Ballater & Crathie Eagle, Issue 59, Autumn 2010 by Faye Swan

Ballater & crathie Community magazine no. 59 autumn 2010

Cartoon ‘Eagle & Robin’ by Luke Strachan of Crathie

Rob Bain, sadly missed page 35, photo Ian Murray jnr

Exchange Students Rehearsing in the Halls Page 27

The Ballater & Crathie Eagle is made possible by:

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by Cyril Puddicombe

Isobel Craigie Parachute Jump page 28

I retired early as I was working at silly o’clock the next morning, and had gently fallen asleep. Bliss!! Suddenly I heard the unmistakeable Willow meow – he’s very good at being loud since we live on the first floor and attic and it’s the only way to grab our attention that he wants in. Rousing myself to something vaguely resembling consciousness, I donned my dressing gown and slippers and went down to the kitchen. There my poor daughter was bemusedly trying to administer to his needs, which were clearly to stuff himself with food, purr, meow and be vigorously petted all at the same time. She’d heard him outside not long after I went to bed, and he’d apparently spent the last hour being demanding in the way that only he can. I checked him over. Thin, yes. Ticks, many. Ears, paws and eyes fine, but doubtless very wormy. We routed out the tick hook and removed quite a few of the blighters, and eventually managed to get the worming liquid

on the back of his neck. It’s the only way we can do it, as Willow has an incredibly accurate sense of smell when it comes to medicine. Worming tablets in tuna elicits a sniff, disdainful glare and accusatory meows. The vet once even gave me an oxo-cube-like wormer, telling me that all cats like the taste of that one. I received the “And just what do you think this is? Food?” glower, instantly followed by a march to his food cupboard accompanied by much pathetic meowing, instilling in me a huge dose of guilt unrivalled since my babes were wee. At least children generally grow up eventually learning verbal communication along the way. Willow is now middle aged in feline terms and I swear his meows are becoming grumpier. Ah well, I guess he’s in good company… I trust you will all be in good company this autumn, and don’t feel too sad that the long, if not hot, summer days are over…

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Pottering About . . . by Stella Potter

Well, some of the garden has come along an absolute treat this summer, with the kale in particular becoming a firm favourite. But the parsnips were a disaster. Loads of seedlings came up, but I find it really hard to differentiate between the crop I want and the weeds. By the time I could identify them, the weeds had grown so much faster than the crop, and had clearly stifled it with their considerable weed-dom. Some of the weeds have been fabulous though – the tall fluffy pink poppies especially pleasing me. I had also left a few leeks in the ground, and have been delightedly watching them grow huge flower heads that look grand. I wonder if the flowers are edible? I’m also well chuffed that my garlic has done so well, now that I know to plant

C.S.M. Handyman J.Lanigan All the little jobs you can’t get any1 to do

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

Strathgirnoc Farmhouse South Deeside Road Ballater Tel. 013397 56227 Mobile 07506951506 Email: C-S-M_Aerials@hotmail.co.uk

Scottish grown cloves, as the lot have grown beautifully. I’ll be lifting them soon, having a go at plaiting them together to dry, then possibly routing out a beret and hanging them over my bicycle handlebars – voila! This autumn I’ll plant far more than I did experimentally last year in an attempt to provide enough for us all year. Although that may be most of the garden! And if anyone complains I smell of garlic, the answer is clearly that they are not eating enough of this wonderful food! Our Humanist forum meet-up in Ballater earlier this year was excellent. It was a delight to spend some good time with a Canadian member, who brought glorious weather with her, and a treat to welcome old and new friends to our wee part of the world. We are an eclectic lot, from 30s to 70s, and we are all lively, opinionated and can talk for Scotland, just as we do on the forum. I look forward to our next meet-up – we are even thinking of having one in the USA next year… watch this space… Long term readers of my ramblings will doubtless remember me writing about our halfwildcat, Willow. There has been much speculation over the years as to where he goes for the summer, as generally he has disappeared in spring, returning around October, fit and healthy. Not so last year, when he returned on Games Day looking very thin, miserable, scraggy, and infested. We de-everythinged him, fed him well, and he recovered back to his former glory in a few weeks. So this year I wondered whether he’d even go off on his summer excursion. In early June he duly did, and so I didn’t really expect to see him until at least Games Day. In mid July we had the pleasure of my eldest staying for a while. One evening

Inside Your Autumn Eagle:

The war Issue! Alongside your usual local news and articles we feature some fascinating reminiscences of the Second World War.

Diary

The dates you need: 4-5

Pegasus Bridge by Margaret Ramsey: 40

B&CCC

Community Council report: 16

The Crathie Pages

Local Groups: Ballater Boules: 9 Ballater Indoor Bowling Club: 9 Ballater Royal Horticultural Society: 9 Ballater (Royal Deeside) Ltd: 12 Deeside Carers: 24

School, Balmoral and more... 35-37

Library: 11

Pottering About

Rotary: 14

the return of Willow...again!: 58

Ranger Guided Walks Land Rovers, Bikes & Feet: 25

A Marathon Success by Wayne Yule: 32

SWRI: 10 Upper Deeside Art Society: 10 Upper Deeside Music: 8 Victoria & Albert Halls: 18

Plus....

The Royal Guard 2010 by Major Graeme Wearmouth: 28

The Thin Blue Line by Cyril Puddicombe: 44

Korean War by Mike Franklin: 54

Summertime by Mary Munro: 51

The Butcher’s Loon

Adult Learning Courses: 23 Hola & Adios - Exchange Students: 27 BOVOF: 20 Police Page: 26 and much more....

All the ways YOU can contribute: 3

Episode 5, ‘A dook in the horse–trough’: 47

Advertising: Full page: £60; Half page: £30; Quarter page: £20; Eighth page: £10 Book and pay for 4 issues: series discount of 10% - copy can be changed each issue

Donations:

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

Eagle Eyes... Scottish Coins

by Sheila Sedgwick

September Wed 1 Sun 5 Wed 8 Sun 12 Mon 13 Tue 14 Wed 15 Thu 16 Tue 21 Wed 22 Thu 23 Sat 25 Sun 26 Mon 27 Wed 29 Thu 30

Ballater Business Assoc. Meeting at the Glen Lui Hotel at 7.30pm CLAN Upper Deeside Fashion Show at the Hilton Craigendarroch, Ballater – 7 for 7.30pm Ballater & District Men’s Probus Club – New Session starts Focus Craft Fair – Victoria Hall Ballater & Crathie Community Council Meeting in the Michael Sheridan Room at 7pm Deeside Carers Support Group – Black Faced Sheep Aboyne at 11am CLAN – Walking to Health Group – Meet Clan Centre at 1.30pm SWRI – Flowers & Fancies by Rhoda Ross – Michael Sheridan Room at 7.30pm Floral Art Group – “Floral Arranging on a Grand Scale” by Dr. Gordon Smith – Glenmuick Church at 7.30pm Deeside Sessions – Coilacriech, Ballater at 8pm Indoor Bowling Starts – Victoria Hall 2-4pm and 7-9pm Ballater Housing Partnership Meeting in BRD Office at 10.30am Deeside Sessions – Moorfield House Hotel, Braemar at 8pm Deeside Sessions – Loch Kinord Hotel at 8pm Balmoral Rangers – A Cycle Through Time – 10am-5pm Free Upper Deeside Music – Darroch Learg Ballater Post Office Closed CLAN Support Group – Second Chancers meet in Upstairs Lounge, Ballater Golf Club at 4pm for informal get together Deeside Sessions – Coilacriech, Ballater at 8pm

October Fri 1

UDAS Meeting at Aboyne Bowling Club at 2pm. Jane Milloy, Wild Life Artist

When you hand over some coins to pay for a purchase, do you ever think of how they came into use and why? When decimal currency came in, the names with historic associations were lost. We don’t know who first used metals for money. In Genesis we are told that Abraham weighed out to Ephron four hundred shekels of silver, the current money. The shekel was a Hebrew unit of weight. About 800A.D. the Emperor Charlemagne decreed that one pound of silver should be the base unit for money. He divided it into 240 units called derniers after the Roman unit denarius. The Latin for pound is libra so a pound was designated by £ and the d for a penny comes from denarius which was the main silver coin of the Roman Empire. The s for shilling comes from a different source. It may have come from the Anglo-Saxon scilling or it may be from schellingas, a Norse word for metal rings or ornaments that were used as currency. Coins had been in use in England for about a thousand years before Scotland had its own currency. That started about 100 years after the Norse minted in Ireland. Of course Scots came into contact with coins from Roman activities in England and some Anglo-Saxon and Viking coins circulated in Scotland. The first national coins appeared in the reign of David 1, 1124 – 53 after he captured Newcastle and Carlisle. The English king Stephen had a mint in Carlisle and the same moneyer made similar coins for David. Prince Henry, Earl of Northumberland also had pennies minted. There were only pennies until William the Lion, 1165 – 1214 had crescent shaped coins. Some had a Norman French inscription “Le roi Wilam” instead of

57 the Latin “Willelmus Rex”. Those coins continued but Alexander III, 1249 – 1266 had 13 mints. Towards the end of his reign he produced a Scots penny, inscribed Alexander “Die Gra” and on the reverse “Rex Scotorum” or “Escossie Rex.” Charlemagne had said a pound of silver should make 240 pennies but gradual debasement took over in every reign and by 1483 a pound of silver was making 1680 pennies! Debasement went further. Originally English and Scottish coins were of equal value but by 1390 Scottish coins were worth half their English counterparts. By 1603 when James VI of Scotland became James I of England Scottish coins were worth 1/12 of the English ones – i.e. a Scottish shilling was worth one English penny. A 1686 money table shows:2 pennies = 1 bodle 2 bodles = 1 plack or groat 1 1/2 placks = 1 bawbee. Prior to decimalisation in 1971 this was the Scots name for ½ penny 1 noble = 6s. 8p. 1 merk = 13s. 4p. £1 = 20s. 1guinea = 21s. Gold coins were issued first by David I showing the king in a ship holding a shield with a lion rampant. When James I became king of England he took not entirely successful steps to secure uniformity of weight and value. £12 Scots equalled £1 English. Inflation continued until the Act of Union in 1707 when a greater degree of equality was introduced. We all know how some English tourists are suspicious of Scots notes but at least a £ has the same value both sides of the border, even though it does not buy as much as it used to!

of October. It was then that all 56end changed once more.

One incident sums up the nature of the war at this point more than any other. Because of the lack of equipment and washing facilities the Argylls had given up their Balmoral caps in favour of simpler woollen head caps (no helmets, no kilts!). Thus it was when a company of Argylls unexpectedly met a large enemy force in the town of Sariwon they were mistaken for Russians. After hearty greetings and exchange of cigarettes the Scots’ cover was eventually blown. Fortunately they had the element of surprise and managed to escape the following skirmish unscathed. (Sandy’s comment “We couldn’t believe our luck.” is a masterpiece of understatement.) A short distance away, in fading light, the Argyll’s commander had driven through a convoy of 2000 enemy. Presumably the element of surprise worked there also. Things changed at the start of November

with the intervention of the Chinese. Suddenly the U.N. troops were heavily outnumbered and were steadily driven back. General McArthur’s claim that the war would be over by Christmas proved empty as the war intensified and dragged on until 1953. (The Argylls spent six months in Korea before leaving in April 1951.) The truce agreed separated the two countries permanently along the ‘38th parallel’, the same line as at the start of the war. Today this dividing line is still heavily fortified and the risk of war between the two countries remains high. Postscript: After a period of over forty years there was a brief re-union between the two men. Sandy was by then working as a ghillie for Invercauld Estate and he was asked to load for Mitchell during a grouse shoot. At the end of an enjoyable day when asked how they had done ‘Mad Mitch’ responded ‘Excellent, - this time the grouse weren’t shooting back at us!’

