The South Deeside View Autumn 2017 by Lynne Beard

Autumn 2017

The

South Deeside View

Traditional Music & Song Association Aberdeen Branch

Meal an’Ale Concert Music, songs and verse from

Geordie Murison & John Valentine Graham White, Irene Watt Jake Simpson, Kenny Hadden Ian Thomson & Willie Johnston Heather Anderson & Rhiann Matthew

Sat 7th October 7.30pm Cookney Hall Tickets £8, £6 concession Phone 01569 731236 Facebook: The South Deeside View www.nkrcc.org.uk/sdv

Welcome to the autumn issue!

CONTENTS

In this issue you will ﬁnd an update on broadband, news about things old and new, and a general round up of groups and activities in the area.

3 Aberdeen Aeromodellers 3 Cookney Bowling Club, 3 Culter Girls FC 3 Ladies FC, Friendship Club 4 Glendale FC 4 Maryculter Senior Citizens Assoc 4 North Mearns Reading Group 5 Maryculter Driving for the Disabled 5 Maryculter SWI 6 Maryculter Woods 7 Church Notices 10 Blairs Museum 11 Pre School 12 Schools 14 Guiding 15 Beavers, Cubs 16 Scouts, Explorers 17 Community Halls 18 Woodman, save those trees! 19 Public Art Project 20 Nature Notes 21 OldPain2Go 23 NKRCC 24 How Broad Is Your Band? Part 2 25 The Tin Coo at Devenick Dairy 26 MP & MSP 27 Councillors 30 Chapelton news 32 History of Maryculter Trinity Church 34 Home Deliveries, Hall Bookings 35 Useful Numbers & Info 36 Diary Dates

The joint South Deeside View and North Kincardine Rural Community Council plant sale was a great success this year and raised £700. This will go towards the Maryculter Trinity Church restoration funds. The teas and tasty homebakes were served up very eﬃciently by the Church’s very skilled tea ladies on the day. Read on for more news for the rural North Kincardine area. You should have received your copy of the North Kincardine Public Art Project treasure map for our area. You can read a bit more about the background of the project, plus there is a request to get in touch with the group if you have anything to contribute to it too. There is a great website supporting it at -   explorekincardine.wordpress.com. Until next time, Lynne & Mandi

Cover Photo: Chapelton Bike Ride participants, Sept 2017 2

Community & Leisure Aberdeen Aeromodellers

Culter Girls FC  Culter Girls, part of Culter Youth FC, have recently set up new teams for U9 and U11s. We currently train Mondays 5-6pm at Peterculter Sports Centre but move outside after the Easter break. Fortnightly we play 4v4 festivals at Aberdeen Sports Village.

Aberdeen Aeromodellers Flying Club located in Banchory Devenick, welcomes new members and also general public wishing to spectate with a view to beginning in the sport. Open all year round the main flying times are 0900-1900hrs for nitro, petrol & turbine models with electric models flown beyond these times. B A N C H O RY- D E V E N I C K

A B E R D E E N A E RO M O D E L L E R S F LY I N G C LU B

A A M F C .CO.U K

We are open to all girls living in the area and currently have girls from Culter, Cults, Milltimber, and Bieldside. If your daughter is interested in playing please contact: Shona 07734 915850,   cultergirls@yahoo.co.uk

We also have club trainer aircraft so that you can have an initial experience flight and also can supply training on both fixed wing and helicopters Facilities at the club include: large well maintained grass surface for flying off, ample car parking, 10x aircraft starting tables, 6x heli starting tables, club house which provides charging facilities, tea & coffee, toilets, outdoor seating area and BBQ availability. Over the first weekend of June 2017 the Scottish Heli Nationals were held at the club with pilots coming from all over the UK to compete. The weather was favourable on the Saturday and led to a good days flying with two of our local members competing in the F3C & Scale events. Several members of the public came to spectate the event.

Westdyke Dee Vale Ladies Football Club 2017 is our first full season merged with Westdyke Community Club. As expected the transition for the players moving up from u17s to ladies is challenging but all are proving to be very capable, talented young players and welcome additions to the squad. So far league points are proving hard to come by but the team are focussing on maintaining division one status and building for the future. A highlight of the season for coach Rhoda Cameron was the opportunity to attend the Women's Euro Championship in Holland on a coach conference with the SFA. The conference focussed on developing the coaches' game analysis and scouting techniques as well as a visit to the Ajax training academy and Scotland team hotel and training facility. A fantastic learning opportunity and great experience to be with the national team at their first major international championship. Several of the ladies squad also made the trip to Holland to cheer on the national team and hopefully they were inspired by what they saw. Any players, coaches, sponsors or budding sports photographers/videographers interested in becoming involved with the team please contact deevalelfc@yahoo.co.uk. deevalelfc@yahoo.co.uk or find us on Facebook: DeevaleLFC or Twi=er: @DeeValeLFC

Two weeks later was club open weekend where we had visitors from Dornoch, Buchan, Banff & Dundee come to fly at our site. The weather was not great but we still managed some flying over the weekend. The last weekend of June was the SAA training & testing weekend where beginners are able to receive coaching from the examiners and able pilots undertake safety certificates Bronze/Silver/Gold levels of competence. Unfortunately the winds severely hampered the flying on both days Andy Pirie, Chairman AAMFC  information@aamfc.co.uk www.aamfc.co.uk

Cookney Bowling Club

Friendship Club

The Cookney Bowling Club resumed meetings in September. The meetings are usually on Thursdays from 7.30pm at Cookney Hall and the sessions last for about 2 hours. From the middle of October there is also a Competition Night on Mondays.

