercial Conveyancing Leasing - Wills & Executries - Powers of Attorney Matrimonial - Separation & Divorce - Family related issues Commercial litigation - Contractual disputes Employment related matters

To make an appointment please call into our newly refurbished office at 4 Bridge Street, Ballater or call 013397 54036 or 07799285201 Email: ballater@laurieandco.co.uk or Mary-Jay@laurieandco.co.uk

www.laurieandco.co.uk

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as I have several other constituents with problems. As always, I am here to help.

The closure of McEwens came as a huge shock to everyone and is certainly not what Ballater wants right now. Tourists want to buy locally made, good quality souvenirs - not just the usual tat that can be bought world-wide. Royal Deeside in particular has some amazingly creative people who don’t necessarily have the wherewithal to set up their own shop. With so many empty shops I am hoping there might be an opportunity somewhere for a ‘Made in Marr’ pop up venture to allow artistic and creative people to sell their wares. Who knows what business empire could spring from something like this? The Officers in the Council I have spoken to are supportive, as are the leadership so let’s hope something can be done.

The new Destination Management Organisation, VisitAberdeenshire, has now been launched but with flights into Aberdeen down (and they are up in Glasgow and Edinburgh) we need to work hard and fast to make sure Royal Deeside

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makes its voice heard to tourists. Frankly I am not particularly inspired by what VisitAberdeenshire has to say about Royal Deeside on its web page - which is basically the VisitAberdeen site with a name change. I am sure it WILL come right as the new organisation settles down, but we need to make absolutely certain we are ahead of the game here for next year’s season. Working with the Ballater Business Association, I am trying to get funding to hire some PR help for a Ballater (in particular) project and to assist businesses to flourish, which is fundamental to Ballater’s future as a sustainable community. The project will provide a brand and media strategy for the area to combat any negative perceptions which now exist due to the recent floods. After all, we have such a great story to tell here with unrivalled scenery, spectacular and diverse wildlife, castles, culture, fishing, shooting, history, Royals, walking, cycling, golf, a wonderful monthly market… the list is endless and it’s all still here!

The Station rebuild progresses - perhaps

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not as fast as many would like, but again the Council leadership is aware of just how important this iconic building is to Ballater. Many of you will have seen the concept for the whole area on display in the Halls recently. I think we will end up with something very special and hopefully the funding can be found to do up the whole area which will be extremely smart!

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need help - either by email cllr.g.blackett@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or phone 013397 41541 or even via my Facebook page - Councillor Geva Blackett where you can also find lots of information and news about the council and my work.

Let’s hope this summer is a good one!

...and Katrina A. Farquhar At the end of March, a group have commenced their new season and the caravan of staff members were invited to site is coming together and looking great, ready represent their teams at a reception hosted by for touring vans which is fantastic.

The Provost of Aberdeenshire to recognise the The support and determination from local incredible work of staff during and after Storm businesses remaining open throughout this Frank. The Provost, the Chief Executive and the traumatic time has been incredible. It was heartCo-leaders spoke highly of the efforts of all staff breaking to learn McEwens were closing but it whilst presentations were given from a number of is good to see Brook Taverner have reopened the teams closely involved. already on part of the site. It just shows what The group also heard from those who helped a truly inspirational place Ballater is. A real out at rest centres, supported vulnerable people community - all looking out for one another. and looked after our infrastructure.

It has made me very proud to be involved with Jim Savege, Chief Executive, asked the the village and am looking forward to it bouncing audience to extend his thanks to the wider teams back stronger and more resilient than ever. Well who provided support so, on that note, a further done Ballater!! thank you for the outstanding efforts.

The Stage coach bus service will run again to Things have certainly been improving in the Blairgowrie in the school summer holidays from village and it is great to see the positive stories the 6th July until the 18th August. media have started publishing.

The opening of the Sheridan’s    shop has acted as a catalyst   and it’s quite exciting to see  more shops opening. Brakeley   Gift Shop, Demilo Salon,     and Davidsons the Chemist  won’t be long! Brown Sugar  and Rock Salt will not be far     behind!!    The Golf Club is looking great with 18 holes, the bar and catering open for business    and some great offers to take   advantage of. Ballater Bowlers    

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What’s On in Royal Deeside?