...so you know What’s Going On

Sat 2 Ballater Charitable Chiels Music Night – Victoria Hall at 8pm Mon 4 Deeside Carers Support Group – Victoria Tea Room, Dinnet at 11am Tue 12 CLAN Walking to Health Group. Meet Clan Centre at 1.30pm Fri 15 CLAN – Quiz Night – Braemar Golf Club at 7.30pm Tue 19 SCARF Advisory Session – Beaton/Craigie Room Wed 20 SWRI – Soap Craft by Kathleen Fraser – Michael Sheridan Room at 7.30pm Thu 21 Floral Art Group AGM and Social Evening – Michael Sheridan Room at 7.30pm Fri 22 CLAN – Ceilidh – Dinnet Hall at 8pm Wed 27 CLAN Support Group – Second Chancers meet in Upstairs Lounge, Ballater Golf Club at 4pm. Sue Townsend to talk on Homeopathy. Thu 28 Ballater Royal Horticultural Society AGM – Michael Sheridan Room at 7.30pm Sun 31 Upper Deeside Music – Darroch Learg

November Mon 1 Deeside Carers Support Group – Auld Kirk Ballater at 11am Tue 9 CLAN Walking to Health Group. Meet Clan Centre at 1.30pm Wed 17 SWRI – Forget-Me-Not Club by Heather Morrison – Michael Sheridan Room at 7.30pm Wed 24 Ballater History Night – Michael Sheridan Room Thu 25 Floral Art Group Christmas Charity Event – Victoria Hall at 7.30pm – Linda Soutar from Dunfermline

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Letter from our Editor

ey? on’t th ng d , d n ri ou ing ar hile others b edir Re m o a c e D imm , no ns w t keep people ose ies jus ppy occasio those people g to your r l a a s c r o e l v a Anni ind us of h emories for for bringin e words of conflict. Th m lt m rem nt fro ogies ns of gh th Some nt and difficu ake no apol agle, throu ith occasio ld so differe might w r t poigna ncerned. I m tion of the E l connected ived in a wo ow differen t time, l i l o h a c d e e , , e r s y s n e l e s e o e r i h i i r t p n at d th o on in ee anniversa s are printe their genera istan at the e grateful t i t n e t t r b e a n i r h a r t d o l f h o n u g em en ho Af tha fewer words and m ad it not be e troops in nt, and we s h i h t e a t l s u e p who om y, b een? Lik tart hout c f toda llater s ese a B ours o day ” have b ir duties wit f o e o hin th cieties our “t nt about th now. and so ntained wit ontained s b d e u l n w c they oth then a rious ual co aes is c b , the va ils are as us b committe ous consider st n m u them, t u a i u o t l r a c e e m f s d r o fo nd but ent here ep mation ities, a illage, he adv alls, w e With t ffering activ ortant infor do in our v & Albert H time. Do k ou i o p y t d d a m l n i i w r r a e i o , e o p up the In addition is a great d ng our Vict t place to s g and on h i n e n . i k r s page e 11. The iven to ma and pleasa t is happen proud. g ay on pag w has to be comfortable tion on wha lage can be an H I l a i o e v r n m o r e th tion a m atest info which l meet, clubs out for the omething of s an eye p to create l e can h rs, ade

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begun in June 1950 when troops from the north invaded the south. On 25th August 1950, the 1st Battalion Argyll and Sutherland regiment (the Argylls), which had been stationed in Hong Kong, was hurriedly moved to protect South Korea as part of a scratch 27th Brigade to support some tired and desperate American troops fighting under the U.N. banner. Despite being

Replacements wait to board the RAF Hastings. Sandy Thomson is the corporal 3rd from left.

poorly equipped the Argylls went into action immediately. (The 27th Brigade was under the control of the American First Cavalry Division and had to rely for much back-up – and even clothing – from the Americans.) The Argylls lost two men on 6th September but the advance of the communists was stopped and the strength of the U.N. forces steadily grew. On 23rd September the Argylls had one of the blackest days in the regiment’s history. Patrolling a long exposed section of the defensive ring they needed to take control of a hill (Hill 282) but encountered a large enemy force and an intense battle followed, during which they called for air support. Tragedy followed with the US Air Force Mustangs attacking the Argylls in what would now be called ‘Friendly Fire’. The Argyll’s force suffered 13 dead and over 70 injured during the course of the

fighting. Its leader, Major K. Muir, was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. Fortunately for the Argylls the enemy had also suffered heavily and there was a brief lull in the fighting. Replacements were urgently required and a few days later a Hastings transport aircraft carrying 38 troops with their equipment left RAF Lyneham. One of those on board was Corporal Thomson who had been serving with the Gordons in Germany. The Hastings took six days to reach Manila in the Philippines, with overnight stops at Malta, Cyprus, Karachi, Colombo and Singapore. The final stage to Korea was by sea in a very suspect boat. The reinforcements arrived just as the Allies were preparing to go onto the attack and on 4th October the troops were flown 150 miles north to begin an offensive just south of Seoul. So began a rapid northwards advance that took the troops to Chongju close to the Chinese border by the

The Korean War Recalled 60 years on

by Mike Franklin

On November 6 1950 Lieutenant Colin Campbell Mitchell of the 1st Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders led a party of four men across an exposed ridge in an unsuccessful effort to ‘take out’ an enemy machine gun which was firing on the ridge. One of the party was a young corporal who had recently been seconded from the Gordon Highlanders. In the view of the corporal, the attempt on the machine gun post was a brave but highly risky act. Just two days later the corporal was injured and then hospitalised in Japan – his war in Korea over. Some 16 years later Mitchell gained world-wide fame by leading the same battalion on a daring raid when it regained control of the Crater district th

of Aden, earning for himself the title of ‘Mad Mitch’. Both the officer and the corporal later had links with Ballater. Mitchell was Conservative MP for West Aberdeenshire (which included Ballater) from 1970 to 1974; and Corporal J. Thomson, i.e. Sandy Thomson, now lives here. At the time of writing this article urgent talks are taking place to try to avert the build up of tension between North and South Korea. This tension has been a constant feature of the politics of the two countries for the last 60 years. The Korean War (1950-53) is often considered as the first war of the nuclear era and was the first that involved frequent air battles between jet fighters. The war had

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How to contact our Representatives:

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Westminster: Sir Robert Smith MP Tel: 01330 820330, Fax: 01330 820338, e-mail: robert.smith.mp@parliament.uk Aberdeenshire Council: Peter Argyle: Tel: 013398 81180 e-mail: cllr.p.argyle@aberdeenshire.gov.uk Rosemary Bruce: Tel: 013398 89318 e-mail: cllr.r.bruce@aberdeenshire.gov.uk Marcus Humphrey: Tel: 013398 85332 email: cllr.m.humphrey@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

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Local Groups News

Ballater Halls Indoor Bowling Club by Sheila Rumbles

The winter season will commence on Tuesday 21st September 2010 in the Victoria Hall at the usual times of 2-4pm and 7-9pm and similarly on Wednesday 22nd September. Further sessions thereafter will be on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the same times. We look forward to seeing you then and any new members will be welcome.

Upper Deeside Music

There is nothing like an impending Victoria Week and the annual applications for funding for making organizations take a hard look at themselves and wonder how to improve their activities - especially after the hard winter and remembering our members struggling up

the A93 on foot because the pavements to the Darroch Learg were still under two feet of packed snow in March. The committee took a firm decision not to book performers for concerts from ‘over’ any hills for January to late March after that episode. However we hope that Dr Roger Williams will come near the beginning of the year and we shall collect telephone numbers so that if his access is possible he will come when weather permits. Ivan Ilic will return to the Darroch Learg piano on September 26th during his tour in Scotland. Allan Neave, the Glasgow Royal College guitarist, is to play for us on October 31st and will give an open workshop on November 1st. Please contact Jane Angus (56260) by the middle of October if you wish to be present, when we can confirm the venue. On December 5th Philip Highman gives a cello recital accompanied by Simon Lane in the Darroch Learg and we hope some of the young cellists who came to the Amici Cello Trio workshop might find it interesting. We still hope we may see these lively young ladies again and find them as stimulating and exhilarating in the primary schools as they were to the gathered young cellists of Crathie, Tarland, Ballater and Aboyne. A survey is in progress to learn more about preferences and I am grateful to people who can lead us on this. We have not had any suitable offers from the International Youth Festival this year but contact has been made and we hope that we may enjoy more evenings like those with Kay Ritchie and Petra Paskova – stimulating young people of professional ability who took us to hear interesting new and enjoyable music with their various instruments – as well as the superb renaissance singing by Cantiones Sacre.

roses an even tore some o’ the young, green leaves fae the trees, bit ye jist adapted yer days an pleitered aboot in yer wellies – it niver pit ye up or doon. I aften think o’ a secret hideyhole in oor gairden. On a sunny day, I eased tae climb the aipple tree, syne lay oot an auld blunket on the corrugated shed reef, an lie there wi my books tae catch the sun’s rays. Mam would come oot o’ the hoose tae cry me in for some jobbie or anither, bit, gin ye held yer breath in yer briest an kept yer heid doon, ye were oot o’ sicht, an she’d tut her wey inside, mutterin darkly aboot “lazy limmers o’ quines nooadays!” Simmer months were shortsome wi visitors, tourists, sodgers an pipe bands in the Barracks, Gala Week wi its fun an games an the Royals comin aff the train for their simmer holiday at Balmoral. As bairns, we niver gied them muckle thocht – they were jist posh fowk that bade in the Castle up the road, fowk fa likit tae wanner the hills aifter the grouse an deer or staun in the cauld rushes o’ the Dee for the sake o’ a silver salmon or twa. We could think o’ better ploys, bit a’body tae their ain! Mam hid tae work in the simmer, sae I aften hid tae trail my wee sister on mony o’ oor “expeditions”, bit she wis hardy an wid toddle on ahin us aulder anes. I wis her big sister an, altho’ files I thocht her a pest, we a lookit oot for her. There wis jist aince I wis black-affrontit. She pit her heid throwe the railins at Monaltrie Hotel ae day, syne couldna get it back oot! Me an my friens ruggit an pulled, Sheila bawlin her heid aff, till ane o’ the loons ran doon oor lanie for Faither. He cam wi’ a tub o’ axle grease, an seen Sheila’s peer, battered heid slid back oot, still attached tae her shooders, bit wi axle grease flattenin her hair tae her heid. It wis a gey sotter, bit she wis nane the worse, but I div myne bein gey affrontit, for a gweed bourach o’ fowk hid

gaithered roon aboot, some gien advice an some jist seekin tae calm the bawlin bairn. Ae gypit mannie even suggested getting a hack-saw tae cut throwe the bars – Sheila bawled like a stickit bull at thon, for she hid visions o’ gaen throwe life wi black railins jammed roon her lugs! I bore the brunt o’ her escapade, for Faither gied me sic an o’ergaen for nae keeping an eagle ee on my sister. Simmers cam an went – they seemed tae flit awa faister ilka year an seen it wis time tae get roadit aince mair for the squeel, an sae thon lang wiks o’ simmer freedom becam bit a memory, till the next year. We micht nae hid a deal o’ siller tae throw aboot, bit maist o’ us that grew up in Ballater look back noo, an think we were blessed wi something better than siller – an untainted childhood fan we could flee as free as thon swallas that dived an wheeled o’er the reefs o’ the toon!

