Ballater & crathie Community magazine no. 68 winter 2012 ÂŁ1 donation
to all our readers A merry christmas and a happy new year
Bill Yule PGA Golf Professional Tuition available £20 per 1/2 hour - 5 Lessons for £80 Non Members Welcome! *Gift Vouchers Available*
Stockist of:
Ping / Titliest / Nike / Glenmuir / Srixon
Ballater Golf Shop
*Open 7 Days a Week* Ballater Golf Club
Victoria Road, Ballater AB35 5QX Tel. 013397 55658 Email: shnyule@aol.com
The McEwan Gallery
John Black Deeside Stags Oil Please give us a call before planning a visit during the winter months!
Ballater - Royal Deeside - AB35 5UB
www.mcewangallery.com
Tel: 013397 55429
Inside Your Winter Eagle...
3
Plenty to ruffle your feathers this season, with all the latest updates from the area’s groups and organisations, plus some juicy features to warm your fireside downtime. It’s cold outside. Get out there, in here.
Local Group News Ballater (RD) Ltd Ballater Songsters Balmoral Estate Events BBA Update BRHS BRHS Floral Art Group CNPA Community Council Community Learning CLAN DDDP Indoor Bowling Residential Caravan Association Rotary Club Saturday Films SWRI Teen Authors V&A Halls Victoria Week Winter Festival
22 8 23 17 10 9 44 28 27 18-19 20 9 13 11 15 12 33 14 16 8
Features
UDAS Royal Visit
34
Camilla casts a friendly eye
Memories of a Crathie Loon
Ex-pat David Howie shares his memories
A Sketch of Ballater
Shops and characters from c1900
Andra
Ian Cameron’s one-time lodger
Celebrating Christmas
Sheila Sedgwick decks the halls
The Horse an’ the Ploo
Mary Munro tells an equine tale
Ozzy - Part 5
36 38 40
46 48
Wee Chis’s last instalment
50
Aberdeenshire Council Stuff that’s good to know
58
Regulars Diary Contacts Editor’s Letter
4-5 Crathie News 6 Ballater School 7 Pottering About
24-26 30-31 56
Cover photo: the Dee from the Invercauld Road Bridge. Thanks to Les Hamilton of Aberdeen
Advertising
Full page: £60; Half page: £30; Quarter page: £20; Eighth page: £10 Series discount available. Copy may be changed each issue. Contact Faye Swan at info@swandesign.uk.com or Tel 55345
Donations
Donations are gratefully received, and acknowledged. You can also put money into our tins in the Library or Yule’s Newsagents. A big “Thank You” to Chrissie Morrison for her generous donation
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The Eagle Diary ...so you know What’s Going On Mon 3 Wed 5 Sun 9 Sun 9 Mon 10 Tue 11 Wed 12 Thu 13 Sat 15 Fri 21 Mon 24 Tue 25 Wed 26 Thu 27 Sun 30 Mon 31
Tue 1 Wed 2 Wed 2 Mon 7 Tue 8
December
BRHS meeting in Mike Sheridan Room at 7.30pm. Talk by Mark Patterson on the Eden project SWRI Christmas lunch at Ballater Golf Club, 1pm BBA meeting, Glen Lui Hotel, 7.30pm Ballater Boules Challenge Monaltrie Park 10.30am Upper Deeside Music, Cuillin Sound, St Kentigern’s Church, 4.30pm Ballater & Crathie CC meeting, Mike Sheridan Room, 7pm V&A Halls committee meeting, Beaton Craigie Room, 7.30pm Braemar and Crathie Parish Guild Lunch at Inver Hotel, Crathie Ballater History Group, Mike Sheridan Room, 7.30pm Victoria Week AGM, Mike Sheridan Room, 7.30pm Ballater Films: Ice Age 4 (U), Mike Sheridan Room, 3pm Ballater School term ends Santa and his Reindeer, Church Green, 11.30am Ballater Surgery open as usual Watchnight Service at Crathie Kirk, 11.30pm Post Office CLOSED Ballater Surgery CLOSED NHS 24: 08454 242424 Post Office CLOSED Ballater Surgery CLOSED NHS 24: 08454 242424 Ballater Boules Challenge, Golden Boules Trophy Competition, Monaltrie Park 10.30am Little Masons’ March and Party. Boys meet Albert Hall 1pm, Girls 3pm Ballater Surgery open as usual Hogmanay Ceilidh Crathie New Hall
January
Post Office CLOSED Ballater Surgery CLOSED NHS 24: 08454 242424 Post Office CLOSED Ballater Surgery CLOSED NHS 24: 08454 242424 Ballater Boules Challenge, New Year Quaich Competition, Monaltrie Park, 10.30am Ballater School term starts Indoor Bowls resumes in Victoria Hall, 2pm and 7pm
Are Your Dates Here?
For inclusion in this FREE section of the Eagle, please contact Cat Houston on 55243, 07805 731401 (texts welcome) or catrionahouston@yahoo.co.uk
Wed 9
V&A Halls committee meeting, Beaton Craigie Room, 7.30pm BBA meeting, Glen Lui Hotel, 7.30pm
Mon 4
BRHS Meeting, speaker Dr Andrew Scobie, Cairngorms Rare Plant Project, Mike Sheridan Room, 7.30pm
Tue 8
Sat 12 Sun 13 Mon14 Wed 16 Sun 27 Wed 30
Ballater Films: Feature tbc, Mike Sheridan Room, 3pm Ballater Boules Challenge, Monaltrie Park, 10.30am Ballater & Crathie CC meeting, Mike Sheridan Room, 7pm SWRI - Floral Art by Mary Wright - Open Evening & Sales Table, Albert Hall, 7.30pm Ballater Boules Challenge, Monaltrie Park, 10.30am Ballater History Group, Mike Sheridan Room, 7.30pm
February
Wed 6
BBA AGM, Glen Lui Hotel, 7pm
Mon 4
BRHS Meeting, Speaker Emily Holmes - Deeside Forestry, Past, Present and Future, Mike Sheridan Room, 7.30pm
Sat 9 Sun 10 Mon 11 Tue 12 Wed 20 Sun 24
Wed 6 Sat 9
Ballater Films: Feature tbc, Mike Sheridan Room, 3pm Ballater Boules Challenge, Monaltrie Park, 10.30am Ballater & Crathie CC meeting, Mike Sheridan Room, 7pm V&A Halls committee meeting, Beaton Craigie Room, 7.30pm SWRI - Police Talk, Safety at Home by Kevin Marron, Mike Sheridan Room, 7.30pm Ballater Boules Challenge, Monaltrie Park, 10.30am
March
BBA meeting, Glen Lui Hotel, 7.30pm
Ballater Films: Feature tbc, Mike Sheridan Room, 3pm
Ballater Library Opening Hours Sun, Mon & Wed: Closed Tuesday: 10am – 1pm, 6.30 – 8pm Thursday: 2 – 4pm, 6.30 – 8pm Friday: 2 – 5pm Saturday: 10am – 12noon
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Contact the Eagle
Hand in to the Library
Contact Your Representatives
Post to Ballater Eagle, c/o Ballater
Scottish Parliament
E-mail to:
dennis.robertson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
Library, Ballater, AB35 5QB
ballater.eagle@btopenworld.com Contributions of any kind (ideally in Word format) always welcome.
Keep in Touch with an Eagle Subscription A subscription can be a very welcome gift to farflung friends and relatives. Simply provide the name and address to whom the issues should be sent, with a cheque or postal order for ‘Ballater Eagle’ for the relevant amount and drop off your request to Ballater Library. Betty, our Subscriptions person, will do the rest. Easy! For the rates below, four issues will be posted. UK: £10.00 EU: £12.00 Overseas: £16.00
Dennis Robertson MSP e-mail:
0791 955 7152 (mobile)
Westminster Sir Robert Smith MP 01330 820330, Fax: 01330 820338, e-mail: robert.smith.mp@parliament.uk Aberdeenshire Council Peter Argyle: 013398 81180 e-mail: cllr.p.argyle@aberdeenshire.gov.uk Geva Blackett: 013397 41541 e-mail: cllr.g.blackett@aberdeenshire.gov.uk Katrina Farquhar: 07876 475403 email: cllr.k.farquhar@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Cairngorms National Park Katrina Farquhar email: cllr.k.farquhar@aberdeenshire.gov.uk 07876 475403
Eagle Who’s Who & Where Editor: Ian Hay 55941 Treasurer: Dr. Sheila Sedgwick 55292 Secretary: Betty Wilson 55791 Advertising Manager: Faye Swan 55345 Distribution: Andy and Julie Bloor Diary Secretary: Cat Houston 55243 Design: Ollie Ross, Stella Potter, Cat Houston, Karen Major Email us at: ballater.eagle@btopenworld.com Eagle Online: http://www.ballatercommunity.com
If you would like a large print version of the Eagle, please contact Ballater Library on 55628.
7 Letter from the Editor
I recently checked back copies of the Eagle, and was amazed to find that this issue will be the 42nd one in which I have been involved as Editor. It is 10 years ago that I “put my head on the block”, as I referred to it in my Editor’s letter in issue 27, Christmas/Hogmanay 2002/3, and agreed to take on the position following Ken Irvine’s illness. I felt at the time that the Eagle was too precious to the community to allow it to disappear, and the reactions of individuals and organisations within and around Ballater and Crathie to the Eagle today show how right that view was. However, I admit that a 10-year stint as Editor was not really something I envisaged at the time. There have been many changes over these 10 years, not least of which is the introduction of colour in photographs and advertising. This is still an expensive part of producing the Eagle, but there are few other community magazines which produce such interesting and colourful editions, and the Eagle Team feels that we have the right balance. Some of the original members of the Eagle Team are still involved in producing the magazine, contributing articles, distributing to homes in the area and working in other ways towards ensuring that another successful edition reaches our eager readers. Of course, there have been others who have joined us since I started, and their expertise, particularly in the use of computers, has been invaluable to me, and to the magazine as a whole. I admit that without their modern technological knowledge and guidance, I would be lost. Although I use a computer, my clerical background started when there were “dip and scratch” pens at bank and government office counters, so their support has been what has kept the Eagle going. I merely pull the strings together. The efforts of the entire Team are greatly appreciated, and I thank them all very sincerely for their support and efforts during my time as Editor. It only remains for me to wish all readers of the Eagle, wherever in the world they may be, a peaceful Festive Season and a Happy 2013.
Ian Hay
Portrait: Eilidh Gow
Dear Readers,
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LOCAL GROUP NEWS The following pages provide a round-up of the activities and future plans of just some of the numerous groups and societies around Ballater and Crathie. Got something to say about your group? Get in touch. ballater.eagle@btopenworld.com
Physiotherapy Osteopathy Sports & Remedial Massage Aboyne Physiotherapy offers a wide range of treatments to help with back and neck pain, sports injuries, muscular and joint pain, stroke rehabilitation. A GP referral is not a requirement for private physiotherapy. Patients are very welcome to self refer. Charleston Buildings, Ballater Road Aboyne, AB34 5HN (013398) 86874 www.aboynephysiotherapy.co.uk
Winter Festival
by Val Norton
By the time you read this the village will again have benefited from an ice rink on the Church Green for two days in November, with the return of Ballater’s Winter Festival. Blackpool company Wonder Ice returned to host the event again, this time providing a rink double the size of that offered last year. More adults were encouraged to give it a go and children enjoyed free sessions through a school voucher scheme. Coinciding with the annual switch-on of the village’s Christmas lights on Saturday 24th, many shops stayed open late to allow for festive shopping, and locals and visitors could also delight in Santa’s Grotto, a bouncy castle, tombola, roundabout and an appearance by the Ballater and District Pipe Band. There was a visit from Refined Antiques’ What’s In Your Attic event, photographer Amy Muir had her own Winter Wonderland Studio and a Festive Reception was held by the Deeside Inn. If you would like to be involved or help make it happen next year contact Val at valnorton@gmail.com
The Songsters
by Sheila Rumbles
Following our Victoria Week Concert, the Songsters are now working hard on our Christmas programme, which brings me to wish all our faithful supporters a very Happy Christmas. We hope the coming New Year may be a healthy one for all.