A Hilton Grand Vacations Club at Craigendarroch Update

In the last few years, we have been exploring new initiatives to help further promote to our many residents, activities taking place throughout Ballater and the surrounding area. With 99 timeshare lodges situated across the estate and 32 vacation club suites within the main building, here at Hilton Grand Vacations Club at Craigendarroch, we have an average of over 30,000 residents visiting our resort every year.

As you can imagine our guests are interested in a wide variety of activities to fill their time. Most

of them return year on year, and any changes or new activities to explore are always welcomed with great enthusiasm. With the introduction of the club suites in 2013, more and more residents are discovering Royal Deeside for the very first time.

Last summer we introduced a new notice board entitled ‘What’s On in Deeside’ that you may have spotted at our main Country Club entrance. We regularly populate this with as much local area information as we can possibly find, including any posters we have been given that support these events. As space is at a premium, especially during the busy holiday season, we have created a monthly ‘What’s On’ event list, so nothing is missed. This offers a brief outline of basic

event details, how to book or purchase tickets, and of course where to find out more. It has become a valuable resource when helping our residents plan their stay with us, is also displayed at our Country Club entrance, and is circulated and discussed at our weekly Resort Welcome meetings which take place for residents every Monday. Should you have any event information or posters that you would like included where possible, please do email to me your event information at alea. masson@hilton.com or drop this off at our main resort reception marked for my attention.

Event information, PDF posters and event leaflets should you have them, are always welcome, and greatly assist our ability to showcase this wonderful area to our guests.

Since March of this year, we also started taking small groups of team members from our resort departments, out of the business for a few hours at a time each week, to experience first-hand the many activities our residents can enjoy while staying with us. So far we have been out horseback riding and cycling; we’ve explored local markets, distilleries and castles; stopped in for some afternoon tea, archery and even learned about pedigree cattle farming! Details of our trips are always shared on our facebook page: www.facebook.com/craigendarroch and we refer our residents to this site for detailed information about the places we have visited. It is a wonderfully fun and interactive way to communicate with our guests, and has proven beneficial by creating conversations with our team while guests are enjoying their time with us in the resort. Thank you to those who have supported our efforts so far. The more we support and share our activities and events the greater profile we can all achieve for the whole area.

As the busy summer months commence, we look forward to exploring more great locations and meeting even more members of the community.

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Ballater Schoolday Memories

My days at Ballater School were limited from 1940 – 1943. I was actually born in Ballater but we lived in Aberdeen after that, moving only to Ballater again in the summer of 1940 which meant that I went straight into the Secondary part of Ballater School. We lived then in Heath Cottage in Viewfield Road.

The Headmaster was Mr Chisholm, very much a disciplinarian in the style of Captain Mainwaring of Dad’s Army! My class at school was very cosmopolitan, as one classmate was a very clever German boy, Hans Kruger, a refugee under the Kindertransport scheme to assist those fleeing persecution under the Nazi regime to get out of Germany. He lived with two ladies not far from the cinema in Ballater. Another clever classmate was the daughter of the headmaster of the Belgian School in Braemar, who was a colourful character and who wore earrings in her pierced ears which were definitely not approved of by Mr Chisholm! The pupils at this school had

been evacuated from Belgium prior to the occupation of that country in 1940. As members of the Girl Guides, we often had joint meetings with the Belgian Girl Guides. Evacuees from other parts of Britain were also sent to Ballater and I remember some evacuees being found swimming in Ballater’s water reservoir at the Foot o’ Gairn.

We also had air raid evacuees from the Aberdeen High School for Girls Boarding School who stayed in the Glenaden Hotel. One of our classmates was very deaf and had a battery driven hearing aid which often wasn’t switched on and so many a geometry theorem had to be explained again to her and expounded patiently by Mr Chisholm, much to the benefit of the whole class, myself included.

We all had been issued with Identity Cards and gasmasks which had to be taken everywhere we went in their cloth covers with carrying slings.