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doon, open-moo’ed wi the 52skirled sheer freedom o’ twa wheels birlin ye doon a brae? There wis aye ploys tae keep us oot in the lang fore-nichts – tennis at the Courts, Rounders, Kick-the-Can, Hide-anSeek, dens tae be made up the hill, bandies tae catch in the shallas o’ the Dee, trees tae climb and hills tae explore. We niver nott Adventure Playgrounds, Summer Clubs or Theme Parks, for it wis a here at oor feet. We focht wi friens, an neist day, jist fell in wi them again – a the sweeter for the makin-up, cos bairns dinna haud up spite as muckle as aulder fowk. An oh! – thon joyous feelin in yer breist fan the last aifterneen bell rang for the lang, simmer holidays. Ye could dump yer bag o’ foosty books in the Glory Hole an lay by yer squeel claes. Scuddlin claes an aften bare feet in the heat o’ the day, fan files even the tar melted tae

a bubblin, toffee blackness, gared yer skin get thon healthy broon. Mindye, I can still fun the smell o’ thon pink Calomine lotion Mam wid slaither on yer tender, sun-brunt shooders or put on a peelin nose. It fair cooled the heat, bit eased tae flake aff in pink skelfs! We near a hid scabs an scurls on legs an knees wi fa’in aff bikes an cairties or rumblin aboot in the wids amun the bracken, nettles an scratchin undergrowth o’ mid-summer. “Freedom” wis oor war-cry, for naebody wis held in aboot an wrappit in cotton-wool. Nae till the sun sank ahin Lochnagar did ye trail hame tae yer bed, files jist lyin there, watchin in the fadin licht oot the open windae, the swallas swoop tae scoop up their prey. It wisna a sun an heat, for it is the NorthEast o’ Scotland! Ye tend tae forget the coorse days, for there were times o’ stair-rod rain an batterin wins that blauded Mam’s peonies an

Ballater Boules - Why Not Join Us? by John Holley

The next season of the Ballater Boules Challenge will commence on Sunday 31st October 2010 at 10.30am and will run fortnightly through to early April 2011 meeting at The Pavilion, Monaltrie Park. This will be the beginning of our sixth season following five extremely successful previous ones. The success was certainly unexpected after a mere thought back in 2005 turned into the interest and attendances that we have experienced during the past few years. The game of boules, especially the Ballater version, is extremely easy and not too strenuous, - anyone can play it. Our main ingredients are fun, friendship, and fresh air, along with some gentle competition. No experience or equipment required, just wrap up warm. Tea and coffee are available throughout our gatherings. Why not experience a couple of fun hours with us on alternate Sunday mornings throughout the winter months? You won’t regret it, - a warm welcome awaits you. The gathering dates will be displayed in the window of Cassie’s Emporium in Bridge Street and on our web site www.ballaterboules. webs.com from early October. In the meantime if you want further information please email ballaterboules@gmail.com

Ballater RHS

by Mairi Burgess

The Horticultural Society members are now looking forward to the AGM and the new schedule for the long winter months. We are all fervently hoping, and some may even be praying, that we have a kinder winter for our gardens this time. Many gardens still bear the scars from all the damage sustained last winter. Some of us are amazed at how well some tender plants have survived, whilst

the weight of snow broke many large limbs of well established trees. Our neighbours at Tillypronie suffered great damage to their long established pond area, losing large trees, rhododendrons and pathways. This kind of damage will take a long time to repair, and in such a lovely garden is disappointing for visitors as well as gardeners. The Society’s programme for 2010/11 is almost complete and includes Janice Kennedy telling us all about Bees in the garden and their many tasks and benefits to all gardeners. Anyone interested in Butterflies will be keen to attend a Spring meeting to learn more from a very knowledgeable local Ranger. Many more interesting topics are planned and will be in the new syllabus which will be available at the AGM on 28th October 2010. Everyone is welcome to attend the AGM and there will be a speaker after the business meeting. We look forward to warmly welcoming new members along with our regulars.

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SWRI

by Frances Johnstone

On Wednesday 2nd June, it was a full bus load of SWRI members that left Ballater in beautiful sunshine and headed over the Cairn o’ Mount to Glen Esk. They were headed for the “Retreat Centre” where they enjoyed lunch before visiting the excellent museum and where much reminiscing went on. The return journey was by way of Glenshee, where lots of deer were on view. The weather had stayed perfect and an enjoyable day was had by all. Members are now looking forward to the new 2010/11 session which starts on Wednesday 15th September, when a varied programme will take place, hopefully with something of interest for everyone. All are welcome. Later on this year, Ballater SWRI has entered a team to take part in the Aberdeen-

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shire wide competition for “Variations on a Theme”, which this year is “Friendship”. We wish the team luck in their endeavours.

Upper Deeside Art Society by Moira Mackenzie

Upper Deeside Art Society has had it’s most successful ever 4 month Art Exhibition at Balmoral, and by now visitors and locals alike will have enjoyed our ever popular Annual August Ballater 2010 Exhibition in the Victoria Hall. Our Society continues to grow, and we will be delighted to hear from anyone in the area from Banchory up to Braemar and over to Upper Donside who would like more details about us before joining the Society. We welcome people who may not themselves necessarily paint, but who do have an interest and appreciation in art related subjects as well as those who actively paint. Have a chat about us with our President Ruth Powell on 013398 86369. Our Winter Programme begins on Friday 1st October at 2-4pm in the Aboyne Bowling Club hall when our well known and very popular ‘Piper’ columnist and Wildlife Artist Jane Milloy will give a talk and demonstration on her Wildlife work . We have a talk/ demonstration nearly every month in Winter in the same venue in Aboyne by different Artists on a variety of topics including Textile Art, the Art of Photography, Pastel Art, Acrylic Art, the Art of Miniature Painting and the History of Art and we very warmly welcome both UDAS members and non- members to these gatherings. Cost to non-members is £3 including Coffee/Tea and a biscuit. We sincerely appreciate all the Eagle readers who support and encourage our Exhibiting Members each year by visiting our Exhibitions both in Balmoral Stables and in the Victoria Hall in Ballater. Thank you all.

Summer time – An the Livin is easy!

by Mary Munro

Winter’s trauchles o’ snaw, freest, dark, lang nichts an mochy, grey days are bye wi’ for a feow month. Some heat tae thaw oot the frozen marra o’ oor beens an lichten herts, an faces held up tae the welcome sun an zephyrlike breezes blawin saft doon the glens, are like a balm tae winter-weary fowk. I think I maun hae been a Druid in anither life – a sunworshipper, for life flows free in my veins come simmer-time, an, on tap o’ a hill, wi the warld billowin at my feet, petty problems an worries blaw awa like spent blossom in the win, an my sowl feels clean an untarnished aince mair. It wis iver thus for me, even as a bairn. The confines o’ squeel weighed sair on us, as we hodged aboot in the plottin heat o’ a

stuffy classroom, longin for the hame-bell tae skirl doon School lane, files tae plunk yer auld scoored bag in a whin buss, rinnin like lemmings ’cross the thyme-scented Golf Course far the larks soared an sang in the blue bowl o’ the sky. We micht head for the Lang Peel tae dook in the cauld, clear watter that felt like liquid silk on yer skin. Thon wis Heaven on a het day, for nae mony o’ us geets hid the luxury o’ queelin doon in the showers o’ the present day. Syne, we made for hame tae full oor wames, afore oot tae the bike-shed tae flee doon the Craft’s Brae. Nae crash-helmets then – they were just for sissies – ye likit the feel o’ the win throwe yer hair, an fit did it maitter gin ye swalla’ed a beastie or twa as ye

when caught, justice was dealt out on the spot, a good ‘scud in the lug’ or ‘kick in the dowp’, being preferred by the culprit, to the option of having to face a father’s wrath. Wee Chis had a taste of such summary justice one night. It had been late one dark winter’s evening and as he trudged home up the Station brae with his head down, ‘fair scunnered’ after many games of ‘Smug’ and ‘Kick the can’, with the loons who lived beside the YMCA, he was suddenly startled to find himself grabbed from behind in a bear hug. Whoever it was had arms of steel and lifted Chis off the ground, with his arms pinioned to his sides; - he was held suspended and quite helpless. Although he couldn’t see his assailant, he quickly made a shrewd guess as to who it might be from the smell of fish on the man’s clothing. The next moment, in complete silence, he was carried across the road to the horse trough

close to Mrs Anderson’s shop, where he was then upended and dipped headfirst twice into the freezing water. Shivering and spluttering, he was then placed back on his feet, but before the man released him and walked away, he growled in his ear. ‘Noo my loon, that’s us a’ quits, mebbe ye man think twice afore ye pit ony mair sna’ ba’s doon ma loons neck an get his guid sark a’ weet’. To protest would have been useless. The man, usually a quiet, respectable and hard working family man with his own business and who lived close by, had left a clear message and Wee Chis had been too embarrassed to tell his parents about the episode. Although scared out of his wits, it had only been a bit of a ‘dooking’ after all, and only his pride had been hurt. Mind you, he thought to himself as he raced home, there were other ways to get even with a clype.

Ballater Library

by Sheena Armstrong and Faye Swan

During the summer local children have been able to enter the “Summer Reading Challenge” scheme again. This has proved very popular in the past with a lot of books taken and read and prizes received. There have also been some very inventive entries for the various competitions. This year the competition is to make a cardboard celebration cake. Just check out the two examples at Aboyne Library to see how good they can be! Our latest additions to the library are two LARGE PRINT copies of the EAGLE and from now on we shall hold large print copies of each new Eagle.So if you know anyone who would like to read the Eagle but has difficulty reading, then contact us at your library. Important Notice to All Committees of Clubs and Associations in and Around Ballater Does your club/association want/need new members?? Each year the Aberdeenshire Library & Information section sends to each club and association that it is aware of, a form asking the club to update its information and details. In the past, Ballater Library has been able to hold this information and we would hand it to new people to the village, when they came to join the Library. However under the new Data Protection rules we can no longer do so but WE CAN show people the information on the Aberdeenshire Website. If your club/association has not returned the form to the Library service this year, you will not be registered on the website. This means that you are likely to lose potential new members. If you wish your group/club to be publicised widely you can pick up a form at the Ballater Library and it can be returned

through the internal mail system or through the post. YES (Youth Engaging Sport) by John Dean-Perrin

Yes! Yes! Yes! At last, Ballater has its own Multi Sports All Weather Court as promised. After several years of planning, fundraising and hard work, all has now come to fruition. This Court in Monaltrie Park provides facility for 5-a-side football, basketball, hockey, netball, etc as the young (and old) users want. This court is open to all and a Management Partnership is being created as I write to ensure its ongoing maintenance. We trust that present and future generations will enjoy this facility and we thank again all those who have made this possible. Donations have been received from Aberdeenshire Council, The Mike Sheridan Trust, The Charitable Chiels, The Rotary Club of Upper Deeside, The Masonic Lodge, Hilton Craigendarroch, Marr Safety Group, Glenmuick and local Church Group, DP Opticians and many other individuals too numerous to list here, but without whose valuable assistance this project would not have succeeded. Youth Engaging Sport (YES) is a registered charity committed to helping provide sports and recreational facilities throughout Upper Deeside – we will now move on to our next project.....

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12 The Deeside/Donside Development Project is now underway and the Development Manager is in place, with BRD responsible for line management and administration. Funding has been agreed from Cairngorms LEADER, Cairngorms National Park Authority, and Aberdeenshire Council for the project. BRD continues to provide coordination and administrative support for BOVOF. Signage We are being assisted in our efforts to improve signage within Ballater and at the 3 entrances to the village by The Cairngorms National Park. Once a design is approved and funding secured planning permission will be sought through the Community Council.

Ballater (RD) Ltd

by Gordon Riddler Continental Market

Once again, on Friday 11th June, a Continental Market was held on the Village Green whereby local shoppers and those from further afield could enjoy tastes and goods from around the world. Community Bus

The community bus continues to be well used by local groups. Pricing however has increased to £1 per mile for local groups due to the rising costs of diesel. Anyone wishing to hire the bus can do so by contacting Gillian Sinclair (details below). Community Notice Board

The community notice board has never been empty since its opening. There are lots of things going on in the area and plenty of choice available of things to do. All groups wishing to display posters should contact Gillian Sinclair (details below) and please note that all posters should be formatted in portrait and A4 size, no bigger!

The Ballater Walking Festival

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The Ballater Walking Festival took place this year from 15th May until the 21st May 2010. We had 92 participants who enjoyed a week of great walks in glorious sunshine. Our thanks are due to everyone who helped in whatever capacity in making the festival another resounding success. Next year’s festival will take place on Saturday, 21st May through to Friday, 27th May. For any enquiries or further information, contact BRD at 013397 55467; ballaterdeeside@btinternet.com .