Floral Art Group by Maria Franklin
Our well attended AGM on 18th October commenced with an enjoyable and comprehensive talk by Head Gardener from Drum Castle, Diana Robertson. This garden, she says, was designed and planted for admiring and pleasure as well as for providing flowers for flower arranging. With the aid of plant material she offered hints and tips for floral arrangers based on her own experience plus ideas garnered from a host of volunteers who regularly display their creative work throughout the castle rooms. As a result many members have decided to plan a visit to Drum Castle. The programme this year has been a success thanks to outgoing committee members who have worked extremely hard organizing demonstrators and outings to local places. Praise then to Rosemary O’Shea (Treasurer), Anne Wisely (Secretary), Mildred Coull (Publicity), Joy Harvey and Winifred Hepburn. Greatly appreciated too are the hard working volunteers: Sheila Skene (hospital flowers), Ruth Burrows (First Aid), Ivy Duncan (timely refreshments) and all the members who give a helping hand during events such as Walking Week and the Horticultural Show. The following members have formed the new committee: Chairwoman – Jenny Houston Treasurer – Diana Cook Secretary – Sheila Skene Publicity – Maria Franklin Programme Secretary – Kathleen McCulloch Members – Aileen Barbour and Margaret Cameron Refreshments – Ivy Duncan Chairwoman Kathleen McCulloch has served brilliantly on committees over a span of 10 years and has been a member of the Floral Art Group for 17 years. Her last spell of five years has been as Chairwoman and in this period she has vitalised the group, evoked an atmosphere of joy and friendship and produced flower arrangements of delightful colour harmony and texture. She thank-
9
fully remains on the committee and will assuredly pass on her dedication and commitment to Jenny Houston to whom we offer our very best wishes. Our latest event in November 2012 featured the creation of exciting arrangements by John McDonald of Gleneagles Hotel in the Christmas Charity demonstration, proceeds of which are to go to Crathie Opportunity Holidays.
Indoor Bowling by Sheila Rumbles
It was great to get started indoors again at the end of September. Also, it was lovely to have a few new members join us, and they seem to be settling in fine. Our Christmas “fun night” will be on Wednesday 19th December at 7pm when our afternoon players join the evening ones to bowl together and then finish with Christmas fare. Our New Year session commences on Tuesday 8th January 2013.
ROY MITCHELL JOINER 76 Golf Road Ballater TELEPHONE:(013397) 55378 MOBILE: 07792 117963
Forbes Duguid Painter & Decorator Tel .55816 el.55816
Ballater RHS
10
by Elizabeth Wilson
Entries at the Flower Show held in August were sadly down on previous years. The inclement weather, frosts and relentless wind and rain, played a big part in this. On a positive note though, entries were up in the Children’s Challenge, including some splendid mini-scarecrows and paintings. The youngsters are the future of the society and must be encouraged and praised for their efforts. Thanks to all who helped over the weekend and congratulations to the prize winners and Malcolm Jarvis, winner of the best garden competition. The schedule for next year’s show is currently being prepared and should be available at the February meeting.
New Season
Our new season started with our AGM on 5th November, followed by an illustrated talk by Mike Rattray, Head Gardener at Tillypronie. Many
Marie Chapman Soft Fur nishings, Tarland Hand and machine work available for curtains, pelmets, tie backs, cushions and Roman blinds. Also curtain alterations and home visits available. Free estimates with a large collection of fabric samples. Complete job catered for from measuring to fitting.
Tel. 07833 175470 marieandduncan@aol.com
of you will know the gardens well, and also the lovely refreshments provided on the open days, which adds to making a visit to these beautiful gardens very worthwhile. Mike’s passion for and dedication to his work shone through.
New Committee
Office Bearers for the year are as follows: President: Alec Copland, Chairman: Jim Clark, Vice Chairman: Michael Rattray, Treasurer: Brian Gibson, Secretary: Elizabeth Wilson. Future talks will include Mark Patterson’s work at The Eden Project on 3rd December. Mark is the new curator at the Cruickshank Botanical Gardens in Aberdeen. Andy Scobie works on rare plants on the Cairngorms and will give a presentation on 4th February. On 4th March, Emily Holmes will tell us about Deeside Forestry, Past, Present and Future. On 1st April, Alan Beedie, Head Gardener at Balmoral, will talk about Green Tourism at Glamis Castle Gardens where he previously worked. There will be a mini bulb show that evening and entries are welcome. Information about what to enter is available from the Library or at the meetings. Please show your support by submitting some entries. All events are published in the Eagle diary and on posters throughout the village. The society welcomes new members whatever their age. Why not bring along a friend to the next meeting? Refreshments are always available at the end of the meetings where members can catch up with friends, meet new members and chat to the guest speaker. We look forward to seeing you.
Ladies, if a man says he will fix it, he will. There’s no need to remind him every six months about it. Anon
Aboyne & Upper Deeside Rotary by Mike Powell
The members of The Rotary Club of Aboyne and Upper Deeside wish the residents of Ballater and all the other readers of the Eagle a very merry Christmas and a healthy and happy 2013. We look forward to working with the community during the coming year. The Club will be celebrating its thirtieth birthday in 2013. For the last nine years Ron Drever has been the Club member providing information for the people of Ballater, via the pages of this excellent magazine. The Club is grateful to Ron for all his articles over the years.
Your Local Rotary Club
The Club currently (at time of going to press) has twenty nine members, mostly from Aboyne, Ballater and Tarland. New members are always welcome. The Club meets on a Monday evening, alternating between the Glen Lui Hotel in Ballater and the Boat Inn in Aboyne. We have a light meal followed by a speaker and/or discussion on how the club activities are being planned and progressing. Guests are welcome, so if you would like to come along please contact me; Mike Powell on 013398 86369 or mike.powell21@tiscali.co.uk
The Purpose of Rotary
Those of you who’ve read Ron’s articles will know a great deal about the things we do; supporting community groups and helping them with fund raising, helping development of young people and fundraising for international aid and educational charities. The essence of this is our aim to serve our communities, locally and internationally, while having fun and making friends. Log onto the Rotary in Britain and Ireland (RIBI) website for more information. http://www.ribi.org .
The World of Rotary – Rotary International
Rotary is a worldwide network of men and women. Over 1.2 million members in 34,000 Clubs in 200 countries and geographical areas around the world. Rotary International forms
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a global network of business, professional and community volunteers who devote their time and energy to serving their communities, locally and around the world. Rotary was started in Chicago in 1905 and has grown to become the largest non-governmental service organisation in the world.
What Your Rotary Club Has Been Doing
We try to respond to all requests for help, as well as seeking out deserving causes. This year, since Ron’s last report, the following are a sample of things we’ve done or supported recently: Raised funds by rolling dice for whisky, at Ballater, Braemar, Aboyne and Lonach Games and Tarland Show – raising nearly £3,000 – due to generosity of local people and visitors... Undertook a car park collection at Aboyne Games – raising £1,200... Sold tickets for the CLAN raffle – to win a Mini!!... Sponsored a primary school wildlife garden... Managed a race night in Tarland for the Curling Club for them to raise funds... Supported the group seeking to develop a skate park in Aboyne... Donated to a fundraiser for the Stroke Association... Sponsored the Deeside Under-19s football team... Sponsored a local junior Scottish champion athlete... Ran the barbeque for the Aboyne bonfire and fireworks display... How can we help you?
Carnelian “Feel Good Factor”
Lynne Park Massage Therapist
Swedish Remedial Massage Thermo Auricular Therapy 1 Netherley Place, Ballater Tel: 013397 56215 Mobile: 07793354249
SWRI
by Aileen Barbour
President Anne Richardson welcomed members, seven new members and visitors to our first meeting after the summer break. Our guest speaker was Douglas Watt from Raemoir Garden Centre who gave a demonstration of planting bulbs, plants and small shrubs in a container. He also gave us tips on how to get the best results when planting bulbs for inside display to get a good show. Douglas answered a lot of questions from members and kindly donated items for the raffle. The competition was “A Favourite Vase”: 1) Mary Munro, 2) Liz Emslie, 3) Frances Thompson, 4) Anne Moffat.
Willow Weaving
Our October meeting was opened by President Anne Richardson when our guest speaker was Helen Jackson from Portach who gave a talk and demonstration on Willow Weaving. It was very interesting to see a traditional skill and she informed us of the different types of willow she used and brought a selection of items she has made. The competition was “Autumn Photo”: 1) Diane Wright, 2) Frances Johnstone, 3) Frances Coull, 4) Margaret Cameron. Our next meeting was on the 21st November and our guest speaker was Davinia Bissett from Rock Salt and Snails.
2013 Schedule
Invercauld Lodges Self-Catering Accommodation Prices from: £55/night & £350/week 12a Invercauld Road BALLATER AB35 5RP Tel: 013397 55015
Wed 16th January: Floral Art by Mary Wright – Open Evening and Sales Table, The Albert Hall at 7.30pm Wed 20th February: Police Talk, Safety at Home by Kevin Marron, Michael Sheridan Room at 7.30pm Wed 20th March: Rescue Dogs by Gary Carroll, Michael Sheridan Room at 7.30pm Wed 17th April: Business Meeting, Michael Sheridan Room at 7.30pm
Residential Caravan Association 13 by Alex Handley
The Ballater Residential Caravan Association was set up several years ago and its sole purpose was to act on behalf of the owners of static caravans on the Ballater Caravan Site in liaising with the then owners of the site (Aberdeenshire Council) for the maintenance and improvement of the facility for the benefit of the members. Now that the caravan site has changed hands and has come under the ownership of Ballater Community Enterprise Limited, the members of the Association, and in particular the committee which was formed to liaise with the new owners, are pleased that the partnership is continuing to have positive dialogue with a view to making improvements for the benefit of all who use the site. The new owners have intimated that there will be changes, but that these will take time to be implemented and therefore patience will be required by the members of the Association.
The committee of the Ballater Residential Caravan Association is pleased to be given the opportunity of working alongside the new owners and would take this opportunity to wish them well in this new venture, and will work in partnership to see the hoped for changes come to fruition.
Try our veg boxes - Free weekly delivery
Vegetables, Herbs & Fruit
Fresh Daily Wholefoods & Spices Pickles & Chutneys Homemade Jams & Marmalade Homemade in store: Sauces Quiches, Tarts, Salads, Cakes Soups, Sandwiches Smoked Salmon Monday - Saturday
Fabulous Fresh Flowers
Bunches to Bouquets Handcooked Crisps Cheeses & Biscuits Olives Antipasto Charcuterie Picnic Hampers Buffets catered for
47 Bridge Street, Ballater. 013397 55741
V&A Memorial Halls
14 Council Grant
Refurbishment of the Victoria and Albert Halls has taken a major step forward with an award of ÂŁ50,000 from Aberdeenshire Council. We are now well placed to get work started on the improvements to the Albert Hall kitchen, toilets and entrance hall. The Project Team has examined in considerable depth four separate quotes for an improved kitchen and is very close to agreeing which quote is, in our opinion, the most appropriate for the requirements of future users of the kitchen. Meanwhile, arrangements are also in hand to obtain quotes to undertake the other contracting work required to complete the vision of a modern, community function suite. It is hoped that the work can start by the beginning of 2013.
Future Plans
Isla Imrie is busy working up an application to the Big Lottery Fund to cover the costs of roof re-
by Bell Macaulay
pairs, roof insulation, double glazing in the Albert Hall, renewed heating equipment and improved toilet arrangements for the Victoria Hall. These two stages would give the community two areas with distinct uses – the Albert Hall refurbished to a very high standard for weddings and celebrations, providing a potential revenue stream from outwith the village and the Victoria Hall for club activities, sales and events requiring more floor space. In due course, we would hope to develop the lower ground floor as a learning centre.
New Website
All these plans will be publicised, managed and marketed through our new website: www.victoriaalberthalls.co.uk with new bookings being taken by Faye Swan through Ballater Library. There will also be a monthly duty member dealing with day-to-day
ASBESTOS ROOF REPLACEMENT ROOFING REPAIRS 11 Monaltrie Close
GARAGE ROOF CONVERSIONS Ballater, Aberdeenshire, AB35 5PT Telephone (0800) 7076223 Mobile (07778) 776883 Email bill.garageroof@btinternet.com
ASBESTOS REMOVAL AND DISPOSAL SEPA REGISTERED Free competitive quotations at all times
Call Bill Stephen on 0800 707 6223 or 07778 776883 or email bill.garageroof@btinternet.com
issues who can be contacted via mobile phone – number 07598 808018. All these arrangements will take time to bed in, and I hope that Halls users will be patient and help us to work through any problems which will undoubtedly arise. We would be delighted to welcome everyone to our monthly meetings. The ambitious programme of refurbishment will only be achieved with the support of the community, but we believe that the end result will be a suite of halls which will cater comfortably to the needs of all ages and abilities, and provide a sustainable income which will keep our costs competitive and manageable in these difficult times. The Victoria and Albert Halls Development Association would like to wish all halls users a very happy Christmas, and a healthy and prosperous New Year.