Fortunately they were never actually needed but we had to occasionally practice putting them on and keeping them on for a short while in class which

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their seats to get a comfortable position. The film reel had a habit if breaking down just at the most exciting or emotional moments, with tears often obvious when the lights went up briefly! We were able to see all the big film stars of the time, but for the local boys, the cowboy and Indian films had a great following. The boys and sometimes girls, noisily encouraged the cavalry to come to the rescue! Happy days.

Driving up past Tullich towards Ballater this summer while on holiday from the south of England, I remarked to my son that the hills surrounding Ballater and district now look exactly as they had in the early 1940s before the Canadian Lumberjacks brought all the trees down in one fell swoop . This brought back memories of the Newfoundland Lumberjacks who arrived and started denuding Craig Coillach. We children were encouraged to go and collect mature pinecones from which the seeds would be collected.

There was a tree nursery down in Strachan and

We hope to be open again for the summer season.

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

ROWAN JEWELLERY

I clearly recall wasn’t a nice experience. As time passed, new filters were attached to them as the use of new gases was foreseen. My brother David was born in February 1941 and he was given a mask that also covered the top part of his body. Thankfully it never had to be worn in earnest.

In those days boys and girls didn’t share the space in the playground. We were strictly segregated and had a playground for boys and a different one for girls which was common to all schools in those days.

Every morning at ‘Playtime’ we were given our allotted 1/3 of a pint of milk in a bottle having a waxed piece of card for a bottle top into which a hole was punched for the paper straw to be inserted into. One winter instead of milk, or perhaps as well as, we were given Horlicks from the Domestic Science Kitchen, but it wasn’t continued for long as it was known as ‘Dish Water’!

Those of us who did not take Domestic Science as a subject were given a crash-course of one term in the subject before we left Ballater school to go on to Banchory Secondary School where the same thing happened at the end of 6th Year there.

Quite a lot was done by the school to help the War Effort. Waste paper was collected every week despite the newspapers at the time being very small and the paper of very poor quality. Another thing we collected in season was rose-hips which were sent away, made into Rose-hip Syrup and given to Baby Clinics for mothers with babies and young children as a healthy alternative to orange juice.

Every Christmas there was a School Party to which the local dignitaries were invited and the Ballater Secondary School Pupils entertained everyone with well-rehearsed items such as songs, pieces of poetry and Scottish Country Dancing.

Some party games were also played, but on the whole it was a rather sedate occasion.

Outside of School we had the little cinema, which was a real going concern and was open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and twice on Saturdays.

Children sat down at the front wriggling down in

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

We be open again for the The hope shop istonow dry and refurbishing summer season. work will commence shortly.

Enquiries to 07725 222762

60

when I was a Ballater Girl Guide I helped weed the never-ending rows of young seedlings which I well remember was a very prickly job!

At Christmas the lumberjacks invited all the schoolchildren up to the Lumberjacks’ Camp for a party. We were fed “cake and cookies” and this fare was pure luxury to all of us children then in Ballater.

After being entertained by them we were shepherded into their big lorries and taken safely home again.

The Barracks in Ballater wasn’t big enough to hold all the troops sent up there, so Monaltrie House was requisitioned and then bell tents appeared to house all the troops. Then Nissan huts went up at the Ballater end of Monaltrie Drive.

Mules were kept in stables at the southern foot of Glenmuick Road.

I remember my grandmother surreptitiously gathering the fungi which accumulated on the heaps of horse manure by the roadside, then testing them at home with a silver spoon to establish

whether or not they were poisonous.

We had the ‘Black-out‘ in Ballater when the edges of the pavements were painted white to help prevent accidents to the pedestrians but in that era most children were not allowed out to play after dark anyway.

Rationing was in full swing in Ballater during the 1940s but I can’t honestly say that we ever seemed to go hungry and in retrospect we had a very sensible healthy diet although the teenage boys probably needed a bit more protein than they were able to get. Our Christmas food during the War was usually a hen that had gone off ‘the lay’ but which had far more flavour than today’s oven ready chickens! It was boiled with plenty of vegetables to first make a very tasty broth and then filled with oatmeal stuffing to make the main course. If we were lucky and had dried fruit in the house, then we had a clootie dumpling with silver charms and sixpences in it .