For many years, a keen Village Amateur Dramatic Society met regularly in the winter months and somehow, ‘Wee Chis’ along with many more in the second and third years at school had been inveigled into appearing on stage in the Victoria Hall in a Variety Concert. For months they had attended Mrs. Wilson’s cottage at the side of Killarney for rehearsals around her piano and for most of them it brought a new dimension to their lives. The singing parts were no problem, but in one kitchen sketch Chis had to steal a kiss from someone’s wife and accidentally throw a pan of liquid over the woman’s husband. It was the first time he had kissed a girl and his embarrassment was acute! Somehow he managed to peck Meg Elrick, one of his classmates, on the cheek, while the enraged husband, George Smith, sang, ‘Wad ye kiss ma wife afore ma een and scud me wi’ pudden bree oh!’ And the chorus sang, ‘For the barrin o’ oor door weel! weel! weel!’ ‘For the barrin o’ oor door weel’ Later on, the cast had all attended a party at the school and it was here that all the children taking part had been given a lucky dip in a barrel of sawdust. To his disgust, ‘Wee Chis’ had only managed to win half a ‘mealie jimmy’. The next evening on his way down Queens Road, he had discovered the white pudding still in his trouser pocket and was about to throw it away when he had been bet by one of his pals that he couldn’t hit the door of one of the nearby houses. The temptation was too great and although the ‘mealie jimmy’ was on course, alas it flew a trifle too high and instead of hitting the door, finished up making a neat hole in the leaded fanlight above. The house name, which was MELROSE, now read ME…SE. Wee Chis

and his pals ran for their lives, completely forgetting that they had to pass in full view of a crowd at the Picture House queuing for the second show. On their trail, an enraged Mr. Maitland, the house owner, had soon discovered their names and later on that evening his father had had more than a few words to say on the subject. Retribution was physical and swift and it had meant no pocket money until the repairs were paid for. The village children were not saints and there was the occasional outbreak of mischief, but there was very little deliberate vandalism as such in the village and most damage was accidental. ‘I’ll tell yer faither’ was usually enough of a threat to curb some youthful horseplay, for most families valued respect and would be ‘black affronted’ at having someone voice a complaint about their child’s behaviour. Often

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pear on these wintry roads would be the Strachans or Bluebird bus service to Braemar and these were at well-known two hourly intervals. On hard packed snow, bus drivers were sometimes reluctant to stop completely, as they would be unlikely to gain traction again, so often in the country they would merely slow down to a crawl, the conductor would open the door and with his or her assistance, would-be passengers would be encouraged to leap on. Safety aspects were not an issue when the option was perhaps a three-mile trek to work. On many winter evenings, sledge owners would make their way to ‘The Darroch’ and form themselves into long trains at the summit of the brae by Craigendarroch Hotel. It was quite an honour to be chosen as the leading runner for it was on this person’s nerve and steering skills that much of the success of the downhill runs depended. The sledges were

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attached by the simple expedient of each sledger lying down and lashing his reins to the feet of the sledger in front. Each sledger would then have a small child sitting astride his back, whose job before jumping on, was to push as hard as he could until the train was well underway. That thrill of sitting astride the leader’s muscular back as the train gathered great speed and thundered downhill in the cold starry night was an experience many a young loon or quine would remember all their lives. It was rumoured that a record train had made it into the village as far as ‘Bert Knowles the Jewellers, but although Wee Chis had himself been on one that had almost reached the ‘Free Kirk’, he was inclined to disbelieve this story. When the conditions were right and with a full moon making it almost as clear as day, sledging would often continue until midnight. Who needed crash helmets? Knitted balaclavas were the order of the day - unless one was fortunate enough to own a leather helmet. Cub and Boy Scout troops were also active in the village and they met regularly at the Scout Hut situated at the foot of Craigendarroch. One room in the hut was set up as a gymnasium. With the outbreak of war an Army Cadet Unit was also formed and became very popular. Parades were held weekly at the TA hut and Major Montgomery, manager of the nearby Tweed Warehouse became the Commanding Officer. It was here that the Cadets were taught the rudiments of drill, map reading and field craft and on the indoor range they learnt how to fire a .22 rifle. Occasionally they would attend weekend camps at places as far afield as Fochabers where they competed against other Cadet units in the area. As the Unit was affiliated to the Gordon Highlanders they all proudly wore the Glengarry with Gordon’s badge.

Ballater Charitable Chiels by Derek Mutch

The Chiels have had a busy time over the summer and with the help of many people, we have managed to raise over £35,000 with our two main events As mentioned in the last Eagle, the first activity was the Munro Compass Challenge. We climbed the most Easterly, Northerly, Westerly and Southerly Munros in four days. We had a great time, even though it was quite challenging in terms of time and physical effort. We raised approximately £4,500. Many thanks to all who helped with sponsorship and words of encouragement, and a special thanks to Stagecoach Buses who provided the 45 seat bus free of charge. This is not the first time they have helped us and without this type of help we wouldn’t manage to raise the amounts we do! Thanks also to Osgood Bain who drove us all over Scotland and to Billy Duguid who drove us to Inverness on the second day of the Challenge. I think even Osgood was surprised at how narrow some of the North West roads were! They certainly were not designed for 45 seat buses. Osgood, naturally, took it all in his stride. Our second event and the main fundraising activity of the year was our Texas Scramble golf day at Ballater Golf club. This year we raised a staggering £32,500 again with the help of many people. This is the most we have ever raised at the Annual golf event. Thank you to you all for making the day such a great fundraiser. Special thanks must go to Lindsay Barclay who along with our Chiels, Andy Thain and John Sinclair, continue to be the driving force behind the day. Local team HPS (Henderson Property Services) won the

Sandy Barclay Claret Jug with some excellent golf and Nairn Golf Club won the ladies prize. All money will be distributed to charities or local worthy causes. The main beneficiary was the Euan McDonald Research Centre for Motor Neurone Disease. At present, we are working on a project to put lights on the steeple of Glenmuick Church to make it a focal point in the village during the Christmas period. Everything is in place and if we get the necessary planning permission we will have them erected for Christmas (hopefully). We still have a few events for the remainder of the year. Our Music Night is organised for Sat 2nd Oct. In previous years it has proved a sell out so be sure to get your tickets early! We possibly have a few more events in the pipeline before we hit 2011, our tenth anniversary! We are currently planning something special to mark such a significant milestone. So, all that remains is for me to wish you, on behalf of every Chiel, all the best for what remains of our “summer” and remember, if you or your group need help, the Chiels would like to hear from you!

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14 The Rotary Club of Aboyne & Upper Deeside has moved into a new year with Dr Ernie Jamieson handing over to our new President, David Allan, from Aboyne, but well known to many in Ballater. At the Potarch Hotel, this meant another celebration evening, which, with David being a retired “bobby”, included a hilarious sketch based in a police station from the 1950s through to the 1980s. Accompanied by the themes from Dixon of Dock Green, Z Cars, the Sweeney, and Taggart, Policeman Allan, through the ages, brought various criminals to the desk sergeant, and some good old police jokes were reborn. We are now enjoying another year of service to the community with fun and fellowship under David’s guidance.

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Rotary Update by Ron Drever Fundraising (1) Our Annual Charity Golf Day in June raised a gross total approaching £5000. A cheque for £800 was presented to Aboyne Golf Club for their selected charity, in recognition of the Club allowing us the use of the course, and £500 donated to the relatively new local charity Horseback UK. The remaining net proceeds will allow donations to other deserving causes from our own charity account. All who took part enjoyed a great day’s golf and hospitality in lovely weather. The winners were:Team: Forget-me-not Club (Banchory) Individual Ladies: Sandra Nurcombe (Tarland Golf Club) Individual Gents: (Handicap 1-10) Ross Milne (Aberdein Considine) (Handicap 11-21) Mark Budge (Kudos Financial Services) Our thanks go to our hole sponsors, including The Inver Hotel, and The Green Inn, The Glen Lui Hotel, The Deeside Hotel, Murray Deeside Fishing and Emslie House Furnishings from Ballater, and those who donated prizes, including La Mangiatoia Restaurant, GJB Accountancy, DP Opticians, and The Co-operative, from Ballater. (2) Our Charity Film Night in May was very enjoyable and successful. With some bills still to be received, it is thought the proceeds will be around £600 to be distributed between CLAN Upper Deeside and the Deeside Friends of ARCHIE, with the additional raffle proceeds replenishing our charity account. (3) At the time of writing, the Club is preparing for its attendance at the Aboyne, Ballater, Lonach and Braemar Highland Games, and the Tarland Show as usual, with our “Roll the Dice for Whisky” Stall, including our famous bells and horns! Hope to have your support yet again!

‘A dook in the horse–trough’ 47

by Arthur Chisnell There was never a time to be bored in Ballater, even in the harshest of winters that seemed to be the norm in those days. Above the war memorial on Craig Coilleach, there was a wooden pavilion and three large shallow ponds. The largest of these, was a general skaters pond, the other two, a ladies skating pond and a curling pond. Every year as winter approached, a few young men from the village would gather in their spare time and voluntarily clear the weeds from all the burns that fed these ponds. They would then all be full and ready for action when the frost came. Occasionally some of the more affluent members of the community would appear with much envied ready-made skating boots, which had skates attached, but for most it was a case of digging in the ‘glory hole’ for the rough and ready iron contraptions – possibly bought at some public roup - that passed for skates, cleaning off the rust and clamping them as best one could to one’s toughest boots. Skaters learnt by their mistakes or by watching some ‘experts’ that had picked up the rudiments in Donald’s Ice Rink in the ‘toon’ and it was surprising how adept many youngsters became. Most families had a wooden sledge of some kind; it was usually home made and perhaps fitted with half moon metal runners, by the blacksmith at the ‘Foot of Gairn’ smiddy and was often more of a necessity than a toy when the snow lay thick. Often fitted with a detachable box, mothers used it as a pram, message loons used it in lieu of a bike to haul their messages around the village, grandfathers used it to carry their heavy wireless lead/acid accumulators over to Andy Barr at the Power Station by Monaltrie Park for re-charging, for

without it there would be no news or ITMA to listen to and grannies used it to carry back sacks of cones and firewood from the foot of the Darroch, that got the fires in their black kitchen grates going in the morning. Only then, when the poor contraption was in need of a rest, might the bairns get it for sledging. Around the village there were many hills to choose from, but perhaps, because of its length and accessibility, the favourite was ‘The Darroch’ on Braemar road. There were very few cars on the road at that time and indeed not many that would attempt to negotiate the hard packed snow on such a gradient. With lookouts posted at the top of the brae and the war- time concrete pillbox on the only corner, plenty of warning was given and sledgers were relatively safe. Usually the only vehicle to ap-

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landed in the grounds and could be defused. On seeing a group of what I assumed to be about 12 to 15 aircraft circulating up high, I stopped to watch, and pointed these out to 20 odd others joining me to see the action. After a few minutes, the gliding on the air current stopped and the seagulls flapped their wings, much to the mirth of us all. I felt a right twit!! One bomber crashed in the forecourt of Victoria Station whilst the crew parachuted into the middle of the Oval Cricket Ground (No one for cricket, however). The Hurricane pilot who shot them down, also baled out and landed in a dustbin in Chelsea! With the switch to night bombing from attacking airfields in daylight, we realised the Germans’ change of policy, and early September gave a week or two of quieter time to rest the exhausted pilots, give new airmen extra

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time to train and squadrons to re-organise. September 7th saw one of the last big day/night raids on London with the Docks well alight and destruction everywhere, particularly in East London. I cycled to work next morning along the Thames Embankment with over a hundred hoses stretching from the river into extinguished conflagrations. Our four storey terraced offices had been flattened overnight and the safe ended up in the basement but the keys opened it at once. Well made, John Tann & Co.! After moving into accommodation in Surrey, a package of deeds, still tied in red tape, came by post, having landed in the Thames from the bomb blast and floated down to the Isle of Sheppey beach to be picked up by the police. September 15th saw the last of the heavy daylight raids on London and southern towns with the day’s results as quoted above. German records show “The enemy air force is still by no means defeated – in fact it shows increasing activity.” Shortly afterwards, Hitler postponed the invasion indefinitely. The price paid by the RAF Fighter Command was high. Out of 2,400 British pilots, some 175 Poles, 114 Canadians and others from 15 countries in all who took part, 544 lost their lives with many suffering permanent injuries. Such service and sacrifice deserves to be remembered. The Thin Blue Line was never broken. Postscript:- What these men achieved was brought home to me when in 1947, on a train in Norway from Bergen to Oslo my colleagues and I were talking about some pullovers we wanted to buy. A young lady with a baby in a carry-cot immediately offered us some clothing coupons. When these were refused, saying she needed them for herself and her child, she stated “We are all so grateful to you British holding out alone in 1940 – we shall never forget.”

Community Service (1) Our annual sponsored Fun Run in Aboyne in May was again well attended, with a good turnout of runners and walkers from Aboyne Primary. Together with our BBQ, a total of around £900 was raised. Thanks to all adults and children who took part on the day. (2) In September, we are planning to support the Aboyne Guides in a fundraising day by running our BBQ, and similarly are hoping to support Ballater Primary School at their Fun Run. (3) Rotary Clubs throughout the UK are planning to plant purple crocus bulbs across the country in October as part of Rotary’s Thanks for Life campaign to remind the public of the need to continue the fight to eradicate polio from our world. The purple flowers represent the colour of ink in which children’s fingers are dipped once they have been immunized. We intend to be planting five thousand bulbs and hope to get many youth groups in Upper Deeside to help us enhance our environment. Vocational (1) We have continued to be involved in many different ways with Aboyne Academy, and were pleased to be able to maintain our annual sponsorship of their annual prizegiving. (2) The Aboyne Academy pupils sponsored to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) event have now had their summer week of leadership training including all types of activities. We look forward to their eventual visit to a Club Meeting to tell us how they enjoyed the experience and meeting all the challenges presented to them. International Service (1) For some considerable time we have been supporting, through Project Mala, the education of children in one of the poorest

parts of India. At present we are sponsoring four children through Primary School - children who would otherwise never have any schooling at all. As a result, these children are often the only literate and numerate members of the family. Aboyne Primary School decided they would like to sponsor a child through Project Mala, and we were very pleased to arrange this through the Club. (2) We have also given our annual donation to the Rotary Foundation, our own charity which sponsors charitable activities internationally. If you are interested in Rotary, please contact Ron Drever at High Trees, Morven Way, or telephone 013397 56224. We meet on the first Monday of each month at the Glen Lui Hotel, Ballater, 6.30 for 7pm, and on every other Monday at the Boat Inn, Aboyne, 6 for 6.30pm.