Saturday Films by Adrian Scripps
Organisers of Ballater Films were delighted by the turnout for the October afternoon showing of Aardman Animations’ The Pirates, An Adventure With Scientists. The new autumn season’s 3pm time, availability of tickets at Yules Newsagents and the one-off “grandparents get in free” promotion all added up to nearly 40 bums on seats. War Horse on November 10th was a fitting cinematic tribute for Remembrance weekend and represented a deviation from the animated capers presented so far. Ballater Films was very pleased to welcome a different audience and will look to build on this success in 2013. December’s film is Ice Age 4 (U) on Saturday 15th at 3pm. Tickets are again available from Yules and all ages are welcome to come and enjoy this popular festive animated adventure.
Ballater Panto?
The idea of a locally-produced Pantomime in Ballater’s Victoria Hall in January 2014 has been mooted. Oh yes it has! Look out for more details in the local press, village notices and the Spring edition of the Eagle. It’s behind you!
Showing at the Mike Sheridan Room, V&A Halls, Saturday December 15th, 3pm
Spencer’ Spencer’ss of Cr at hie Crat athie Upholstery Specialising in Loose Covers, Curtains & Roman Blinds Individually Tailored 15% Discount for Senior Citizens Tel 013397 42295 Mobile 07814 051388 Email: spencerman@cybernaut.org.uk
Victoria Week
16
by Cat Houston
VW Beneficiaries 2012
The Victoria and Albert Halls Ballater and District Pipe Band Black Watch’s chosen charity, Erskine Drumoak SSPCA Ballater School Parent Council The Winter Festival CLAN Cancer Support
The Hair Loft Ballater Hairstyling Sarah, Sarah jane, Corrina & all stylists have had training Sylvia at vidal sassoon, London and Cheynes of Edinburgh Merry Christmas to all our customers Open Tues - Sat Please call for an appointment Netherley Place Tel: 013397 56317
Firewood
Tel: 013397 55997 Mobile: 07821 746756 email: weejim03@live.co.uk web: www.weejim.webs.com
The Firefighters Charity Ballater Films Ballater Toddlers & Homestart Ballater The History Group Glenmuick Church St Kentigern’s Church The Castleton Dancers’ charities
More than a dozen local groups and organisations and some selected national charities are set to benefit from monies raised during this year’s festival of fun, Ballater Victoria Week. The present committee met in November to decide how to allocate the surplus funds, and a wide range of groups representing all ages and causes will get a share of the profits, totalling around £3,500. 2012 was a year of celebration for VW as it commemorated both the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year and its own Silver Jubilee. Special events this year included a premiere of the Disney blockerbuster Brave, a Sideburn Festival and Victorian Photo Studio, alongside all the usual favourites like the Ghost Tours and 4x4 Safaris. Coordinator Adrian Scripps said: “It’s great to see that all the hard work put in by lots of people leading up to and during Victoria Week to enable people to have so much fun was also so worthwhile. As well as donating to a wide range of groups, Victoria Week has also purchased numerous items for the community use this year, such as some new marquees. We look forward to building on all our efforts into 2013.” Cheques will be distributed at the AGM on Thursday December 13 in the Mike Sheridan Room at 7.30pm. Wine, drams and nibbles will be served, along with a short resume of how things went and a slideshow of highlights. All are welcome to attend, especially if you have any new ideas for VW 2013, or would like to volunteer to help. More details at www.ballatervictoriaweek. co.uk or call 013397 55243 or 55018.
BBA
17
by Faye Swan
Photo: Amy Muir
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all Eagle readers from the Ballater Business Association! We’re looking forward to 2013 and thank everyone for the support shown to local businesses. Our websites will have a new look some time in the next few weeks and we would be glad to have your feedback. Contributions for the websites’ Notice Boards and Events pages are most welcome and may be delivered to Ballater Library or emailed to the contact addresses for www.visitballater.com and www.ballatercommunity.com. Check the Eagle diary for the date, time and location of the AGM as well as all our meetings. Information about clubs, local events, activities and special events like Ballater’s Christmas celebrations (like Santa!) will be posted on the websites and the Facebook pages: Visit Ballater, Ballater Community and Ballater Business Association.
Santa and his reindeer will again visit Ballater on the morning of Christmas Eve, thanks to the generosity of the Hilton Craigendarroch. They will be on the Church Green at 11.30am to welcome the festive season in style. The Ballater Business Association will have bags of sweets ready for the children.
Glen Lui HOTEL RESTAURANT & bISTRO BAR
Private Function & Conference Facilities * Licensed for Weddings *
Restaurant open all year round Comfortable and Relaxing with Excellent Food and Wine Family groups and companies welcome Book for our Festive Menu available throughout December Closed December 24, 25 and 26. Lunch daily from 12 to 2 p.m. / Dinner daily from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Invercauld Road, Ballater, Royal Deeside AB35 5PP
Tel.013397 55402 www.glen-lui-hotel.co.uk
Email: infos@glen-lui-hotel.co.uk
CLAN Cancer Support
18 Fundraising
by Gemma Powell and Joan Cowie
Our local CLAN fundraising committee held a Quiz Night in the Huntly Arms Hotel, Aboyne on September 25th, which was well attended despite the terrible weather that evening! The quiz night and raffle altogether raised £129.80 for CLAN Cancer Support and all members of the CLAN fundraising committee would like to thank all those brave souls who took part for coming out despite the stormy weather to help raise money for CLAN Cancer Support. Members of the CLAN fundraising group did bag packing at the Co-op in Aboyne on Saturday 20th October and raised £400.
New Therapy Bed
Soldiers from the Royal Guard joined the army of volunteers supporting Clan Cancer Support when the charity found itself in a tricky situation. The introduction of a new electronic therapy bed to the CLAN centre in Ballater posed a
logistical challenge as staff faced the prospect of hiring specialists to manoeuvre the new equipment into position in the therapy room upstairs. Gemma Powell, Aberdeenshire services coordinator for CLAN, said: “It was a difficult task to get the bed up the stairs in the centre and without the Army’s help we would have had to have hired a removal team. The electronic therapy bed will be a great benefit to clients and therapists as it is designed for a variety of therapies and it can be adjusted for each client. Therapies we currently offer in the centre are Aromatherapy, Reiki, Homeopathy and Reflexology.” CLAN Cancer Support is an independent charity which provides comfort, support and information, free of charge, for anyone, of any age, affected by any type of cancer. The charity covers the whole of Grampian, Orkney and Shetland. For more info about CLAN Cancer Support please call the Ballater centre on 013397 56318.
SHORT, BARK & SIDES dog grooming
Volunteering For CLAN
Many readers will be familiar with the CLAN Cancer Support’s charity shop in Ballater. Open Monday – Saturday, the shop provides much needed income that helps to ensure that CLAN can continue to provide services locally. We are renowned for the quality of goods we have for sale, including an extensive range of men’s and women’s clothing, and would like to thank everyone for their generous donations and support. If you haven’t been into the shop we’d invite you to come and have a look round – you might be very surprised at what you will find. We couldn’t run our shop without the support of a dedicated team of volunteers, like Deirdre from Ballater who helps to sort and price donations as well as working on the till. Deirdre says, “For me the most enjoyable part of my role is meeting customers – locals and tourists. I wanted to give something back to the local area and enjoy helping a local charity.” Margaret from Braemar helps out with fund raising events as well as helping in the shop. She too enjoys meeting people. Margaret says, “I volunteered to help CLAN because the charity helps so many people who have been directly or indirectly affected by cancer.” Letchimi, also from Ballater, says: “I enjoy helping out and have already met some good friends as a result. The support we get from the public is also very encouraging both from the donations they bring in and their patronage of the shop.” So volunteering in the shop can be fun, sociable and rewarding. To ensure that we have enough cover in the shop six days per week, we do need more volunteers to join the team. We are also looking for volunteers to help with fundraising and events. To find out more about how you can get involved with CLAN please call us on 013397 56318. www.clanhouse.org
STATION Popular Informal Restaurant in the Old Royal Station
Open daily from 10am Station Square, Ballater AB35 5PB Telephone 013397 55050
DDDP
20 Broadband
The project is still working with Aberdeenshire Council and the Cairngorms National Park Authority to bring broadband to areas of poor or no coverage. Presently Aberdeenshire Council has prepared several cases on behalf of rural communities to look at testing how best to provide a broadband service to the more difficult to reach areas. This project has submitted for consideration a strong case on behalf of a number of communities in Deeside. It is unclear how things will progress as the whole procedure is subject to a national broadband programme. However the good news is that Aberdeenshire Council are committed to bringing some level of broadband to all areas.
Ballater Learning Centre
The Learning Centre initiative has submitted a draft memorandum of understanding to the Royal Deeside Partnership with Aboyne, Ballater
Philipp N. Stellmach Plumbing & Heating Engineer
by Nick Mardall
and Braemar, which will formulate the basis for the partners’ contributions to the operating of a centre in Ballater within the Victoria and Albert Halls. Once this has been agreed, funding bids can be made for some equipment.
Braemar Action Plan
Braemar has an action plan working group which is currently preparing a draft community action plan. This will be presented to the Community Council at the end of the year for them to endorse and then begin the actions which will shape the way the community and various agencies tackle the priorities which have been identified for Braemar.
Housing Partnership
The Prince’s Trust is helping put together options for a site on Balmoral for self build opportunities with the Highland Small Communities Housing Trust looking into how to ensure the housing is appropriate to the needs of the community now and in the future as well as how the financing element will work so local people can afford to be part of the scheme. When this aspect and the design consideration are complete, a report will be submitted to the Cairngorms National Park Authority as part of a pre-application submission, which comes in advance of the formal planning application.
Community Website Assistance
6 Craigview Place, Ballater, AB35 5PJ Telephone:
013397 55565 Mobile:
07801 947528 Email:
philipp.stellmach@btconnect.com
Once again a reminder about the small fund available from the Cairngorms National Park Authority to help local groups establish or improve their group or project websites. If anybody is interested in applying for this fund please contact me on the details above/opposite as I have the guidance and application forms. Several groups in Ballater have already taken up the offer and received funds up to nearly £1000 so don’t let the opportunity pass for your group to benefit! Finally as always I would ask folk to contact
me if they have any project or funding they would like me to help them pursue. Nick.dddp@btconnect.com or telephone 013397 53775.
Dalmochie
Finally the Forestry Commission has considered the application under the National Forest Land Scheme for the Dalmochie site. Fortunately, down to a lot of hard work from the Ballater Historic Forestry Project Association and BRD, the application was successful and the land can now be purchased for the community. We expect to be able to raise the money by spring and then prepare an international project to restore the site.
Dalmochie Camp Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor, We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the people of Ballater who gave so freely of their time to help us retrace the footsteps of our father Sam Beckett, a member of the Newfoundland Foresters stationed at Dalmochie Camp in 1940. We look forward to revisiting the area when the campsite is fully developed. I think it will be a great tourist attraction for many Newfoundland descendants and relatives of the 3,000 foresters who were scattered all over the Scotland Highlands during the war effort. We had such a great experience that we will take every opportunity to promote this destination as a place for Newfoundlanders to connect with their past. Regards, Eric & Gerri Beckett
Brian Smith Funeral Services Ltd
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Ballater (RD) Ltd
22 The Caravan Park is about to complete its first season under the management of Ballater Community Enterprises and has been very successful with good ownership satisfaction. Projects to which BRD are contributing, such as the Dalmochie Heritage Centre and the Birkhall Self Build scheme, are progressing well. Measures continue to provide a Welcome to Ballater granite stone at the west end of the Pass of Ballater similar to the one erected at the east entrance to the village. It is intended to conduct a feasibility study regarding the location and construction of a Heritage Centre for Ballater where photographs and village memorabilia can be on permanent display for tourists. In conjunction with Ballater and Crathie Community Council the possibility of recreating an appropriate Coat of Arms for the village is
by Jack Coull
being investigated. All BRD members are reminded that they will be welcome to attend the Annual General Meeting of BRD which will take place on Thursday 29th November at 7.30pm in the Beaton Craigie Room, Victoria and Albert Halls.