I remember that ration book points were paid for tinned goods and biscuits were sold loose in tins with glass lids.

Keeping Vulnerable People Safe from Fire A new referral process – aimed at keeping frail and vulnerable people safe from fire – has been developed by Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and NHS Grampian.

Recognising that elderly and vulnerable people are being visited by health care professionals on a daily basis, and understanding that these people are at greater risk from fire and may not even have working smoke alarms, the pathway guides NHS staff through the potential risk factors; if they have clients who meet these criteria they can provide information about the free Home Fire Safety Visits or even refer them for a visit directly.

Firefighters routinely provide advice and support to residents to help them keep their homes fire safe, with SFRS crews available to conduct free home fire safety visits in every community.

Taking only around 20 minutes to complete, the

61

short visits are always arranged for a time that suits the householder and provide local crews with the chance to point out hazards many people are unaware often exist within homes.

The firefighters check to ensure the property is protected by working smoke alarms and where these are needed will even provide and install them free of charge. Where a person could benefit from additional support or access to a particular service, such as the specialist alarms for people with hearing impairment, this can also be arranged.

Free home fire safety visits can be arranged by calling SFRS on the freephone number 0800 073 1999, texting ‘FIRE’ to 80800 or completing a form at www.firescotland.gov.uk.

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Advertisers’ Index Alexandra Hotel Allan Milne Joiner Alpine Tree Care B.W. Book Keeping Ballater Farmers’ Market Balmoral Brakeley Gift Room Brian Smith Funeral Services Ltd Cairngorm Crafts Carnelian Celicall Crafts Classic Abode Garden Services C.S.M. Aerials C.S.M. Handyman Cordiners D P Opticians Davidsons Chemists Deeside Inn Deeside Tree Care Drummond Enterprises Edward J Emslie Flame Boiler Services Forbes Duguid Fraser & Mulligan Glenalmond Beauty Box Glen Lui Hotel H. M. Sheridan Ltd

38 44 13 19 11 2 55 61 60 31 50 58 48 16 49 25 25 63 18 46 19 40 22 36 13 37 28

Highland Yurts 47 Ian Roger Architects 26 India On The Green 30 Keiller Brasserie 57 Laurie & Company 53 Marie Chapman 51 McCue & Porter 52 McKay & Innes Funeral Directors 41 Mckenzie Print 34 Morven Veterinary Centre 15 Myriad Pro 39 Phoenix Chip Shop 36 Riverside Cottage Cafe 20/21 Rowan Jewellery 59 Roy Mitchell 15 Shanghai Takeaway 54 Speedwell Framing 22 Stephen Clark (SRC) 10 The Hair Loft 45 The Lochnagar 23 The McEwan Gallery 31 The Oven Valet 51 The Silver Thistle 26 Tornaveen Plumbing 54 Total Building Services 42 Wee Jim Firewood/Landscapes 17

Eagle copy & advertising deadlines 2016/17 issue autumn winter spring summer

deadline Aug 1st Nov 1st Feb 1st May 1st

publication mid September early December early March early June

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.

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by the fire -

£12 per person

Victoria Road, Ballater Telephone us on

01339 755 413

deeside@crerarhotels.com

Find us on

WWW.CRERARHOTELS.COM/DEESIDE *Offer subject to availability and expires 31st July 2016. Offer excludes ‘Grills’.

“We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep.”

William Shakespeare, The Tempest

Fiona Glennie with her son, Owen, at the Ballater Highland Games in 2015. By kind permission.

The Ballater & Crathie Eagle is made possible by:

Advertising, Donations, Sponsorship, Fundraising, “Awards for All” Lottery funding, and Cairngorms Leader + European Funding.

Thank you to everyone who supports us.

We deliver FREE from Crathie to Cambus O’May. Thanks to Friends of the Eagle for delivering to some outlying areas.