Ballater & Crathie Community Council by Robin Blyth

Membership The Community Council membership over the course of the years is seldom static. Like many voluntary organisations its contributing members ebb and flow with the changing circumstances of the individuals. This year we have gained Ruth Sim and Graham Adams. Ruth is an active member in ‘disability affairs’ and provides an insight into the aspects of disability that are often missing from our deliberations. Graham on the other hand brings a degree of welcome youth (although he may disagree on that, but believe me, he does) and a variance of expertise we desperately need. The high altar of electronic communications is a maze of uncertainty to most of us. We

can all drive a car but remain mystified as to its workings. E-Mail and the encyclopaedic hinterland of the online world is something we access and use but like the car can only drive. Graham brings to the party something we have never enjoyed before - a knowledge and level of expertise beyond my ken, or that of many other members. I hope that both Ruth’s and Graham’s service is long and fruitful. Cairngorms National Park Deposit Local Plan Whilst still struggling to bring forth its current Deposit Local Plan some years late, the CNP is now embarking on its second Park Plan. This is an important plan, in that it sets out the four aims of the CNP and I quote from their handout. “The Cairngorms National Park has four aims in law that must be delivered together in a coordinated way. It’s the CNP Authority’s [CNPA] job to make sure that happens. The National Park Plan looks 25 years into the future but is reviewed every five years.” “The current CNP plan runs for five years between 2007 and 2012. The CNPA must coordinate a review of the National Park Plan so that a new version is ready for the following five years of 2012 to 2017.” Unlike previous plans of all shades and hues, this time the CNP wishes to consult as fully as possible with its residents before any pen is put to paper. As yet nothing is written. And equally as ever, time is short. Once again the most consulted group of residents is going to be asked to look again into the well and come up with ideas and responses affecting the future of not only themselves but also those who will be coming along after we have gained

attacks to put aerodromes and aircraft out of action. Losses were heavy on both sides but we had pre-war built reserves and over 4,000 aircraft built in 1940 alone. To our advantage, we fought over our own territory, guided by ground control to their approaching bomber formations. The Luftwaffe had no such control once they left northern European airfields – only orders received before take off. Our losses of pilots/aircrew proved high and in August particularly we were short of pilots fit to fly. Life had its “amusing” moments however. One Spitfire landed and stopped at the end of the runway. Rescue Teams drove out expecting the pilot to be injured, but after 4 or 5 sorties that day, he was just exhausted and fast asleep!! A Polish airman parachuted onto a beach, and the Home Guard (Dads’ Army) fired close to his feet despite him identifying himself as Polish and holding his hands up. They fired again around him when he

stepped forward, then shouted to him to “Stand still!! You are in a minefield!!” The available pilots from Europe were brought into action once having learnt to use ground control and overcome the language problem. Many Londoners welcomed them into their homes on their days resting, since there was nowhere to go except Forces clubs, NAAFI etc. By the end of August the Luftwaffe was forced to switch to night bombing of London and the south coast due to heavy losses in daylight, and lack of air supremacy caused the invasion to be deferred. Again on the “amusing” side, I was walking to the office down The Strand during a raid and a bomber had just flown overhead across Trafalgar Square and Admiralty Arch, (a Bofors gun on the Arch opened fire), down the Mall and dropped 2 bombs on Buckingham Palace which did not explode. Fortunately they both

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The Thin Blue Line Battle of Britain

by Cyril Puddicombe 35 Lost, 82 Down – September 15th 1940 It looks like a cricket Test score, but it is 70 years ago since this “Test” lasted 3 months between RAF Fighter Command and the German Luftwaffe. It was at the end of May 1940 when, as a 14 year old, I crossed the Thames Bridge from Waterloo Station to my solicitor’s office job in The Strand. Like me, some of the staff had seen all the small boats heading down river, and we feared the worst. Nothing official was announced until a day or so later but we all know now about Dunkirk. London became crowded with Polish, French, Dutch and many other European servicemen who did not know the fate of their families or homesteads. What

they did know was that a cross-Channel invasion was very probably imminent. The Luftwaffe were already flying armed reconnaissance missions against shipping, ports and airfields to establish landing points on the south coast. The C-in-C Fighter Command told RAF personnel, “The Battle of Britain is about to begin and the fate of generations lies in your hands.” That fate is now history, well documented on film, in books and official records. Goering estimated four days to defeat Fighter Command, but seeing our response to reconnaissance attacks, realised our fighter force was considerably stronger than intelligence told him, and therefore he switched

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access to the next tee in this existence of ours. It’s our children and grandchildren this time! Being a statutory body, the Community Council has elected to assist in this process. And after long and hard thought, we will be bringing a very simplified questionnaire to the table. I appreciate that we in Ballater, if not the hinterland of the district, have been consulted so many times during the last number of years. “Not again.” I can hear the groans, but this is important, and everyone’s forbearance is requested. It is the CC’s intention to have delivered to all the dwellings in the district a brief questionnaire, and coupled with a prepaid envelope, hope this will encourage all to participate. In the coming months, a number of drop-in sessions will take place, both to discuss the findings of the consultation and to formulate the CC’s views of the Community. Equally so, individual members of the public are at liberty, and are encouraged, to make their own representations to the CNP in this matter. The questionnaire will also be in electronic format and can be accessed and returned via our website. www.info@ballaterandcrathie.com I mentioned a time constraint. The CNP would wish to have this consultation done and dusted by October. With the forthcoming remainder of the holiday period to come, I think this may be over optimistic. But we can try! I ask all to assist in achieving this. www.ballaterandcrathie.org.uk Graham Adams first input to the Community Council has been to erect (if that’s the correct term?) a website. The address above will get you on to our handsome website. Still under construction it will take time to build. All manner of information will eventually be available on it, - members’ details, minutes, information leaflets, government initiatives. The amount and the content can be limitless. The goal is to have an interactive website in

which we can be contacted and sample views and opinions on all subjects. It will soon be working fully, - another useful tool for all. Some of our members under the leadership of Jane Angus are actively looking at the prospect of building squirrel bridges across some of the roads in our area, including Braemar Road, Ballater and South Deeside Road, Crathie. Once erected, it is hoped they will lessen the devastating cull of the delightful little creatures. Thank You

by Tom Potter

The Ballater Geddes Group would like to express their thanks and appreciation to the kind but unknown person who found and re-attached our missing Patrick Geddes plaque to the post at the Station.

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Victoria & Albert Halls

The Victoria and Albert Memorial Halls Development Association has celebrated the contribution made by three local men to the fabric of the building by formally re-naming two community rooms in their honour. The former George Beaton Room, now the Beaton Craigie Room remembers the hard work and dedication of George Beaton and Hugh Craigie who raised substantial funds for the last major refurbishment in the mid eighties. The Supper Room, now the Mike Sheridan Room celebrates the life of the Ballater butcher who supported many local organisations and who left provision for a substantial contribution to a new heating system for the Halls complex in his will. Mrs Beaton, Mrs Craigie and executors of the Mike Sheridan estate gathered together with Halls trustees and committee to hear tributes to the three men. Duncan Macrae, a

by Bell Macaulay

friend of both Mr Beaton and Mr Craigie and chairman of the Halls Development Association at that time, spoke of their dedication to the task of raising the substantial funds then required. Keith Macrae, one of the executors of the Mike Sheridan Estate and a lifelong friend of the former butcher recalled Mike’s love of Ballater and his ongoing support of the community.

L to R - Keith Macrae, Mrs Beaton, Mrs Craigie, Mr Duncan Macrae The Halls complex is currently the subject of a comprehensive study looking at both a new heating and insulation project and major refurbishment to bring it up to current standards. The community has had several opportunities to have major input into the proposals, and the consultants’ final report was displayed in the Albert Hall on Saturday 21st August. The plans will now be submitted to Aberdeenshire Council, CNPA, Historic Scotland and other agencies for their comments and advice. Fundraising for the ambitious project will now start. The various elements will be broken down and costed separately so that targeted approaches to funders can commence. At the same time, a business plan will be put together to maximise future usage of the Victorian building. Community input to fundraising will be crucial to long term success, and the Association hopes that everyone will get involved over the coming months and years.

entific knowledge, was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1830. Meanwhile, The Fairy Doctor’s second son, Robert, had two sons of which the eldest, Alexander Farquharson, is my mother’s direct ancestor. Incidentally, I enquired through a friend in Forres as to the whereabouts of the graves of the two John Farquharsons. After various enquiries the chief librarian at Forres thought he had the answer. He said that their gravestones were almost certainly dug up and smashed to help provide foundations when widening the main street of Forres in the early 1900s. Those were the days when no one was thought to have any interest in forebears of a century or more past. After all, their descendents had moved elsewhere. So perhaps the fairies’ curse had come home to roost in a slightly unusual way. We now have no idea of where the Fairy Doctor and his son were laid to rest.

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The Fairy Doctor of Carrue

(Carrue, a former farm, is now a wooded area south of Blelack House, Logie Coldstone) How many people can claim to have an ancestor who was able to speak to ‘The Fairies”? I have such an ancestor on my mother’s (Farquharson) side. John Farquharson, The Fairy Doctor, who was Tacksman (leaseholder) of the Parks farm next to his mother’s old home at Loanhead, was apparently asked by the laird at nearby Blelack House to get rid of the fairies on The Fairy Knowe (hillock), who had probably turned the milk sour. So John told them “Gang awa, we dinnae want you here”. The fairies replied “We’re nae gaen as you havnae told us where.” So John said “Awa ye go to the Hill of Fare.”

by Ken Glennie

The fairies went to the Hill of Fare (north of Banchory) but came back saying “We didnae like it there, so we’re nae biding”. Furthermore the Fairies are reputed to have put a curse on the Farquharsons. “Though girs (grass) and corn should grow in the air John Farquharson and his folk shall thrive nae mair”. Despite this curse, The Fairy Doctor, who had fought at the battle of Culloden (1746) and had to ‘keep low’ for some years, later took his eldest son, also John, from Logie Coldstone to Forres (Morayshire) where he knew of an available farm. The younger John’s first son James became a church minister in Alford and, because of his widespread sci-

Ballater Floral Art Group by Mildred Coull

Ballater Floral Art Group is lively, friendly and flourishing under the chairmanship of Kathleen McCulloch. The programme so far has been enjoyed by an ever increasing membership and the standard of the demonstrations has been very high. The evening meetings always finish with refreshments supervised by Ivy Duncan and the friendly atmosphere, with much admiration of the finished arrangements, attracts a large audience of enthusiastic ladies. Both demonstrations in April and May were given by local ladies, Edna Matthew from Alford and Ann Allan from Aberdeen respectively. There is no shortage of local talent which is fortunate for us in Ballater. June saw a group of ladies in the local Church Hall being instructed in ‘The Basics’ by two gifted members of our own group: Audrey Macrae and Maria Franklin. Audrey gave an introductory talk with helpful tips, while Maria described various contemporary ways with flowers and leaves. Each of those attending went home with a table decoration which incorporated a candle and were encouraged to enter the forthcoming Floral Art Section of the RHS Exhibition which took place on the 21st and 22nd of August. In July, 33 members visited Kildrummy Castle Gardens to admire the flowers and plants and to enjoy afternoon tea. Ballater itself is very fortunate to have the well known author and botanist, Dr Gordon Smith as a resident. He has kindly agreed to give a demonstration in Glenmuick Church entitled “Floral Arranging on a Grand Scale” on Thursday 16 September at 7.30pm. Those of us who saw his spectacular displays in the Church Vestibule last year celebrating the 150th anniversary of the RHS know that we are to enjoy a floral delight. Another day to anticipate with pleasure is Sunday 26 September when over 30 members will visit the Pitlochry Theatre for

a day entitled “Tastes and Shades of the Season”. A cooking demonstration in the morning is followed by lunch and a floral demonstration in the afternoon. This promises to be a truly enjoyable day. The Floral Art Group is hoping to attract many entries to their part of the schedule produced by The Horticultural Society. The novice section should be appealing to everyone. The highlight of our year is, of course, the Christmas Charity event on November 25th in the Victoria Hall, Ballater. Last year the contributions raised were well above expectations and this year, after expenses are met, the money will be divided between the Halls Project and a local charity supporting Alzheimer’s disease. We hope to welcome a large audience with wine and refreshments for pre-Christmas enjoyment. Everyone will be very welcome.