The Dalmochie Camp today
Pic: Nick Mardall
The Oven Valet Oven Cleaners
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Balmoral Events
by Garry Marsden and Glynn Jones Winter Climb
Celebrate International Mountain Day with a winter ascent on the Balmoral Estate and climb a winter peak with the Balmoral Rangers. A high 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 is required. Date: Saturday 8th December Meeting point: Spittal of Glen Muick Visitor Centre. Time: 9.30am until 3.30pm Cost: £10 per person. Booking essential – call 013397 55059.
Festive Tours
Winter Tours are available around Balmoral Castle every Saturday up to and including Saturday December 15th. Tours are conducted on the hour, from 11am to 2pm. December 15th will also bring us the Balmoral Gift Shop Christmas Sale from 10am until 4pm, with 20% off most lines.
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Coronation Memories
At Balmoral we are looking to displays for next year and obviously the Coronation is top of my list. I wonder if any Eagle readers have memories of the Coronation and Coronation year, that they would mind sharing with the visitors to Balmoral next April to July? Pictures and memories would be much appreciated. Please contact Garry Marsden at the estate office Balmoral on 013397 42555 or email garry.marsden@ balmoralcastle.com An Eagle reader has already shared memories of gathering round a large bonfire celebrating the Coronation when the news of Sir Edmund Hillary conquering Mount Everest was announced.
Worrying, Costly and Dangerous! Revolutionary ‘SNO DEVIL’: an affordable, modern method of reducing this problem, which can cause serious structural damage. All work done by Ballater workmen. Free ‘no obligation’ estimate and questions truthfully answered: T:013397 56221 M:077 284 80706 Email: snodevilmelt@gmail.com Visit: www.snodevil.webs.com
24 Coffee at the Kirk
The ever popular Monday Coffee Mornings in Crathie Church Hall continued till the end of October, with the Coffee Ladies extending their usual warm welcome to all comers and every week providing their wonderful home baking. Although the regular coffee mornings have finished for the winter, there will be a one off Christmas Coffee Morning on Monday 3 December, so be sure to keep that date free! Sadly there will be one VIB. (Very Important Baker) missing from the Coffee Ladies’ line up – Nan Colthart, a stalwart of the team for the last six years, is leaving the area at the end of November. Nan and her husband Jim, beadle at Crathie Church, are returning to their roots in the south of Scotland to be near their family. Nan will be much missed by everyone who comes along on Monday mornings.
Crathie News
by Marion MacIntyre
On a brighter note, as one coffee pot empties another one fills! Stepping into the Monday morning breach, Kindrochit Court, Braemar, are holding a “drop in” Coffee Morning every Monday at 10.30am. This will comprise, for a charge of £1.50, a mug of coffee and a freshly made pancake. The money raised will go to the Cyrenians in Aberdeen for their Christmas appeal.
Book Group
Our most successful “read” over the last few months was “Rules of Civility” by Amor Towles, a witty, fast-paced novel set in 1930s New York. Also enjoyed was “The Paris Wife” by Paula MacLain, by coincidence set in the same era but as the name suggests mainly taking place in Paris, the wife in question being married to Ernest Hemingway. By contrast, “Winter in Madrid” by CJ Sansom, set in wartime Spain and harking back to the Spanish Civil War, failed to hit the
spot for the majority of the group. We are currently reading “The Cellist of Sarajevo” by Steven Galloway and on the horizon is “The Casual Vacancy” by JK Rowling. Although it has had mixed reviews, the Harry Potter fans among us are especially looking forward to finding out how she tackles her first adult novel.
Ballater Post Of fice Seasons Greetings
from all of us at your Post Office
Bowling Club
Crathie Bowlers are as usual meeting on Tuesday and Friday evenings from 7pm to 9pm in Crathie New Hall. New members are always welcome and for more information, call Jean Young on 42415.
Hogmanay
Enjoy a lively start to the New Year at Crathie New Hall! From 9pm on 31st December 2012 into the wee small hours of 1st January 2013, Eddie Esson and his band will be making the evening go with a swing. Come along for a great Hogmanay – if you would like more information contact Jean Young on 42415.
Parish Guild
The Crathie and Braemar Parish Guild meets monthly, either in Crathie Kirk Hall or Braemar Church Session Room. For information about the Guild contact Bell Macaulay , marybellmacaulay@btinternet.com, tel 55745 or for copies of the syllabus contact Pat Thomson, patdalmaik@yahoo.co.uk, tel 41214.
Hours of Opening: Mon: 9am - 5.30pm Tues: 9am - 5.30pm Weds: 9am - 5.30pm Thurs: 9am - 12.30pm Fri: 9am - 5.30pm Sat: 9am - 12.30pm Please note we are OPEN over lunchtime
Foreign Currency We now stock Euros & US Dollars for immediate purchase. Support your local Post Office, you know it makes sense!
Tel: 013397 55505 www.ballaterpo.net
Crathie School
by its pupils
We have been exploring the world of art. We visited an art exhibition in the Victoria Hall in Ballater and we visited a NEOS (North East Open Studio) event at Glenbuchat Hall in Strathdon. We really enjoyed both trips. We have invited some of the older boys and girls from the Toddler Group into our classroom to share some of our learning experiences.
Outdoor Visits
We have made regular visits to the Duck Pond at Braemar and to the Muir of Dinnet Nature Reserve. We are keeping a close eye on our environment to see if we can notice any changes at different times throughout the year. We really enjoy learning outdoors and going on little adventures.
Friendly Coffees
We have been supporting the Church. Some Monday mornings we have had break time at the coffee morning, in the Church hall, instead of in school. The ladies at the coffee morning are very kind and friendly.
The Auld Kirk Bed & Breakfast and Private Dining Rooms We are pleased to announce that we are now taking bookings for private dining and small functions including a special Christmas menu. Quality en-suite accommodation open all year round. Please contact us to discuss your personal requirements
Braemar Road, Ballater 013397 55762 mobile 07918 698000
...and Fundraising Ones!
We held a coffee morning in school to raise money for MacMillan. Lots of people supported us and helped us to raise £241. That’s enough money for a nurse to look after someone for nearly 10 hours. We are very proud of this achievement.
Community Learning
27
By Lindsay Lumsden
Kennin’ fa t’Phone
An information director y has been launched that offers important information for older people in Upper Deeside. The “Kennin’ fa t’Phone” directory contains information on housing, energy, money, adult learning, transport, libraries, health and social work, voluntary organisations and community transport schemes for people in the local area. The project came about as the result of discussions between the Upper Deeside Community Development Group (UDCDG) and the Public Health Coordinator for Marr, looking for a way to address public health concerns and promote lifelong learning and leisure. The directory is designed to provide vital information to help members of the elderly population, which is higher than average in Upper Deeside, who live in a rural area. The directory was put together with help from the Aboyne, Ballater and Torphins lunch clubs, residents from the Cromar Court and Sluiemohr sheltered housing complexes in Tarland and Ballater and the West Aberdeenshire Access Panel. “Kennin’ fa t’Phone” was launched by the UDCDG in September, with funding from the Health Improvement Fund. Guests from the Aboyne Lunch Club and Sluiemohr Sheltered Housing Complex enjoyed afternoon tea at the Victoria and Albert Halls in Ballater to mark the launch. A thousand copies of the directory have been published and will be distributed throughout the Upper Deeside area. It will also be available online at www.ouraberdeenshire.org.uk The Chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s Education, Learning and Leisure Committee, Cllr Isobel Davidson, said: “With a high proportion of elderly people living in Upper
Deeside, it is essential that we do all we can to ensure they have access to the most important services which affect their lives. It is great to see Aberdeenshire Council and the NHS working together to produce such a valuable resource and for rural areas like this one, it will be a real asset.” Committee vice-chair, Cllr Ron McKail, said: “This booklet will ensure that older people in Upper Deeside can have easy access to information about important services available to them.” For more information contact community learning and development worker, Lindsay Lumsden, on 013398 86222, or email lindsay.lumsden@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or contact public health coordinator Dawn Tuckwood on 07900 136493 or email dawn.tuckwood@ nhs.net.
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28
Ballater & Crathie CC
A big thank you to everyone for the feedback on the recent informal consultation we conducted for the CNPA. You will not be surprised to hear that it didn’t bring out anything new; but it’s still important that we continue to reflect local opinions into CNPA’s ongoing process – and to continue to try to get those opinions recognized and acted upon. Ballater and Crathie Community Council recently met with senior management of the CNPA and continue to work to get local views reflected in the park plans and to resist the park becoming the same throughout – it’s important that local variations and views are preserved. Some of you will be aware of the controversy surrounding the sale of the field (to the immediate east of Craigview Road, often used as a winter “snow store”) by Aberdeenshire Council. This land was sold in 2009 to an unidentified buyer
Aboyne Van Hire
by Graham Adams
for an unknown purpose, under a confidentiality agreement – subject to planning approval. B&CCC have been pressing hard to get Aberdeenshire Council to either advise us who the prospective buyer is, and its intentions, or to place a time limit on the process. B&CCC have been repeatedly rebuffed with the claim that this is commercially confidential; but finally B&CCC has made progress and Aberdeenshire Council has given the buyer until 5th November to complete or withdraw. An appropriate date, perhaps, so hopefully by the time you read this we will know the full facts! B&CCC have recently engaged with various senior managers from Aberdeenshire Council, which is proving most productive – in general they are very pleased to receive our views, and we continue to develop our good working relationship with Aberdeenshire Council. We continue to receive complaints about dog waste, and dogs out of control, on public footpaths such as the Cinder path and the Cambus o’May paths. Please continue to feed comments to us on this. We will continue to try and get the few badly behaved dog owners to improve their behaviour. Finally, we continue to try to get some sense from the Co-op management. To that end, the local store mangers will be at our November meeting and I will report further on this in the next Eagle.