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BOVOF

by Gordon Riddler & Gillian Sinclair

Ballater One Voice Our Future (BOVOF) continues to coordinate the follow up activities arising from the community action planning consultation completed in 2009. A number of partnership groups have now been set up and meet regularly, aiming to develop projects to address needs for the benefit of the Ballater community. Reports on some of these follow below. Information arising from BOVOF and the partnership activity can be found on its website www.bovof.org. This structured activity has provided the opportunity for Ballater to benefit from much specialist support from agency representatives who attend these meetings. Additional support from local residents is always welcome for any of these partnership activities and the meet-

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ings are open to anyone who can spare the time to contribute and help. If you have any enquiries or would like more information on how you could do this please contact Gillian Sinclair at 013397 55467 or ballaterdeeside@ btinternet.com . Ballater Housing Partnership Affordable housing emerged as a principal issue from the BOVOF consultation, and the Ballater Housing Partnership was convened to investigate possible solutions. Its actions have focussed on the availability of suitable land; what housing is really needed; and funding options. Three partnership meetings have been held in Ballater since December 2009. These have been well supported by housing specialists from Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA), Aberdeenshire Council, as well as representatives from Housing Associations, Societies, Trusts and Partnerships operating in Aberdeenshire and the Highlands. Achievements over the past 6 months aimed at getting solutions to the affordable housing need in Ballater have included consideration of the following:- housing exchange systems, allocations policy and link to sustainable communities and the definition of “need”, contact with surrounding estates concerning the provision of affordable private rented housing (for example the Rural Empty Property grants scheme), a list of applicable grant mechanisms, green space, managing and maintaining second homes for rent, land bank opportunities, “second rung” affordable housing for growing families, the community lettings initiative, unsubsidised housing and how to contribute to the upcoming Aberdeenshire Council housing allocations policy

Bridge. The runners arrived at the Bridge at are a fitting tribute to those who exactly the same time as the gliders had landed took part in the first and most on D. Day – 16 minutes past midnight on vital operation to liberate Europe. 6th June. They were greeted by General Sir I intend making the journey again in Richard Dannott who was to open the new 2014 for the 70th anniversary. As the widow of a Royal Engineer who memorial and museum. Each person who took had 52 years service from Boy Soldier to part in the run wore a T-shirt bearing the name Lieutenant Colonel, I joined the Ballater of the soldier they were representing. Simon branch of the Royal British Oughton from Cambridge wore Legion. My family has had a Gordon’s name on his shirt. long tradition of serving in the As a result of some research, Military. My grandfather served he found out where I lived and with the Scottish Yeomanry in got in contact. Simon visited the Boer War. My father, a Gorme last year, presented me with don Highlander, was captured a gold medal commemorating at St. Valery. An uncle was a the run, and told me about the commando who took part in the memorial. As a result I decided to visit Normandy this year for Photos (c) IGR::Photot 2010 raid at St. Nazaire, and my son is now in the T.A. I was a Suthe 66th anniversary. The visit was very memorable. I felt quite perintending Pharmacist to the Royal Navy. emotional, but proud to see Gordon’s name I feel proud to be a member of the Ballater on the new memorial, where I laid a memorial British Legion – continuing my contact with cross. The memorial and the new museum the Armed Services.

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My Visit to Pegasus Bridge

by Margaret Ramsey

The operation at Pegasus Bridge in Normandy was the first action to take place on 6th June 1944 – D. Day. My late husband, Gordon Ramsey, who joined the Royal Engineers as a boy soldier, took part in that operation. After training, he was attached to the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Regiment commanded by John Howard, part of the 6th Airborne Division. The film “The Longest Day” re-enacts the action at the Bridge. The actor, the late Richard Todd who took part in the D Day action in 1944, played the part of John Howard in the film. The gliders, with sparks flying, landed in a very small marsh area, which was said to be the greatest feat of flying in World War 2. Gordon’s duty was to check if there

were any explosives on or under the bridge ---- none were found. My reason for visiting this year, the 66th anniversary of D. Day, was to view the new memorial commemorating the action. My husband’s name was included on the first plinth of the memorial which is situated in the grounds of the new museum. It was because of Project 65 that I found out about the new memorial. Project 65 is a military charity founded in 2007 to raise funds for the care and support of wounded armed services personnel. Their first challenge event, for the anniversary of D. Day, was “The Run to Pegasus”, a 65 mile run from Tarrant Rushton in Dorset, from where the gliders had set off to go to Pegasus

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review. A lot more detailed information is contained in the meeting notes posted on the BOVOF website. The partnership is always looking to expand its membership of local residents to help to progress this important issue. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 21 September 2010 which will include discussion with the Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust. Monaltrie Park Users Group Further to our report in the last Eagle, Aberdeenshire Council now have the rubber tiles for resurfacing the children’s play area, and will complete the project as soon as is practical, taking into account summer activities in the park and school holidays. As it will take some time to prepare the ground and lay the tiles, we do not want the play area to be out of use at its normally busiest times. Bins and additional seating are included in the project. As regards the park floodlights, we have identified what repairs are necessary and are now investigating the costs involved in the repair before researching funding. A new park entrance sign has been designed, and a quote has been obtained. Aberdeenshire Council has already kindly offered to install a new sign free of charge, and are also looking to help if possible with the cost of the sign itself. How to provide toilets in the park which could be available to the public remains a problem. Some members of our community seem intent on ensuring that the portakabin toilets are not the answer. We have to anticipate that a portable toilet would meet with similar problems, and thus could not justify the costs involved. It may however be possible for a local organisation to take over management of the pavilion and its toilets, and we should be happy to give more information on this to any interested party. The shed on the park adjacent to the

Games store has now been repaired by the Enhancement Group and cleared out. It will be possible for various clubs / groups to store equipment in the shed, and Martin Holroyd can be contacted for further information. Health The provision of a dental practice for Ballater remains with NHS Grampian. Although we are not aware of any progress, it has to be remembered we were told that it would be at least two years before any developments were likely. We will continue to monitor the situation. Motorbike scrambling At the time of writing, we are investigating another possible site for a scrambling track. As before, however, if anyone has thoughts of a suitable location, please let us know. Services & Environment See reports of the Community Council.

are dealing with the issues 22They concerning the environment, and

services such as roads, recycling, and the police. Victoria & Albert Halls / Cinema The Halls Improvement Group is reporting on refurbishment project progress elsewhere in this Eagle. The possibility of cinema facilities is included in the project, but also there has been initial contact with an interested party with regard to the provision of temporary cinema facilities meantime. Sports Partnership At the time of writing, we are considering creating this new Partnership, and are preparing to contact all sports organisations in Ballater to establish what interest there might be in having a sports coordinating body. We see many advantages in this and hope many will become involved.

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Ballater Adult Learning Partnership Update

The Cairngorms Learning Partnership is looking for suitable accommodation to open a Learning Centre in Ballater. They currently offer 150 courses in Badenoch & Strathspey, 40 of which are in computing, from taster sessions to ECLD courses. All the courses are accredited by the Scottish Qualifications Authority and registered with ILA Scotland, a Scottish Government scheme that helps pay for learning for anyone with an income of £22,000 a year or less, or who are on benefits. Aberdeenshire Community Learning & Development team is meanwhile working on developing informal learning opportunities in Ballater, and co-ordinating courses to be offered by other providers. Look out for a list of what’s on offer in early autumn. Ballater Old School Once again progress towards the conversion of the old school at Ballater has been stalled – this time because of cuts in local authority spending. The proposal to use this site for a mixture of low-cost housing, adult learning and commercial office space still stands. However, no real progress can be expected in this direction without an agreement between Aberdeenshire Council and CNPA. It is likely that such an agreement would centre on the provision of low-cost housing. BOVOF is trying to determine CNPA views on the future of this site. As noted above there is demand for space to run training programmes showing that the old school could provide valuable learning space. Meantime, the building has been made more secure and minor repairs have been conducted. Local Economy The Ballater Business Association is now actively represented on BOVOF, and is concerned with trying to ensure better promotion of attractions in the area in order to bring more

appropriately targeted. Nick joins this project from the Scottish Agricultural College where he managed the environmental consultancy group based in Aberdeen. He has extensive experience in environmental development in Scotland and overseas where he has worked for over ten years in community development around natural resource and environmental projects. Nick came to Deeside 13 years ago having completed his degree at Aberdeen University. He lives on Gairnside with a young family and is committed to working for the Deeside Donside Development Project. Nick Mardall said: “I want to assist impartially in getting projects identified and giving them and existing projects impetus and support. I am keen that people contact me with their ideas and views, new and old and I welcome any suggestions to build on previous community planning and participation. Nick Mardall can be contacted by telephone: Direct 013397 53775; Office 013397 55467; Mobile 07834512029; Email: nick.

dddp@btconnect.com . Information on the project will also be available on its website: www. deedondev.org. The Deeside Donside Development Project (DDDP) has been formulated and funded in partnership with the Cairngorms LEADER, Cairngorms National Park Authority, Ballater (RD) Ltd and Aberdeenshire Council, to facilitate sustainable improvements for communities in the Upper Deeside and Donside areas within the Cairngorms National Park. This project has been the outcome of a community action planning exercise an example of which was the Ballater One Voice Our Future (BOVOF), which collected the community views and aspirations and formulated a community action plan for Ballater. This process has allowed the community and groups to have their say in community development and to forge forward with tangible development projects through the formation of partnerships and existing interest groups.

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ment manager and will be based in the Ballater (RD) Ltd (BRD) office in Ballater. Nick’s role will be to work with new and existing groups to extend the community action planning process in the Braemar, Ballater and Strathdon community council areas within the Cairngorms National Park. The role will be supportive and will involve facilitating sustainable projects identified by these groups. His position is managed and coordinated by BRD. The development manager ’s role is overseen by a Steering Group consisting of representatives from the Cairngorms National Park Authority, Aberdeenshire Council, the Association of Cairngorm Communities, Marr Area Partnership and BRD. The steering group will ensure that the outcomes of the community action planning are met and achieved and that the development manager’s work programme is transparent and

The Deeside Donside Development Project has been the outcome of community action planning within the Cairngorms National Park. This action planning has been undertaken in Ballater and on the west side of the Park in Badenoch and Strathspey. With the support of statutory agencies such as the Cairngorms National Park Authority, the process has enabled communities to take a lead role in assessing their needs and aspirations. It has involved in depth engagement to ensure all members of the community have the opportunity to contribute to the development and delivery of their action plan. Gordon Riddler’s article in the summer issue of the Eagle explained the specific aims of the project in more detail. Nick Mardall joined the Deeside Donside Development Project in June as the develop-

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tourism business. In this connection, the Cairngorms Business Partnership has set up a website to assist the location of attractions and accommodation within the National Park. However, in Ballater, the loss of tourist accommodation is an issue with the closure of hotels, and local businesses have noticed the difference. Youth Action Group With the Churches now being represented on BOVOF, there is a new emphasis on including younger children in the Partnership. A list of relevant groups and personnel has been drawn up with a view to a meeting in September.

Adult Learning Courses

by Caroline Cowie The following Adult Learning Courses are being offered by Aberdeen College in Ballater at Ballater Primary School:-

Emergency First Aid Tuesday 7-9pm 26th October - 9th November 2010 Cost £30. Code F1NEA E1 01B Spanish for Beginners Tuesday 7-9pm 21st September-8th February 2011 Cost £75. Code F1 MCR E1 01C Computing for the Terrified Tuesday 7-9pm 14th September-21st December Cost £63 Code F2 MCR E 01C The courses are all identified by a course code, and can be booked by telephoning 01224 612330 or on-line at www/abcol.ac.uk/ communitycourses.cfm . Payment will be by credit/debit card. For further information on all adult learning courses in Upper Deeside, please contact Deeside Community Centre, Aboyne on 013398 86222.

K&D Befriending

Deeside Carers Support Group

by Linda Taberner

As a result of our publicity day in Ballater and other articles, we have now increased our befriending presence in the town. Those who responded to our appeal have since registered with us and attended a short introductory training course in June. It has helped them appreciate the value of this role in the community and they are enthusiastic to start befriending. By the time this article appears. I hope they will be active! If you want to know more about how to get involved in befriending a socially isolated, older person who is living independently or know someone who might benefit from this service, please call Linda Taberner, Deeside Coordinator on 01330 820008 / 07816 958 839 or email her at befriending@hotmail.com. See our new website www.kdbefriending.org.uk for more information. K&DB is a registered charity SCO32594 and has had Approved Provider Status since 2007.

by Anne Hammond

Our group has been running now for approximately 4 years (perhaps longer). We are a very small group of carers at present only 6 of us regularly meet to provide each other with moral support, share a laugh and occasionally a good bit of advice. We care for a mixture of people - grown up off-spring/ siblings with learning disabilities/ aspergers/ Downs Syndrome/ Tourette Syndrome/Elderly Parents and In-laws with a dementia. We meet once a month at various cafes between Aboyne & Ballater as this is where present carers live. If new carers come along from further up Deeside, we are only too willing to include Braemar or somewhere else suitable. No fund raising, no minutes/paperwork. Just a friendly chat over coffee and a scone. All carers welcome Apart from the Christmas lunch, all meetings start at 11 am and finish by 1pm.Christmas lunch time/venue still to be arranged

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Towie Sports

On the 10 th of May, Crathie School went to Towie Primary to have fun taking part in potted sports with lots of other Schools. The sport I enjoyed most was the sack race. Everyone had great fun and we got stickers for running fast. At the end of the day everyone was tired by Murdo P4

Volcano Workshop

On Friday the 28th of May, Mr Wright came to Crathie School to tell us about Volcanoes. It was very messy. First he showed us the first volcanic rock that he had found when he was 10. After that, he got out a pump and attached it to a container which he hid under a model volcano. He poured some baking powder into the volcano. We all took turns of pushing the pump and when we pushed the pump the baking powder was pushed up into the air like an

P.G.L

On the weekend of the 25th the older ones went on a school trip to an adventure camp called P.G.L. It was so much fun doing all the activities which included Zip Wire, Challenge Course, Rifle Shooting, Raft Build and Sequoia Scramble. My favourite was Zip Wire. Our groupie was called Skips, she was really nice. We sang lots of silly songs. We had the biggest pillow fight in the corridor. It was amazing. I really enjoyed every activity and I’ll definitely go back next year.

Fossil Fuels

All P4-6 are doing a topic on fossil fuels. The big ones are learning about where coal, peat and oil come from. We have found out about ways of extracting fossil fuels and what they are used for. We are now researching renewable energy such as wind turbines, solar panels and wave power from the sea. by Kieran P5

erupting volcanic dust. After that we went outside to do some VERY messy volcanic eruptions. When we came in we watched some videos that he had taken when he was in Iceland at Eyjafjallajokull (Icelandic volcano)This volcano is the one which is still erupting causing chaos with aeroplanes. He was really nice and the things he told us about were very interesting. by Harriet P5

John Muir Award

Mrs Ridley from Aboyne comes to Crathie School to work with P4-6 on the John Muir award. We have gone on beastie hunts, we have drawn birds, we were also catching frogs. My friend and I called one Jumpy. We have painted Silver birch trees and Scots Pine trees. I have really enjoyed learning about nature. by James P5

Chess Tournament

On the 9th of May Crathie School went to Lumsden Hall. First we stopped off at the school where the younger ones were taking part in problem solving activities. The seniors went to Lumsden Hall to play chess. It was a fun day. At lunch time we all had lunch outside, then we went to play on the climbing frame. The younger ones came to Lumsden Hall and we all watched a puppet show. It was about a Viking princess and her father. There was a Viking who was the bravest of them all. At the end of the play he found the princess fast asleep and fell deeply in love with her. They lived happily ever after. All in all it was a great day. Rachel

Now music

On 16th of June two ladies visited Crathie

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School. One played music on the piano and the other sang. As we entered, one of them was playing the piano and the other was singing in a loud voice. She sang beautifully. We learned that before we sing we have to breathe deeply and warm up our voice by making funny sounds. When we finished the lady sang three songs accompanied by the lady on the piano. She sang a German song, a French and a Gaelic song. I liked the lady that sang because she had a strong voice. by Rhianna. P6

Filming

At Crathie School P5-6s were making a film with Gary Swan. Our film is called ‘Past and Present’. When we have edited our film we will be showing it to our parents at a premier night on Thursday 2nd July.

He taught us how to set up cameras, how to start the film and how to sort out the sound. We were also taught where to set up the camera in order to get the best viewing. We had a five shot rule they were: establishing shot, over the shoulder shot, close up to face shot, close up to hand shot and anything you liked. We always used the 5 shot rule in our film. We all found him very kind and funny. I have had so much fun with Gary and I enjoyed our filming project. We hope everyone enjoys our film. by Cameron P6

Balmoral Ranger Service Guided Events September to December 2010 Balmoral Luxury Land Rover Tours - Daily vehicle tours. Explore the hills and forests of Balmoral Estate in the company of an experienced guide. Enjoy a ‘behind the scenes look’ at the wildlife and management of one of Scotland’s most famous estates. Meeting point: Balmoral estate office. Cost: £50/ person, cost includes entry into Balmoral Castle exhibitions and grounds. Tours last for approximately three hours. Booking essential- 01339742534. See www. balmoralcastle.com for further details. Saturday 25th September - A Cycle through time. Join the rangers during Scottish Archaeology Month on a guided bike ride through Glen Muick. Discover the fascinating history of the old inhabitants of the Glen. Meeting point: Ballater car park, next to the Glenaden Hotel. Time: 10:00am – 5:00pm. Cost: Free. Booking Essential – 013397 55059. Hard 15 mile bike ride. Saturday 30th October – Caledonian Pine Forest Walk. A guided walk through pristine native pinewoods in the company of a ranger. Experience the autumn splendour of one of the UKs finest habitats. Learn how these ancient woods are being managed for wildlife. Organised to celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity. Meeting point: Keiloch car park. Time: 10-3pm. Cost: Free. Booking essential – 013397 55059. Saturday 13th November – Riverside Walk. Follow the River Muick during the peak

salmon run. Learn more about the fascinating wildlife and management of this pristine mountain river. Bring a packed lunch. Meeting point: Mill of Sterin, Glen Muick. Time: 10am-1:30pm. Cost: Free. Booking essential – 01339755059. Saturday 11 th December - International Mountain Day - Winter Ascent. Climb a winter peak with the Balmoral Rangers. A high winter walk, the exact route will be decided on the morning of the walk and will mainly depend on weather conditions. A good level of fitness required. Meeting point: Glen Muick Visitor Centre. Time: 9:30 – 3:30 Cost: £5/person. Booking Essential– 013397 55059.

Deeside Books

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The Police Page

Crathie Pages

them could seriously damage your health. Being caught with illegal substances could result in a criminal conviction and potentially ruin your ambitions and opportunities. Although these substances are advertised as legal and marketed as ‘research chemicals’ or ‘plant food’, they are dangerous. If you notice any behaviour changes, cravings, anxiety, aggression or sleep problems (to name only some side effects) in any people you know, are they experimenting with these substances? Another issue which appears to be on the rise again is the problem of drink driving. There is no need for anyone to drink and drive in this day and age and if people continue to do so, they will be caught. It’s important to state though, that Upper Deeside is a low crime area, and we, as your local Policing team, continue to do our utmost to ensure it remains that way. We are always happy to have a chat with people with any concerns. The regular Police surgeries that are held in Braemar, Ballater and Aboyne are the perfect opportunity.

Sadly, Crathie lost one of its great characters when Rob Bain passed away on Friday 16th July 2010. There will be many tributes to Rob, both private and public, over the weeks, months and years as friends and acquaintances reminisce – those who knew him will never forget him. See photo on the back cover.

by P.C. Donald Macleod

With summer and the holiday period well and truly under way, Upper Deeside is a busy place. With that, unfortunately, there appears to be a rise in the use of new stimulant drugs amongst the younger population. These are misleadingly described as ‘legal highs’, but should be seen as uncontrolled and potentially very dangerous. The favourite one some time ago was M-CAT (Mephedrone not Methadrone) which is now a Class B drug because of the harm it can cause. It is now illegal to possess or supply this drug, which has been linked to a number of deaths across the UK. Another one which is available (amongst others) is Naphyrone, usually called NRG-1 or ENERGY-1, which is a stronger substance than M-CAT and which is now also a Class B drug, making it illegal to possess or supply. Pause for thought here. These are drugs which people wrongly believed were safe because they were described as ‘legal highs’. The message from Grampian Police is simple with regard to these new stimulants. Using

Rob Bain

Coffee at the Kirk

The ladies of Crathie Kirk will continue to run the popular Monday Coffee Mornings in Crathie Church Hall until late September/ early October. Come along and sample some delicious home bakes!

Crathie Bowling Club

The club has now resumed its usual two evening sessions per week, and meets on Tuesdays and Fridays in Crathie New Hall. New members are always welcome and can contact Jean Young, 42415 for more information.

VIDEO

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bit disappointing compared with other Nick Hornby novels) and a minority of one finding it funny with an interesting moral dilemma to ponder. The other, “Cutting for Stone” by Abraham Vergese however, was universally acclaimed as a gripping story with fascinating characters – funny, sad and affecting. The group members were extremely pleased that this title had been chosen, as they might not have read it otherwise. In the next few months the group will read and discuss the latest Maggie O’Farrell book, “The Hand that First Held Mine”, Sally Vickers “The Other Side of You” and Harper Lee “To Kill a Mockingbird”. As if that wasn’t enough to keep us out of mischief, the group is in the process of acquiring a website - with lots of help from their friends! Details of this will hopefully be included in the next edition of The Eagle.

Crathie Book Group

The group is continuing to sample a varied selection of books. The choice for the month of May was “Blackberry Wine” by Joanne Harris, author of “Chocolat” and it was well received by all. Everyone thought it was a book of great charm with interesting characters and a strong storyline which coped well with switches between the past and the present time. We tackled two books for our June meeting. The first was “How to be Good” by Nick Hornby, which had mixed reactions, the majority regarding it as an “easy read” without a great deal to recommend it (and a

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to my exhausted body so I kept these thoughts to myself and kept running. To my amazement Craig seemed to sense my struggle and he intuitively started to support me both practically and with encouraging words. It was now him who collected water and Lucozade for both of us along with a constant supply of jelly babies from the outstretched hands of the crowd. All this accompanied by a running commentary (excuse the pun) of ‘I will get the Lucozade, Wayne… I can do it, I can do it… Can I do it Wayne?.... Yes I can.’ At this point a guy who had been behind us for a while put his hand on my shoulder and said, “Well done, you’ve done a great job.” His comment could not have come at a better time. Then the countdown was on. 1 mile to go, then 800 metres at which point, to Craig’s delight I took out the Scotland flag that Alison had hidden in the bum bag. Despite getting into quite a tangle, we eventually raised it aloft between us and in triumph ran up the Mall and across the finish line. Craig, unprompted,

turned to me and while shouting at the top of his voice, “Well done Wayne! Well done!” gave me a huge and very sweaty hug. It was official photo time and when the photographer said we must have them done separately it was Craig who stated emphatically, “No! We will do it together… Will we Wayne?.... Why? Cause we will…. Will we Wayne?’ The photographer had no answer to that and clicked the shutter. What we had started together, we finished together and have the evidence to prove it. I am sure this is a day neither of us will ever forget where we both achieved individually and together something that we thought was impossible. I love inspiration, and if you have taken the time to read and reflect on this you will have learned about a guy with Special Needs. Where the focus is regularly on what someone like Craig cannot achieve, this is Craig’s story about what he has achieved. PS Roy completed the run in the much faster time of 3hrs 54mins but then he did run a SHORTER MARATHON!!