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Cycle-Friendly Award
We are very pleased that Ballater School has been Awarded Cycle Friendly School status by Cycle Scotland. Ballater has lots of keen cyclists and over the past few years we have done lots of activities to encourage safe cycling in the area. Every year parent volunteers run Bike Ability Scotland Level 2 training which allows P6 and P7 pupils to learn how to cycle safely and properly on the road. The school also has a cycle club, usually in the summer term, which is open to P4 and P5 pupils. The club teaches basic bike skills as well as being a fun activity. This year as part of “Activity Time” there has been a cycle group. Matt from Cycle Scotland came to the school to assess us. He asked about the clubs and training as well as looking at the school grounds and the bike parking. We are very pleased that we passed. We are now going to work on looking at safer ways for cyclists and pedestrians to get to school. By Jonas Law P6
The Scottish Play
At Drama we have a teacher called Mrs Hart. We are very lucky to have her in our school this term. P5/6 are doing a play called Macbeth and we all think it is fun. We hope to perform soon. Macbeth was written by William Shakespeare. These are the main parts – Iona is Macbeth, Louise is King Duncan and Cameron M and Byron B are the narrators. Macbeth is set in Scotland and it is about the murder of King Duncan. By Iona Sinclair, Ross McCallum & Cameron Murray P6
“Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.” Act IV, Scene I John Muir Award
All pupils in P5 and P6 worked very hard last term to achieve their Discovery level of the John Muir Award Scheme. Their work was based around the River Dee and involved lots of outdoor trips to the River and some of the tributaries. Pupils worked with Adrian Hudson of The River Dee Trust and some of his staff to learn about the route of the river, native and alien species that live in the river, the geology of the valley and the importance of the river for our environment and local economy. Pupils enjoyed electro fishing to catch samples of salmon, trout and eels. We even got to handle the eels. We carried out wildlife surveys at different places on the river. We used all our information and experiences to create a group presentation about the River Dee which we shared with our parents, Adrian Hudson and representatives from The Cairngorm National Park Authority. We were all presented with our John Muir certificates at the end of term Prize giving. By Zoe P7
chool News
200 Club
Safe Team Trip
At the beginning of September P7 were fortunate to be invited to go to Gordon Barracks Aberdeen to the Grampian Safe Team Event. There were roughly 200 children there, where we were split into small groups to go around the stations. There were eleven stations altogether. The stations were bus vandalism, bus safety, road safety, electrical safety, anti-social behaviour, assessing risk, fire prevention, first-aid, effects of alcohol, building sites and coastal/water safety. We went to the Safe Team to help us learn how to keep ourselves and others safe. We learned lots of information about real life dangers and we hope we will remember our visit to help keep us safe. It was a fun day but some of it was quite scary too. We were glad to get chosen to go. Our favourite stations were the alcohol one where we had to put beer goggles on and try to walk on a line and the anti-social behaviour quiz. By Calum Mitchell and Katie Fernie P7
Ballater School Parent Council is running its annual 200 Club Draw again in 2013 with the first draw taking place at the end of January. For those of you that are unfamiliar with our 200 Club, draws take place monthly for six months of the year and each draw has four prizes, ranging from £10 up to the grand prize of £250 in the last draw in June! (see below). Five monthly draws from Jan 2013 prizes: 1st - £50, 2nd - £25, 3rd - £10, 4th - £10 Final draw in June 2013 prizes: 1st - £250, 2nd - £150, 3rd - £100, 4th - £50 This is a great raffle with all tickets entering all six draws and there are only 200 tickets so your chances of winning are fantastic! In addition to the prize money, this draw also raises just under a £1,000, benefiting Ballater School and its pupils. Tickets are now on sale at £10 each, so if you would like a ticket (or two, or three…) please call Nick Mardall on 54085 (evenings) or email nick@mardall.co.uk or Jo Croll on 55540 or email on croll66@btinternet.com Thank you for supporting Ballater school! By Nick Mardall P42½
Mudblasters
The running club at Ballater School is called the Mudblasters. Every Wednesday we do running club with Clare, Michelle, Miss Strang, Mrs Forsyth, Mrs Duckworth and Mr Croll. We run up the Craigendarroch Hill, along the Cinder path, down the Old Line and around the park.We start off with warm exercises and then we try to run all the way and back. Sometimes we get some time trials. We like running club but it sometimes makes us quite tired. We take part in races like the Balmoral Races and the Gordon’s College Race. We are looking forward to taking part in some races soon. Thank you to all the helpers for organising our running club. By Elise and Lexi P5
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Teen Authors
Your Eagle Needs You!
NPC
MOLE & PEST CONTROL BPCA Accredited Deeside’s best community magazine (er, that’s us) is looking for contributions from the younger generations of Ballater and Crathie to help fill its pages every quarter. The Eagle regularly has contributions from the primary schools, which are always fun to read and put together. We’d also like to encourage more input from those who attend secondary schools or college, as we feel this is a segment of our vibrant community that is presently underrepresented within the Eagle.
Crathie 01339742001 Mbl 07746556883
We Have Issue... Issues
Is there a burning issue you’d like to address? Something you’d like help raising funds for? Maybe you’d just like to express how wonderful it is to live here! Or not...? Your contributions can be short or lengthy, anything up to 800 words, and we welcome your pictures too. Send any words (in Word, ideally) and photos (100KB+) to:
ballater.eagle@btopenworld.com
and we will consider them for publication. Remember to add your name, age and address or contact number to anything you send.
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34
FEATURES Brew something hot and put your feet up
This year’s Upper Deeside Art Society’s annual Ballater Exhibition was again a resounding success. The members’ work on sale included framed paintings, wood turned bowls, leaded glass mirrors, 3D work, mosaic, hand-made cards and mounted works. Everyone in the Society is able to exhibit their work if they want to, so styles, mediums and subjects are varied, which means there is always something to appeal to everyone. In this year of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the Society was privileged to be loaned two of Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay’s watercolours to display at the Exhibition. This was most generous of him and proved to be very popular with the visitors. The Duchess of Rothesay, as The Duchess of Cornwall is known in Scotland, is an Honorary Member of the Society and takes a very keen interest in the work of the artists. The Duchess
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Log fires and a warm welcome at The Inver
Good food & fine wines Lunches & Dinners Reservations Required Merry Christmas to all our customers! Closed Christmas & New Year Telephone 013397 42345 www.inverhotel.com
Duchess Smiles on UDAS
by Helen Jackson
paid a private visit and met and chatted to all the exhibitors present. Mrs Vera Cormack from Strathdon, who at 91 years old is the Society’s oldest exhibiting member, presented The Duchess with a bouquet of flowers. We are always honoured and delighted when Her Royal Highness is able to come to the Exhibition. This year two people were particularly delighted when The Duchess bought their paintings, one by Ballater artist Rosemary Romilly and one from Strathdon artist Jane Wills. This is the second year a framed painting has been donated by a well-known local artist and member of the Society to be raffled during the week to raise money to fund the running of the exhibition. This year the painting was donated by Alison Ewan, and was won by Rhoda Barber from Stonehaven. Alison Ewan also generously donated a framed print of one of The Prince’s pictures and this was won by Wilma Glashan of Ballater. The Ballater Exhibition is a very popular annual event with both locals and visitors. For the past four years Moira Mackenzie has taken on the massive task of Exhibition Organiser but has decided to take a well-earned rest and hand over to Ballater artist Jan Mason. The Victoria Hall in Ballater is already booked for the 2013 exhibition from 31 August to 8 September. We look forward to seeing you all again then!
Winter Programme
With the summer over, UDAS members have been enjoying their winter programme. UDAS does not focus only on painting and drawing. For instance, on Friday 7 December, Pip Will of Larks Gallery will give a talk and demonstration on the design and creation of glass bead jewel-
Vera Cormack presented The Duchess of Rothesay with a bouquet of flowers lery. All talks are open to non-members and are held at the Aboyne Bowling Club. They begin at 2.30 and the cost to non-members is £3.00. We do hope you will join us. UDAS is a thriving, friendly group of people with all levels of ability and ages. You can find out more about forthcoming events and enjoy a gallery of member’s work on the website: www.udas.org. uk Also, telephone Sandra Allstaff on 01330 844442 or email Sandra.alstaff@btinternet.com to find out about joining the Society.
Moira Melrose Kiltmaker since 1992 Quality Hand Sewn Kilts
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Wee Jim Landscapes
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36
Memories of a Crathie Loon
by David Howie
In the Spring issue of the Eagle, Sandy Fraser’s appraisal of the life of his mother, known as Granny Fraser, stirred memories for an expat Crathie Loon, David Howie. In his article, Sandy referred to his parents living at Coldrech Cottage, and David too had lived there. I was born John David at the end of 1940 in Abergeldie Cottage. My parents were John and Constance Howie, my father probably best known as the one-armed postman, having lost his left arm during WW1. I’ve always been known as David to avoid any confusion. I think back now and wonder at how my father did so much with just one arm. He had a specially adapted bike from the Post Office so that he could do his rounds and made himself all manner of devices so that he could dig the garden for growing our vegetables and play golf. No easy NHS help in those days!
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Three years later my brother Andy was born and we made our first move to the Coldrech, moving in after Mr and Mrs Thow moved out. We lived there for about three years until my sister Jean put in an appearance. I remember learning how to fish for trout in the burn which ran alongside, a hobby which still gives me pleasure today. We took our grandchildren up to see the cottage a few years ago and they were horrified at how far I had to walk just to get to the road for a bus to Crathie school when I was just a little laddie. Even more shocked that I used to do this on my own. If I missed the bus it was a four-mile walk in the dark during the winter time. Couldn’t see youngsters doing that today or their parents letting them! Mr and Mrs Morrison and their family came in after us.
On The Move Again
Our next move was to Tomidhu cottage. The farm was then run by Willie Grant and I think his first words to me were “Oh not you again loon”. He was remembering me from our time at Abergeldie when he ran the farm there. On one occasion I let all his chickens out. Then another time it was the pigs but the worst of my crimes was turning on the tap of the water barrel only for him to find half of his store of paraffin over the ground. I was only a wee loon at the time but obviously left a lasting impression. It was during our stay there that Andy and I joined the Crathie cricket team playing alongside Bud Fraser, his sons and Andy Kemp. At 12 years old I went down to Ballater School with friends like Sandy Downie and Peter Gillan. The happiest days at school were when we volunteered for tattie picking – in fact anything to get us out of school. I left on my 15th birthday, throwing my books off the bus to prove I wasn’t going back again. I started working on the Balmoral Estate in the forestry the next day. Working with Bob Bisset
and Willie Urquhart, I learned the art of taking a quick lunch time nap, an art that has never left me. When I was 17 I moved down south for work and shortly after that Mum, Dad, Andy and Jean moved to Fergach Cottages where they had Bob Bissett and his wife and Kenny Morrison and his family as neighbours. Mum and Dad lived there for the rest of their lives. Andy moved on to be a postie in Aberdeen and now lives in Drumoak, Jean lives in Hertfordshire about a couple of miles away from my wife and myself. We’ve all drifted a bit but as my wife likes to remind me: “You can take them out of Crathie but you can’t take Crathie out of them”.
Irish Cream Recipe
Shanghai Takeaway Finest Chinese, Peking, Thai & Cantonese Cuisine
10 Golf Road, Ballater AB35 5RE
013397 55666 Telephone Orders Welcome Opening Hours: Open 7 days a week Sunday to Thursday : 4pm – 11pm Friday & Saturday : 4pm – 11.30pm We only accept cash
Ingredients
1 tin condensed milk 1 pint of long-life Single Cream 2 teaspoons of coffee 1 cup of whisky
Method
1. Put the condensed milk and the single cream into a large bowl and mix together. 2. In a separate, and smaller bowl, mix the coffee and a small amount of the whisky to make a paste, then add the rest of the whisky. 3. Add the coffee/whisky mixture to the cream, and stir well with a wooden spoon. 4. Bottle, and place in the fridge. 5. Do not keep longer than 5/6 weeks in the fridge.
With thanks to Barbara Duncan
KALLOS beauty Emma Murphy A friendly and professional beauty therapist, formerly of the Marcliffe. Beauty treatments carried out in your home or tourist accommodation. Call 077345 43554 for an appointment. www.kallosbeauty.com
38
A Sketch of Ballater
by Charles Davidson
This poem, believed to refer to the shops and tradespeople of Ballater around 100 years ago, is from the book “Deeside Lyrics” Ae night, when musing by the fire, Enjoyin’ its genial glow, My memory wandered back to scenes Of fifty years ago. These years have wond’rous changes brought; Vast progress has been made. Prosperity has marked its course In every branch of trade. Look where we will; on every hand A rising town we see, As up-to-date as ony place Ballater, circa 1900 Upon the run o’ Dee. We’ve general merchants, big and sma’Lamont or Deans, with bed and board, Coutts, Barnett, Craig, M’Gregor, Supplies the tourist’s need. Murray, and Birse; there’s trade for a’. The “Alexandra’s” up to time; The toon’s aye growin’ bigger. It’s run by Willie Reid. For bread supply we’ve Anderson, And Mrs. Davidson’s “refresh” Malcolm, and Smith, and Milne; It’s famed baith up and doon. And cookies, buns, and wedding cake Courteus to all, she keeps the place They mak wi’ taste and skill. A credit to the toon. And butchers we can boast a pair. The “Café” for “the cup that cheers” Troup’s meat’s aye cheap and good; Call in on Mrs. Scott. But if ye’re stoppin’ up the toon She’ll promptly to your needs attend, Ye’re nearest Alick Wood. And serve it piping hot. M’Pherson’s store is weel supplied Should influenza symptoms show, Wi’ butter, eggs, and cheese, Before ye call a doctor, Aye sweet and fresh; ye’ll deal wi’ him Just try a drap o’ special Scotch; Or else ye’re ill to please. Ye’ll get it good frae Proctor. John Smith for fish; buy ance frae him If sickness comes, and come it will, Ye’re sure to buy again. O’ doctors we hae twa. He hauds his grun’ though whiles hard run They’re baith M.D. It’s odious Wi’ cadgers aff the train. Comparisons to draw. Harper for carrots, leeks, and peas, Innes and Caird will sooth your pain And every fruit that grows, With powders and with pills, In his shop ye’ll see a’ kinds o’ game Lotions and ointments warranted Hung up in great lang rows. To cure a’ human ills. Ye needna sup yer porridge dry, With tailors we are weel equipped, For milk ye’ll get galore. Wilkie, an honest chiel; The Eastfield cart or Davie Reid Mak, Bob D., and Milne & Co., Will han’t in at yer door. And Cameron, of Lochiel.