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HOLA and ADIOS! by Cathy Low

“OH -the summertime is coming and the trees are sweetly blooming.” This well known Scottish song became the refrain for 36 young Spanish students who arrived on Deeside early this summer to learn English. Although the long and sunny days of June seem long gone now, you may remember that the streets of Ballater were unusually full of young people, milling around the Halls - especially at lunchtime! The students - accompanied by four of their teachers from Spain - were attending a language course organised by Schoolhouse English - a language school based in Ballater. The 15 year-old students stayed with local host families and the programme was the catalyst for bringing a range of locals together in a very positive way. The Halls provided an excellent base for the English classes, perhaps echoing classes of days long-gone when Ballater School held classes in the Halls. The classes, led by Cathy and Alan Low of Schoolhouse English, were aimed at a performance at the end of the course. Therefore all classes were activity based with Ballater musician Babs Henderson teaching Scottish songs and creating original songs and music, and local artist Mel Shand providing inspiring art and craft sessions. All this combined to make a very real language learning experience. An original story was created - a love story centred on Loch Muick where dinosaur relatives were spotted in droves! The story

27 was then dramatised, interwoven with music, song and dance and the show was performed on the last night of the programme, to great acclaim. Everyone involved thoroughly enjoyed the experience and many of the host families said they hoped there would be another group coming along soon! There were tearful farewells as the students said goodbye to their new families. The four teachers, who had previously accompanied groups on many language courses in the UK, said this was the best course they had ever been to. They said the friendly local people, the wonderful host families, the beautiful scenery and the innovative teaching had combined to make the programme an unforgettable and wonderful experience. Alan and Cathy would like to say a big thank-you to all involved - the host families, Eileen at the Halls, John Sinclair for his fabulous disco, Allan & Blacks Coaches for their magnificent service, Martin the piper, the local youths who danced their socks off at the disco, everyone who came to the ceilidh and performance, the family at Crathie Manse for many a wonderful BBQ and of course Babs and Mel for their inspiring teaching. Alan and Cathy hope to organise another programme next year and if anyone would like to find out more about the hugely rewarding task of providing a host home to a student, please call 013397 56333 for more information or email: info@school-house.eu

The Royal Guard 2010

by Major Graeme Wearmouth

This year’s Royal Guard is formed by B Company The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (also known in abbreviated fashion as 1 SCOTS). The Battalion is normally based in Dreghorn Barracks, Edinburgh. Of approximate strength around 100 men, B Company will remain in Ballater until the end of October. The Company has recently returned from Afghanistan where it served on Operation HERRICK 11 from September 2009 to April 2010. Based in Sangin as part of the 3 RIFLES Battlegroup, B Company was detached from the remainder of 1 SCOTS. It was a rewarding tour of duty with tangible progress made in improving locals’ lives (eg various development projects); improved liaison with locals; Afghan Army training; routes cleared of IEDs (improvised explosive devices) for ISAF and locals to use; and insurgent’s freedom of movement disrupted. Sadly two members of the Company did not return to Scotland having been killed in action. A small number of others were also wounded in action, two severely. The remainder of 1 SCOTS are currently serving in Helmand with 4 Mechanised Brigade and are due to return later in the year.

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While the Company are based in Ballater they will be providing security and other forms of support to the Royal Family, working closely with the Grampian Police and Metropolitan Police Service. When the Royal Guard commitment ends in October, B Company will return to Edinburgh and re-join the ranks of 1 SCOTS. Leave will be taken and then the Battalion will begin a phase of recuperation and low level training in preparation for future deployment to Afghanistan.

My Tandem Parachute Jump

by Isobel Craigie I would like to thank all those who sponsored us on our recent tandem parachute jump for Multiple Sclerosis. Ian and Jane, two of my grand-children, joined me – and we all survived! (Isobel is actually a great grandmother. Editor) I must admit to a funny feeling on leaving the plane and seeing the patchwork landscape a couple of miles below! However, I really did enjoy the jump and recommend it to anyone to have a go!! The final total of sponsorship raised from the parachute jump comes to £9,727.56. The money raised goes to M.S. Research, hoping to bring a cure nearer for all those with M.S.

Tailpiece

by Betty Wilson (Eagle Subscription Secretary)

One of our long-standing subscribers was forced to pay twice for Eagle Issue 58, because his four-legged friend reached the magazine first, and devoured it completely!! There may be other pets out there with a literary bent, but there are no plans for introducing a new subscription rate for animals.

Then at 11 miles came the point when the race for us was turned on its head. I could wait no longer and reluctantly we had to break our rhythm for a toilet stop. As we returned to the road, Craig, whose worst injury to date was skinned knees after a fight with a speed bump, stepped awkwardly off the kerb and injured his leg. Craig has a very high pain threshold and rarely complains. I knew by his face that he was hurting, that it was not just a little niggle and I was right. As Craig’s anxiety levels rose and he began to realise that he was hurt and might not finish the race I managed to keep my cool and eventually reassured him that even if we needed to walk, together we would make it. Slowly, with tears in his eyes, a rare occurrence, and encouraged by the fact we would soon pass his mum and dad at 14 then 21 miles we set off running again. Passing the NAS cheering point and seeing his mum and dad helped as did the all important jelly babies. However at 21 miles as I struggled to motivate him, I knew even the constant encouragement of the crowd which he always acknowledged and my intermittent and inefficient massages were not enough, so I asked for the help of a physio. We were ushered into the back of an ambulance and this large, muscular guy checked out his leg, which was by this time noticeably swollen, and announced he had pulled his hamstring. He assumed that Craig’s race was over and told him to lie on the bed but we had other ideas and both assured him we had no intention stopping. We had worked too long and hard for this day and giving up was not on our agenda. After two paracetamols, a firm massage during which all I could think was “Please don’t break him!” and “Perhaps I could lie down for just a minute!” and the strong feeling that I was missing out and could do with some paracetamols too, we were ready to go again. We chuckled as we started because the latest laugh had been at Craig’s expense. Before administering the paracetamol, the physio asked Craig if his mum gave him paracetamol to which he replied, “No she gives me jelly babies”. There was no verbal response to that, just hoots of

laughter which everyone, including Craig, joined in. The mood was lifted as we exited the ambulance and with a wave and “thank you” we set off once more. Soon Craig started humming and singing songs including one from Starlight Express – “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel!” - which seemed entirely appropriate on this occasion both for us and many of those around us who were similarly tired and longing for the finish line. At mile 23 our race was again turned on its head. Craig’s paracetamol had kicked in and he had a spring in his step, but not me! I was emotionally and physically drained and struggling ‘Big Time!’ People were still shouting Craig’s name, creating the best motivation ever for him but I found to my horror that I was thinking how easy it would be to manipulate Craig and get him to walk on the pretext of saving further damage to his leg. That too was not an option no matter how appealing it was

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A Marathon Success

by Wayne Yule

I started supporting Craig, a young man who has Autism and a learning difficulty, when he was just 13 and I was a Social work student. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that 10 years later we would have completed the 2010 London Marathon together, and in a respectable time of 5 hours 13 minutes. For over 6 months, with the help of Jog Scotland, we had been pounding the roads and tracks of Crathie and Abergeldie. The day we had been preparing for, started at the unearthly hour of 7.15am when we met friend and fellow runner, Roy, for breakfast. Craig and I were both nervous and I knew that this was to be one of the biggest challenges we had faced. After an eventful journey on a crowded Docklands Light Railway, we walked to our designated starting areas, ours being red and Roy’s blue. This created what I am sure will

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become a long standing joke at Roy’s expense. Craig had declared a few days earlier, after looking at the aerial view of the start, that the blue route looked shorter (and yes at first glance it did) and therefore Roy was running “A SHORTER MARATHON” and who was I to argue? We each had a bum bag and although fortunately his was light with only his phone in it, mine was lovingly packed by Alison, Craig’s mum, with something for ever y eventuality….gels, Vaseline, ponchos for the rain, something we were glad of when the heavens opened, and the all important toilet roll, a nifty compressed one but still boasting a generous 50 sheets I had listened to advice and planned carefully so we strapped ourselves securely together using a wrist strap as I had no intention of losing Craig in London. The twenty minutes we walked in the massive queue went without a hitch although Craig found it hard not to tell people with numbers that meant they were slower runners, that they were in the wrong place and that they needed to go to the back of the queue. Fortunately there was so much to take up his attention that he accepted my explanation that people sometimes make mistakes and World War Three was averted! He was so enthralled by the array of costumes and banners around him that he was uncharacteristically quiet, but I didn’t complain, as it meant I could keep my reserves for later. As we at last approached the start line we discarded our extra clothes and ponchos and then the historic moment arrived - we crossed the mat knowing that our chips would activate and our race had started for real! The first 7 miles passed much as it did in training with Craig chatting non-stop and at times we were almost in dance mode as Queen’s version of “Don’t Stop Me Now” which had been blaring out at the start, still rang in our ears.

Friends of the Forces Awards Ceremony at Edinburgh Castle

by Margaret Ramsey The Friends of the Forces Awards were launched in February 2010 by the Royal British Legion in collaboration with the Royal British Legion in Scotland and the support of HRH Prince Harry. The awards are given to recognise those from all walks of life across the U.K. who have made an exceptional contribution to the well-being and appreciation of HM Armed Forces and their families. Through the Awards, the Legion seeks to salute those deserving of recognition and to encourage others to make a contribution to the living Military Covenant between the Armed Forces and the Nation.

Some 450 nominations were received from across the United Kingdom in the Youth, Individual, Community and Corporate categories. The Scotland Region Individual winner was Ballater man George Walker. He was nominated for the award by the Ballater Branch of the Royal British Legion. George raised £1200 for Erskine Hospital by undertaking a walk of 192 miles across Scotland from Shiel Bridge to Catterline, in 11 days.

Two years later he undertook another walk of 190 miles along Offa’s Dyke (which runs the length of the English/ Welsh border) covering the distance in 10 days, and raising a further £1000 which was donated to B.L.E.S.M.A. The Scotland Region winners, including George, were honoured with a special presentation at the Great Hall, Edinburgh Castle on Monday 5th July 2010. Approximately sixty people attended the presentation, including the National President of the Royal British Legion and the Scottish National President of the Legion, the Chairman of the Poppy Appeal, Scotland, and the Head of the Commonwealth Graves Commission. The Ballater Branch of the Legion was represented by Margaret Ramsey. The recipients of the other awards, namely, the children of Newburgh Primary School, Fife --- the Youth Award, a representative of Robert Wiseman Dairies --- the Corporate Award and Mark and Jen Wright who founded the Mark Wright Project based in Dalkeith--- the Community Award, all attended the ceremony. Major General David Shaw, Royal Artillery, the new Governor of Edinburgh Castle presented the awards. Before each Certificate was presented, the Secretary of the RBL Scotland gave a short resume about each award winner. At the end of the ceremony the children of Newburgh Primary School performed their version of ‘We will remember them’, a very moving tribute and a fitting end to the ceremony.

Ballater School

Many thanks to the Staff and Pupils of Ballater School for their continued supply of fabulous copy for these pages. Due to the vagaries of our copy date, these gems were produced in the last term.

Art Work

P2/3 enjoyed doing art work with Mr Montgomery. We made figures, hedgehogs and santas. We made white Clap-board houses like Ballater Station and learned how to do pencil drawings. Caitlin Jack

Playground Tidy Up

We had a playground tidy up day at Ballater School. We sanded down the fence. Swept the path and planted flowers in our class garden. Lucas

Dipping in the Dee

One day P2/3 went to the River Dee. We went with an Aberdeenshire Ranger. We had lots of fun. We found bugs in the water and some birds. My friend Sophie saw an otter! We saw crows, seagulls, wagtail and sandpiper. We heard oyster catcher and chaffinch. We used nets to catch the bugs. We put them in a tray of water. We also caught them in bug pots with a magnifying glass on top. The ranger told us about the life cycle of the Atlantic Salmon. She also told us about fresh water mussels and how the pearls are made. We had a great day! Hannah P3

Lucas Beetle larva

Water Bugs by Sophie

Stonefly numph

Mayfly nymph

Sports Report

On 2nd June Ballater School Sports Day was held in Monaltrie Park. It was a lovely warm day and all the children had lots of fun. Glen Gairn won. There were potted sports and traditional races. There was a parents race too. One for the Mums and one for the Dads. Anon

Scarbuie Walk

Water Beetle

The Hare, the Lion and the Earthquake

On 16th June the school walked up Scarbuie. We walked in groups. There was a lovely view of Ballater from the top where we had a picnic. During the walk we saw a deer, a frog and a beetle. Everyone enjoyed the day. Anon

Once upon a time there was a hare who was worried. Then an apple fell. I was right the world is falling apart. The hare ran and then he met another hare. Why are you running? Because the world is falling apart. Behind him there was lots of hares and an elephant and a deer and a buffalo and a boar and a tiger. A lion came to them. Stop said the lion. No said the hare. The lion roared 3 times then they stopped Where did it happen? At the apple tree. I will go and see. He looked and he said it is ok to go back home. Anon