They’re a’ past masters of their craft; Ye’ll travel mony a mile Ere ye get work to equal theirs For finish, cut, or style. And Mrs. Alexander keeps A’ kinds of ladies’ dress, And owre a thriving milliner trade Presides with great success. For haircut in the latest style Gie Willie Smith a call, And “while you wait” he’ll shave your face As smooth’s a billiard ball. For boots and shoes and dancing pumps, Or slippers neat and trig, There’s Castel, Simpson, Willie Milne, And Finlay at the Brig. Mitchell and Smith the saddler trade Richt weel do represent. They’ll sell you rods, reels, lines and hooks If ye’re on fishin’ bent. John Knowles and Robb with skill and care Can clean a clock or watch, Or mend a scarfpin or a brooch With neatness and dispatch. John Findlay for deers’ heids and skins; Willox will mend your bike. With steel and iron Willie Smith Mak’s onything ye like. The Deeside press in Albert Road Wide custom has secured; With first-class work and moderate charge Its success is assured. And Morgan’s studio’s up-to-date, Complete in every part. His cabinet and landscape views Are splendid works of art. The bookstall keeps the magazines And papers of the day. M’Kenzie’s fancy goods saloon Is aye a fine display. Miss Farquharson a record holds Of service nobly done; Her able and efficient staff
39
Have public favour won. Our watchful guardians of the peace, Duty’s a special care. A lum on fire pits up their ire, So housewives a’ beware! If cup or plate ye smash or knock The handle aff the “trackie” (teapot), Haud doon to Mrs. Reilly’s shop, Or owre to Jamie Mackie, And every kind of crockery ware They’ll furnish in a trice. For rags or bones and rabbit skins They give the highest price. The different building trades, ower them I hinna time to gang. Next time I tak’ a rhymin’ fit They’ll mak anither sang. I trust by those I’ve mentioned here Nae umbrage will be shown. My motto is; “Try to amuse, And give offence to none.”
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
Andra
40
by Ian Cameron
At Dalguise I had a lodger, one Andra Gilmore, who had been carter on the estate for a long time before it was taken over by the Forestry Commission. He had elected to stay on and plant the new trees, indeed the young larches growing outside his bothy door had been carried home in his pocket, to be lovingly planted and protected from rabbits, the hungry descendants of Beatrice Potter’s original Peter Rabbit. The following is part of his story. Andra was last to climb down from the platform of the truck. The driver shook his hand and said ‘All the best, Andra, I’ll be seeing you’, then he turned his truck and drove off into the gathering darkness.The little group of men stood talking together for a moment then broke up as they set off home for supper. Andra slung his piece-bag over his shoulder and set his steady pace along the road, passing the little store-cum-post office with its harassed owner
Graham Stuart Plumbing & Heating Engineers
Bathrooms Boiler Replacements Pressurised Systems Oil Fired, Solid Fuel or Underfloor Central Heating
trying to cope with the usual Friday pay-night rush of locals. A poster stuck on the Hall door, announcing a forthcoming concert, drew scant attention from Andra. He used to be a regular patron of all functions, but, after winning a raffle one night, someone, in jest, said that he was cheating. Andra was so enraged that he returned the prize and left the Hall. He had never been through the door since. Just past the Hall, Andra struck up a private road, past a small cluster of white-washed cottages; he paused on reaching two stone pillars, one on each side of the drive. Andra could remember when massive wrought-iron gates had hung there, resplendent in the black paint that he used to renew each year. He remembered too, how they had been sacrificed as scrap metal for the war effort. On either side of the drive ran straight rows of tree stumps. Andra recalled with mixed feelings, the once tall sycamores and limes that had stood there, their majestic beauty in high summer, their welcome shade, and then again the endless toil sweeping up and burning their leaves on cold November mornings. Andra could now see the Castle, but at this point he turned up a steep track that left the drive. This led to a quadrangle limited by a gardener’s cottage on one side, a large archway leading to the castle opposite, and on the other two sides stables, coach houses and latter-year motor garages. Andra made for the corner of the nearest building
Cindy Adams PG Dip (Coun)
Person Centred Counsellor Tel: 013397 55627 / Fax: 56342 Mobile: 07836 562946
1 Netherley Place
Est. 1975
Tel: 07969 495399
where a green-painted porch with one small window leaned against the wall. The old man found a key under a pail and opened the door. An old army blanket hung immediately behind the door for a screen. Andra pushed it aside and entered his 2/6d per week home. In days gone by, this had served as an estate office. The room was lined with wood from floor to ceiling, there was an old iron fireplace, leaning at a crazy angle and only held from final collapse by a broken file jammed into the brickwork. A bed with innumerable quilts was placed under the only window, and a table, one arm chair and two trunks completed the furniture. Andra lit a large blue-glass paraffin lamp, sought out dry kindlings and paper for his fire and soon had his sooty kettle boiling. His supper busied him for some time, and he switched on his old Sky Queen radio to hear the news and the weather report. Then, as had long been his custom, he sat down before the fire to read his newspaper. Tonight, however, was different. The print, always troublesome, refused to keep his attention, and his mind kept moving away to events long past – of his childhood on the farm where his father had worked, of how he had had to leave school, against his headmaster’s wishes, at 13 years of age to start work and help keep the home. Andra remembered, too, the pain when he had been rushed to hospital in Perth for an appendix operation, and later, the deeper, greater hurt of being turned down for the Metropolitan Police, because of the resultant scar. As he grew older, Andra had worked on many farms, some good places, others not so good. One farm in particular he did not like, and, to escape his term of employment, he had crossed a floodswollen River Tay at night in a rowing boat to lodge his kist, full of all his worldly possessions, in the sanctuary of the nearest railway station left-luggage office at Glencarse. Some 30 years ago, Andra had come to Dalguise Estate as carter, or horseman. Life had been uneventful but satisfying until the war came. After
the war, the estate grounds had been sold to the State for tree planting and Andra had opted to work among the new trees. The castle had become a youth holiday and sports centre. All this rushed through the old man’s mind, of the changes that he had seen and the way of life that had gone. Now was his time of change, tomorrow would mark the start of a final chapter, because, after 52 years of honest and conscientious toil, Andra had retired.
Today, Dalguise House is part of the ‘Parents Get Lost’ adventure holiday organisation for children.
Morven Veterinary Practice Opening Hours: Monday 2pm - 6pm Tuesday 10am - 2pm Wednesday 10am - 5pm Thursday Closed Friday 12 noon - 5pm
Tel. 013397 - 55134 24 Golf Rd Ballater Aberdeenshire AB35 5RS
Breast Cancer
42
Don’t get scared, get checked
The earlier breast cancer’s found, the easier it is to treat. Most women know that if you get a lump in your breast, you need to get it checked out early. Lumps can appear anywhere in your breasts, armpit or around your collarbone, Sometimes an area feels thicker or just different to the rest of your breasts. But lumps aren’t the only sign of breast cancer.
Signs to Look Out For:
Skin like orange peel. Some women’s breasts look red and become sore. The skin looks like orange peel because the pores stand out in the inflamed area. Crusty nipples. Some women get crustiness around or on their nipple. Sometimes it’s like a red rash, sometimes it’s flaky skin, and it can be itchy. Turned-in nipples. Any changes in the size or shape of your breasts need to be checked out. One of the more noticeable changes is a nipple
Crannach Coffee Shop & Bakery at Cambus O’May Open Thursday - Tuesday 11am - 5pm
Bread Making Courses on Wednesdays
Gift Vouchers Available Tel: 013397 55126 for details
Actress and comedian Elaine C Smith fronted a recent awarenessraising campaign by the NHS. that, over time, becomes turned in. Leaking nipples. If you notice a discharge coming from your nipple, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible. Sometimes the liquid has blood in it, but not always. Dimples. Some women find dimples on their breasts. These can appear anywhere and need to be checked out early. The other thing you can do is find out more about breast screening. It’s estimated that breast screening save 130 lives in Scotland every year. If you’re between 50 and 70, you’ll be invited for a mammogram every three years. This takes place at a screening unit in your local area. (Women over 70 are welcome to refer themselves for screening via their local screening centre). But, please remember, you still have to look out for any changes in between screenings. For more information on signs or symptoms and signposting to local cancer support organisations contact your local NHS Grampian healthpoint, call the free healthline on 0500 20 20 30 or log on to nhsinform.co.uk
Aberdeenshire Council by Katrina Farquhar
Since my election as one of your Ward 15, Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside councillors, life has been a bit of a whirlwind! The other two councillors available for you to contact are Cllr. Peter Argyle and Cllr. Geva Blackett. I have had a huge amount of training to ensure I can provide you all with the best possible service. The initial weeks have meant a very different lifestyle both for me and my car. The days of travelling little more than to Ballater, as I have for the past 26 years, have gone; these days I can be anywhere from Aberdeen to Huntly to Stonehaven – and Ballater of course. At first the lack of a fixed routine was very disconcerting but now after nearly six months, every day being different is just part of the challenge.
Good to Know
There are a few things I would like tell you about, services that are here to help, but not
everyone is aware of them. To report road defects or street lighting or gritting or snow clearing faults, phone 08456 081205 or text 07624 820722. Or alternatively you can go online and complete a simple form which then goes directly to the correct service. The internet address is: www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk Look for Report It, this will open a box for all kinds of faults. You just tick the fault you would like to report – pothole, street light or whatever. You can also go online to look through Aberdeenshire Council’s entire Lending Library and reserve books, DVDs and CDs. Local Bus Timetables are also available to check routes and times. The website has a vast amount of information for everyone, but if you don’t have access to a computer you can get free access to one at Ballater Library, or you can telephone the council on the numbers given on page 58.
MAN, DOG, STROKE by Eric Sinclair £8.99 Available in all good bookshops and as an e-book or paperback from Amazon. Or post-free from the publisher – send an email with your name and address to Deeside Press: deesidepress@btconnect.com All profits to the charity The Stroke Association
43
Cairngorms NPA
44
by Katrina Farquhar
What does the Cairngorms National Park mean to you, me and to visitors? The Cairngorms National Park has four aims defined by legislation; in the UK and across the world only the two Scottish National Parks have this unique position. As communities, we have to work hard to achieve these aims. I feel we should be encouraged to promote sustainable economic growth; as rural communities we need to thrive to survive in this current climate. We have to provide employment for all as well as encouraging people to stay in the area. We don’t want a national park that no one lives in and is only used by visitors. This can only be achieved by locals, visitors and the Cairngorms National Park Authority working with communities towards shared goals. The park authority is here to assist, advise and facilitate in any way it can. It has a dedicated
The wind turbine at The Lecht
Darroch Learg Dinner 7pm - 9pm Sunday Lunch 12:30 - 2pm a red Star hotel an aa Inspector’s choice hotel recommended in the good Food guide and Scotland the Best
Royal Deeside’s Award Winning Highland Retreat Darroch Learg, Braemar road, Ballater aB35 5UX Telephone 013397-55443 enquiries@darrochlearg.co.uk
housing officer to assist with the complex housing issues in rural areas and towns alike. There are forums throughout the park with which people can get involved and this helps to raise awareness of what assistance is available for the individual communities throughout the park. The park authority also supports the Cairngorms Business Partnership, which is available for all businesses to join. The planning office is based in Ballater and our staff are there to help. They provide invaluable pre-application advice and guidance throughout the application process. There is a myth that if an application is called in, it will be refused; however the figures show that 80% of all applications made since the inception of the park are approved – and the Park only calls in the more complex or challenging applications. My role as a board member is to engage with the public and take collective responsibility for the authority’s decisions. I also promote and represent the park, wherever I may be in the world.
The Lecht’s Wind Turbine
An excellent example of the Cairngorms National Park working with business to encourage growth, tourism, and employment is in the recent decision to allow a wind turbine to be erected at the Lecht Ski Centre. The applicant firstly engaged in pre-application discussions with the park planning office over a suitable site and the acceptable height for a turbine. Landscape and ecology issues were carefully assessed to ensure as little impact as possible. The erection of the turbine will allow the ski centre to develop the business further, thus increasing recreational facilities and employment in the area. The site location was carefully chosen to reduce the visual impacts of the structure when approaching the Lecht. This is a good example that lets people know we are open for business. We want to encourage visitors to our national park so that they, along with our residents, can enjoy everything the park has to offer, through recreation, learning, working and, most important of all, living life to the maximum.
La Mangiatoia Ristorante & Pizzeria
Closing for annual holidays 18th November. Re-open 27th December Bridge Square Ballater Tel. 013397-55999
The Green Inn
Dinner 7 - 9pm closed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday
Good Food Guide AA Highly Commended & Visit Scotland Michelin Guide 9 VICTORIA ROAD, BALLATER TEL: 013397 55701 WWW.GREEN-INN.COM
46
Celebrating Christmas
by Sheila Sedgwick
Christmas will soon be here – for us the 25th December. Today Christmas celebrations are full of pagan symbolism and merrymaking with a veneer of Christianity. Once the shorter days were past our ancestors celebrated the wheel of time, Houl, giving us the name Yule. Druids blessed the Yule log then burned it. Usually all we manage is a chocolate cake shaped like a log! Holly was lucky, protecting the house from thunder, lightning, fire and witches. It was later used to treat fever, rheumatism and gout. Whichever partner brings holly into the house will be the dominant partner for the following year. Gentlemen, beware! In rural Aberdeenshire a piece of holly on the byre door on Christmas Eve would make stock thrive. It is bad luck to burn holly. Ivy kept away the witches. Abscesses and corns were cured with a solution of ivy leaves in vinegar. Mistletoe, sacred to the Druids, growing on apple trees and
H M Sheridan Ltd 11 Bridge Street Ballater Tel: 013397 55218 Fax: 013397 56042 email: info@hmsheridan.co.uk
By royal appointment to H.R.H. The Queen and H.R.H. The Prince of Wales
Christmas will be here soon!
Remember to order all your festive food!
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sometime on oaks, was the Golden Bough of Virgil’s story that enabled Aeneas to go to the Underworld and back. It was once used to treat heart problems, epilepsy and toothache. It does actually produce guipsine used in dealing with hypertension. A Scandinavian plant of peace, our tradition says a woman “unkissed” under the mistletoe will not marry the following year. Most of us will have a Christmas tree – real or artificial. Christmas Tree legends go back to the 4th century but written evidence is only from the 17th century. The setting up and decoration of a tree was a German custom, introduced by Hessian soldiers of George III. There was a children’s party at Windsor in 1821 and again in 1829 with a tree and candles and by 1841 Prince Albert had a tree. Today we regard a tree as essential for Christmas. The hanging of trinkets on the tree dates back to the Romans. Candles have been Christianised and represent Christ as the Light of the World, but in earlier times they were just essential household items. Christmas Day used to be a working day like any other. Even after the Second World War, work in Ballater continued on Christmas Day and shops were open, even though the day had been declared a Bank Holiday in 1871! Hanging up stockings became popular in the 20th century although contents were at first modest until after the Second World War – sweets, an orange, nuts. The tradition of sending Christmas cards goes back to 1841 when, on the suggestion of Sir Henry Cole, a London artist Joseph Cundall, lithographed a drawing by J.C. Horsley, coloured it and sold 1,000 copies. Temperance Societies were angry because characters pictured were
drinking wine! Within 20 years the sending of Christmas cards had become widespread. Now many folk use electronic mail greetings. Christmas crackers were also a 19th century invention. Tom Smith of Norwich produced them in 1884, based on Parisian sweets wrapped in paper and he added love verses. Then he produced a miniature and safe imitation of a firecracker, using a cardboard strip with gunpowder that snapped when pulled. A small gift replaced the sweet and now, there are awful jokes. Earlier, there were topical references to events and scandals of the day. Pantomimes originated in narrative dance early in the 18th century. Comic and fantastic elements soon took over. Today pantomime has lost its harlequin and pantaloon aspects and is now frequently based on fairy tales, with a dame played by a man and a leading boy played by a woman, and all sorts of animal representations. Frequently there are lampoons about political characters. Imagine a Christmas without food and drink! Most of us have a special Christmas Day meal. Foods traditional at Christmas have changed over the ages. Lairds frequently feasted their tenants and the serving of a boar’s head can be traced to 1289. Boar’s head not being readily accessible today, poultry is substituted. Tradition is still strong – turkey, goose, or chicken, sprouts, potatoes, followed by Christmas pudding with a sauce. A common pie at Yule was a mince pie. An old saying was “As many mince pies as you taste at Christmas, so many happy months will you have.” It is unlucky to refuse an offered mince pie. The pies used to be oval in shape to represent a manger and the filling was made of meat. As time went on this was changed from savoury to sweet. How do you fancy the old dish of Yule Brose or “potage” that was a usual first course in Deeside glens? A large pot was put on the swey the night before with bones or shanks or whatever was available. The next day the brose was made in a big bowl. Into this oatmeal, the “gravy” was poured and everyone used a spoon to help them-
selves to the half-boiling brose. A development of this was the beef or mutton broth thickened with breadcrumbs or oatmeal, raisins or any fruit available and seasoned with a spice and locally distilled whisky. Semi-liquid, a spoon was again used. From about 1670 the dish became thicker and was the ancestor of our Christmas pudding. Also popular was frumenty. It was wheat stewed in milk with eggs whipped in. It could be a dish on its own but was often eaten with mutton or venison – illegally shot, of course! No Deeside dweller would have been without his whisky, home distilled and hidden in the local still. Enough was reserved from the quotas “smuggled” south over the hills to make the celebration worthwhile. To this day, the New Year is welcomed in with a drink, either at home or with friends and first footing is still practised. Yule Tide was a time for families and members tried to return to the family home on the middle day of the three-day celebrations. Enjoy your Christmas celebrations!
Deeside Books
Quality Books Bought & Sold Antiquarian, second hand & a good selection of new Scottish books and bestsellers New Books by local authors available to order from www.deesidebooks.com Christmas Cards, Wraps and Bows Cosy Accessories to make you glow! Lots of Christmas Gifts Galore So come on in and explore! Open: Mon-Sat 10am-5pm Sun 12-5pm 18-20 Bridge Street Ballater Tel. 013397 54080 Email: deesidebk@aol.com
48
The Horse an’ the Ploo
Jock hid nae time for book-learnin’. He wisna a feel at the squeel – he’d a deal o’ native wit an’ savvy, bit he aften thocht it wis sic a waste o’ his time, sittin’ hodgin an sweiten awa, kennin the teuchats were wheelin an cryin o’er the parks, or fan the reeshle o’ the corn-heids tellt it wis geylies time tae get roadit for the hairst. Forbye a’ that, he kent his sowl wid jist dwine tae a peep, gin he wis held in aboot at an inside job, for he wis born an bred a country loon o’ the open air. Sae, come the time he could throw his scoored auld bag in the glory-hole an leave ahin the confines o’ the squeel, he wis fine pleased tae pack his kist an tak a fee as the orra-loon at Tipperty toun ferm. As the orra-loon, he got a the fool, clorty jobbies on the ferm bit that didna phase him neen, for he wis young an swack, an it wis jist an unwritten law that a body hid tae start on the boddom rung o’ the peckin order o’ the toun. Bit fan he watched the ploo-man, in the spring o’ the year, tak swingin ben the dreels ahin the horse an saw the new-turned furras fa an gleam like burnished mahogany in the bonny, stracht dreels, he swore tae himself he widna aye be an orra-loon! The years drave on, an wirk didna fear Jockie – he wid turn his haun tae ony job, an he wis weel thocht o’ in the places far he wirkit. At lang laist, Jock wis able tae move up the laidder tae be a ploo-man wi a pair o’ horse tae wirk. The muckle Clydesdales stood prood an stracht in their prime o’ strength – ane chestnut-broon wi fite legs an mane, an the ither ane a dappled grey. Aften, a wirkin horse wis a one-man beast, an sae it wis tae be wi Jock an Prince. There wis jist a bond that grew atween the twa, an the horse an man were like ane, as they swung alang the parks – it wis as if they kent ane anither’s thochts. His hert wid near
by Mary Munro
sing as he followed the heavy, clean plod o’ the big horses’ feet, or sat warm on the muckle back, as they showded hame fae the hairst park in the gaitherin mirk, wi a great hairst meen tae licht their road. Jock aye sorted his horse, fed an watered an beddit amun clean, sweet strae afore he himsel loused for the nicht, an mony a time, he left the lads o’ the bothy tae their sangs an roch spik, an crossed the close tae the stable. As he swung back the heavy, widden door on its runner, Prince wid gie a snort an a snicher, an a toss o’ his harness chine, turnin his broon limpid e’en on Jock as if tae welcome him tae his stall. Jock wid tak doon the dandy-brush an brush his coat an mane till they shone- it wis some-like a mither soothing her bairnie’s heid. The travis hid a gweed feow rosettes that his horse hid gotten at shows fan Jock triggit him oot bonny wi gleamin harness an clean, files pleated tail an hair. Tae be a horse-man on a gweed ferm-toun wis a that Jock socht oot o’ life, for he hid thon deep feelin for the soil that files an auld ferm-lad micht hae, bit mony a chiel thocht him saft-like fan he wid stop in his tracks at the hyowin, cock his lug tae the breeze “Div ye nae hear the seed brierin in the grun?” or he wid rin the foosty, new smellin earth throwe his calloused fingers, wi a look in his e’en that the ither billies couldna quite fathom. Files, they jist raised their broos tae ane anither or hid a quaet smile at fit they thocht o’ his queer weys. Bit then, Jockie niver heedit, for hard tho’ the never-endin wirk o’ the ferm toun wis daily day, at nicht he slept the soun sleep o’ a contentit man. His horse an him hid a closeness he hid
niver yet felt for ony human body, an fit nott he wi a wheen o’ siller an funcy gear? He could draw a fine, stracht furra an feel the breezes on his broo as he held the ploo ahin the solid plod o’ his horse – thon wis his life an he socht nae ither. Bit, nae man can tether time or tide, an, come time, the Clydesdales tint their glorydays. Weys change wi the years an the tractor became king. It wis files wi a sair hert that aulder horsemen hid tae boo tae “progress” an see the era o’ the horse pass intae rural history, for the tractor wis jist a machine, engine, metal, bolts an screws, bit their horse wis livin flesh an bleed! David Kerr Cameron, in his glorious book aboot auld ferm-life, “Cornkister Days”, says ---- “They are gone from the land, those men I once knew. They had the old speak and grizzled five-day beards. They were wiry and argumentative, and the years had honed them in bone and sinew. It was a society based on
EJ E
the plough that was its most potent symbol, the imagery of its turning furrow analogous to the year’s unfolding – a poetic and moving metaphor for the life journey itself. Men walked the furrow bottom, holding the stilts in a close and solitary relationship with the soil, the silence only broken by the quiet creak of harness under strain, the muffled hooves of a Clydesdale pair and the mesmeric hiss of stubble as it tumbled into the furrow. It was an all-enclosing world, and, at its centre, stood the ploughman.” Jock lived his life close tae the land – the earth the very marra o’ life itsel, an, as the tractor laid claim tae the parks, he missed thon unspoken affinity that can flow atween man an beast, bit then change is aboot the only constant in life, an Jock wis aye gled he’d hid his time wi the bonny horses that aince wirked the grun o’ the North-east.
EDWARD J EMSLIE
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Ozzymandias of the Arrigation by Wee Chis Part Five – Reflections On Other Life Forms
It is hard to believe that over sixty years have now passed since that fateful day, when ‘Loon’ and I took, what turned out to be our inaugural flight. We are both octogenarians now, but that exciting journey is still etched vividly in our minds. Old age has taken its toll and ‘Loon’ rarely climbs into my saddle now. I have become more of a shopping trolley than a bike and with my handlebars festooned with bags of shopping and the occasional bag of potatoes wedged in my frame, I just turn a deaf ear to the occasional taunts from younger bikes we meet en route. As ‘Loon’ pushes me home from the Coop or Mace on our weekly trips I still feel I am providing him and the family a useful service Today, with the weekly trek to the Coop over and the messages safely delivered, I now leaned quietly against the shed wall where ‘Loon’ had
placed me. Close by, Sandy, the family’s elderly golden Labrador, lay stretched out in a patch of sunlight his eyes closed and six inches of pink tongue draped loosely over his lower jaw. Although to a casual observer he might appear to be asleep, I could tell from his breathing, that like me, he was in a listening mode, his soft floppy ears attuned to the voices of his two favourite humans. Sandy and I have been pals ever since he first arrived as a plump, lolloping, four month old pup and some of my favourite memories of him are in earlier times, when fit and strong and barking happily, he would race proudly alongside ‘Loon’ and I on one of our many journeys. I looked at him now with a little sadness, for at sixteen, his muscles shrunk and his old bones stiff with the onset of arthritis, he was more or less just ‘hinging t’gither’ as ‘Loon’ would say.
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He half opened one eye and caught me looking at him. ‘What are you gawping at Bike, you old Sassenach boneshaker,’ he murmured, ‘I hear the scrappie’s coming for you any day now.’ I was glad to hear he still had spirit enough for our usual friendly banter and in kind I replied, ‘Oh well at least I’ll be of some use and might just earn a few bob, but I doubt they’ll be getting much for you at the glue factory, you old bag of deer horns,’ and Sandy’s soft mouth widened in a grin, his scrawny belly shaking with laughter. Unaware of our discourse, his playmate, eightyear-old Stuart, sat on an old milk crate watching intently as ‘Loon’, his granddad, showed him how to adjust the chain on his fairly new bike. The demonstration over, ‘Loon’ then slackened off the wheel nuts and adjusters again, letting the chain droop once more. ‘There you go laddie,’ he said, ‘now show me what you can do’ and as ever, Stuart jumped forward eagerly, for he was a bright intelligent, outdoor sort of lad, keen to learn all about tools and their applications. One
day I ruminated, he might make a fine engineer. Despite the great difference in ages ‘Loon’ and Stuart enjoyed a great rapport, the grey haired old artificer keen to pass on his extensive knowledge, the pupil often in awe, but always interested and itching to try things for himself. Gazing down fondly at the fair headed laddie as he concentrated hard and spun the wheel to check that it ran true before tightening up the nuts, ‘Loon’ could see the same skills developing in his grandson, that he had himself inherited from his father many years before The job completed, Stuart dashed off to collect the mugs of tea and plate of freshly baked sultana scones that his grannie had placed on the kitchen windowsill, while Sandy, alerted by the aroma, dragged himself painfully up to a sitting position, his watery eyes fixed firmly on the approaching plate, hope forming in his tired old brain and a trace of saliva starting to leak from his expectant jowls. As soon as Stuart’s back was turned, ‘Loon’ quickly applied a spanner to the
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wheel nuts and for safety’s sake gave them a final tweak, for although the laddie had completed the task correctly, he still lacked some strength in his young arms and that true mechanic’s instinct of knowing when a nut is truly tight, would only come from experience. I now watched contentedly as my three heroes made short work of grannie Beryl’s baking, amazed as always at the speed with which Sandy’s portion disappeared down his gaping maw. As the old chap slurped happily from a saucer of tea, I thought back to his earlier days, when, before he had learned to speak ‘bike’ and thinking I was being neglected, he would kindly leave me a small piece of some particular treat, his doggie brain still not aware that human food was of no use to us bikes The village branch of SPIC (The Society for the Prevention of Ill-use to Cycles) had just been amalgamated with SPAN (The Society for the Protection of cycles Against Neglect) and I was proud that ‘Loon’ had been appointed the Honorary President. Half dozing on that balmy
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summer’s day, it was the thought of this that led me on to think about the subject of bike maintenance and I suppose it must have been thinking about Sandy as well, or old age, that made me start to compare our treatment to that of animals. Truthfully now, all you bairns, aye and I’ve no doubt most of you older ones, when did you last give that faithful old iron horse of yours a squirt with the oilcan and see that its tyres were pumped up good and hard? When did you check that its nuts and bolts were all tight and when did you last give it a good clean and polish? Is it out there now in the dark and rain lying forgotten and neglected on the ground where you dropped it last, so eager were you to get in for your tea, your mind no doubt already plugged in to your Raspberry, Goosegog, Blackcurrant or whatever other fruity sounding fancy electronic gadget is on the go at the moment. Now I’ll bet you wouldn’t treat that smelly old lump of fur of yours that lies basking in front of the fire, well fed and content like that, would you? But I suppose when it gazes up at you with those soulful brown eyes and wags its tail with pleasure when you come in and rolls over to give you a warm fat tummy to rub, it’s easy to forget your poor old bike. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not jealous of the affection Sandy gets, for luckily I am just as well cared for as he is and we bikes don’t have any great animosity against dogs, except perhaps for the occasional disrespectful male that might lift its back leg against our wheels. No, they have their job to do and we have ours. But ask yourself this – does a bike need feeding regularly, does its stupid barking annoy the neighbours and keep you awake at night, does it need taking for walks regularly in the bad weather, cost a fortune at the vets, attack the postie and chew the letters? Aye, or even give you fleas! I could go on! Okay, I suppose dogs might have some use as a guard, a playmate or as a companion to some lonely old soul, but again, I ask you, can a dog transport you effortlessly for miles on a fine sum-
mer’s day with your pals to picnic at the Burn o’ Vat, or up to the Falls o’ Muick with your fishing rod, or can it give that bonnie lassie with the long brown ringlets a hurl home from school on a crossbar? I think not, so do you perhaps not believe that just maybe, there is a case for us bikes to receive better treatment? ‘Ach don’t be daft.’ I imagine you will reply, ‘bikes are not alive; they don’t feel anything and can’t speak or hear what you say’ – Ah! but now that you’ve read my story can you really be sure that is true? Your dog might be able to communicate to humans with a warning bark or growl, or a whine when it is hurt, but that is as far as it goes. Us bikes converse to humans by squeaking, when our dry bits rub together to let you know we need oil and we make a rattling sound, to warn you there are loose bits that might fall off and you must surely have heard our brakes squeal in protest, when applied too harshly on a dry day. So really to human ears we are just about as communicative as dogs. For that matter, have you ever heard a but-
terfly or a snail or snake, speak and do you really believe that like fish, with no obvious ears, they go through life without possessing some method of communicating with one another? Plants don’t have ears either you know, at least none that you can see, but some folk speak to them as if they do and swear it makes them grow better. We bikes of course believe that it is just the extra dose of carbon dioxide they are getting, that is doing the trick. But think carefully, plants thrive in the earth and it’s there that the iron ore and carbon comes from to make the steel that forms our cycle bodies, so perhaps there might just be a connection. So if plants can hear, why not us bikes? Now, I shouldn’t really be telling you this, but as I’m getting old, I’ll let you all into a wee secret. I myself haven’t been given a voice box and so I admit I cannot speak in human terms, but I can hear and I can assure you bairns that I can and do speak to other machines – although not of course within your hearing range and not in a language you would understand. As you will have gathered, over the years I
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scarecrow, I have no Toto, Lion or Dorothy to pal around with, only a Stuart and a Sandy, but there is definitely a Wizard in my life. As you now know, it was he all those years ago, who gave me a new lease of life and also the name of ‘OZZY’, which has nothing to do with any Disneyland production or the Antipodes. No! As you will see, ‘my’ wizard named me after one of the great kings of Egypt and that wizard, I am proud to call ‘Loon’.
have also acquired an understanding of ‘animal speak’ and have developed a method of transferring my thoughts to them, so I can hear what that crafty lump of fur of yours really thinks about you, when you forget to cut its nails or comb the thistles from its fur or are late with its dinner – you might be surprised! My heart may be made of steel, but now that you’ve read my short story you will realize that, like me, your bike could also have feelings and perhaps, in future, you might just find the time to think more carefully about its welfare. You know you only have to think about the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz and remember how rusty and seized up he became when left out in the rain. Like us bikes, he was also made of metal and although he was fortunate that someone had given him the power to converse with humans, to be truly happy, all he really wanted was a heart and of course – a drappie of oil now and then! Although at times I’ve looked a bit of a
Percy Bysshe Shelley
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Ozymandias Of Egypt by Percy Bysshe Shelley
55
I met a traveller from an antique land Who said, two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert – near them on the sand Half sunk a shattered visage lies whose frown And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command Tell that a sculptor well those passions read Which yet survive stamped on these lifeless things The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed And on the pedestal these words appear My name is OZYMANDIAS king of kings Look on my works you mighty and despair Nothing beside remains, round the decay Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare The level sands stretch far away
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Pottering About
56
by Stella Potter
In the last issue I told you about the onslaught I was expecting of extended family from the USA and Costa Rica. It was certainly a challenge to fit eight guests in my home. Luckily my young niece and her partner were happy to have the shed as their bedroom, so I cleaned it thoroughly, hoovered, made up the bed and found camping lamps as there’s no electricity in it. A local passer-by with a good memory noticed me at my door with the hoover and extension cables and asked me if I was giving my shed its annual hoover. Spot on! They had a wonderful, but too short, time staying for only two nights. Many thanks to those who lent me another dining table and chairs to fit 11 folk to eat. I wondered about going out for dinner on the second night, but my niece and her Dad are great cooks and as they’d been eating out all the time on their trip they wanted to cook. How wonderful! After a great walk up at Loch
Muick I was firmly sent to the living room with a large glass of wine, whilst growing tantalisingly delicious aromas emanated from my kitchen. I was very impressed by how well they managed in a strange kitchen, and even more impressed when a veritable plethora of tasty vegetarian and carnivore dishes were ready for us all. They wouldn’t even let me do the washing up! They are welcome again any time. It was even lovelier when I received a thank you letter in the post. I know it’s an old fashioned way of expressing thanks, and that sometimes an email is just fine, but it was particularly heart-warming to read how much they had enjoyed themselves, how much they loved our little bit of Scotland and that it was the highlight of their trip. Some traditional ways are definitely well worth keeping! I had the honour and privilege recently to do weddings for people I know. The lovely Eileen
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and Terry had a truly local marriage: in the Albert Hall, with the talented Amy Muir doing photos, Robbie Geddes doing the catering – which smelt very yummy – and me the ceremony. A grand day all round. I was also delighted when Allan McKenzie – who was the Eagle advertising manager a few years back – asked me to perform his wedding to the charming Brian. It was an emotional ceremony, with tears and laughter in almost equal measure, and another absolutely wonderful one to do. The happy couple were indisputably that. Now that the event is over I can share my numptieness with you… The wedding was at a something House Hotel on the South Deeside road, and I thought I’d been there before. In torrential rain I battled the 40-odd miles to the hotel, except when I saw the sign it was a something-else House Hotel. Shock! I felt such a numptie, but thought fast. I knew I was on the right road, but the correct venue may be 20 miles behind me... Thinking that I can’t be the only person who has made this mistake (can I?) a polite enquiry at reception at the WrongHouse Hotel was called for. The panic was rising as I drove down one of those interminable hotel drives, slamming brakes before each and every one of the very many speedbumps. Outside reception I left the engine running and sprinted in. The surprised but absolutely lovely receptionist told me the hotel I needed was only 10 minutes away. I could have kissed him! Time still being of the essence I did a repeat speedbump performance on the exit drive and 15 minutes later arrived, just on time. Phew! I don’t think my numptieness showed… At least there’s a lesson learnt there: not to rely on my ageing memory, but actually check out the venue before leaving home. Life’s for learning whatever your age, eh?
“To love someone deeply gives you strength. Being loved by someone deeply gives you courage.” Lao Tzu
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58
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60
Village moves mountains for Queen’s visit By Eilish and Finlay P5 On the 27th of September the Queen visited Ballater. The Queen came to officially open the Jubilee Cairn in the middle of Ballater. The whole school went down to the Green and we waited for quite a long time for her to arrive. Some pupils in P5, P6, and P7 held lanterns while the rest of the school held Union Flags. Jack O’Halloran and Elise Smith unveiled the cairn to the Queen. Orla in P7 presented the Queen with some flowers. Some of the old people from the village were there and the Queen talked to them. She talked to some of the school people as well. The Ballater Pipe Band marched through the village. Some of the soldiers held flaming torches as the Queen walked through the village. We all enjoyed seeing the Queen and we were very excited and we hope the Queen enjoyed it too.
Photos: Colin Cowie
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