Our winter sessions are the first Thursday of the month starting in November. Our venue is Maryculter Trinity Church hall from 2-4pm. We have our lunch in April at a slightly earlier time. New members are always welcome. Please get in touch to find out more.

Arthur Durward 01224 319701

Anne Massie Tel: 01224 732071 Peggy Paterson Tel: 01224 734888

Community & Leisure Glendale Football Club

Maryculter Senior Citizens Association Thank to you to all who support the fundraising 100+ Club. Winners of cash prizes from March - August 2017 were   L. Estachy, S. Fraser, S. Rowbottom, J. Mutch, C. Kelly,   R. McIntosh, W. Milne, D. Middleton, A. Wilson, J. Gray,   M. Porter, B. Stewart, E. Thomson, M. Connon, G. Wallace, J. Fraser Snr, Jim Fraser, R. Thomson. Our Christmas Party invitations will be issued once the date is ﬁnalised.

Following on from our last report – from this time last year – a resume of the 2016/17 season would read as follows:- We ﬁnished 6th in our league - a huge improvement on our last couple of seasons - and this position could have been further bettered had it not been for the ridiculous schedule of games that had to be played at the beginning of May, whereby a run of 11 games over the space of 19 days not only drained the enthusiasm of the game from the players, but also that from the management and committee members of the club, a schedule of games all to please the retiring Association Match Secretary and to allow him to move on early and enjoy an extended summer break and retirement.

Fiona Tel 01224 733324 Geordie Tel 01224 734469   Richard Tel 01224 867580 Caroline Tel 01224 734093   Debbie Tel 01224 730018

North Mearns Reading Group The North Mearns Reading group is an informal group that meets every four to six weeks and we take turns to host each meeting. We read books chosen from a list provided by the library service of Aberdeenshire council. The group has grown such that unfortunately we are not able to take on new members at present. Please get in touch if you would like to be considered when places become available.

A quarter final cup tie, in one of the premier trophies - against the premier league runners up - was also involved in this run of games, and had the “tiredness effect” not been a factor, we are sure that the final result would have been more in our favour in what turned out to be a very close run game. However season 2016/17, will be remembered more for the horrific run of injuries suffered not only to 3 of our more key players, but also to other squad members throughout the season. The catalogue of injuries resulted in a dislocated shoulder blade and the need for a replacement elbow joint to our goal keeper, a double leg fracture to local lad Callum Stewart, and broken ribs and a deflated lung to one of our other strikers. Callum and our keeper will miss the whole of this coming season.

Muriel Hargreaves: 01569 730302

Season 2017/18 has however started, and started encouragingly, with more or less the same squad as last year plus couple of new faces brought into replace the above injured players. August/early September has seen us get through eight league games so far, with the next few weeks focussing mainly on the myriad of cup competitions that need to get started, all leading up to the Scottish Cup ties commencing at the start of October. The big date in September however is the “Old Crocks v Young Guns” game on Sunday 24th September, whereby the bragging rights for the rest of the season will be fought and challenged, before retiring to a local hostelry for our postmatch meal and Annual Awards Ceremony. Jim Grant 01224 867512

Community & Leisure Maryculter Driving for the Disabled Maryculter Carriage Driving for Disabled is a Riding for Disabled affiliated carriage driving group providing a wheelchair accessible activity (but also for ambulant passengers). We meet at Home Farm, Maryculter on Wednesday Afternoons from May to September New volunteers are most welcome and always needed, whether you'd like to offer your baking talents as a tea lady, maintain the bikes/ carriages/trailers, support our disabled members, help exercise/ transport/drive the horses. . . . it's a great excuse to get together for a blether with a nice bunch of people! We has pre-season training and a practice session at Maryculter Home Farm in April to familiarise everyone with how we run. The recent downturn has had a negative impact on our funding support. ANY opportunities to access grants, sponsorship or other fundraising ideas are gratefully considered but our group running costs are significant, 2 horses, insurance, equipment, training………… There are lots of ways to contribute. A friend of our group ran the Stirling Marathon in May to raise funds. For more information, please contact either Sarah Holtom (Secretary) 01330 811094, Kate Brockman (Group Organiser) 01330 811615 or Kees Witte (Treasurer) 01224 732738. Registered Charity no. SCIO 28630

Maryculter SWI

The members of Maryculter SWI had a busy time recently celebrating with other Institutes from Kincardineshire the Federation's 90th birthday in June with a meal at Ardoe House Hotel and then enjoyed afternoon tea in the Town Hall in Stonehaven in July celebrating 100 years of SWI.

Aberdeen

Later in July some members were successful with entries at Banchory Show. In August the first meeting of this year was a very enjoyable evening with family and friends on 'The Frying Scotsman' Caledonian Railway steam train with a return trip from Brechin to Dun while enjoying fish and chips and dessert on board. This year's syllabus includes talks on rural crime prevention, Tuscan adventure, famous and infamous folk of Maryculter, bee keeping and demonstrations on kokedama, floral art, and a beetle drive.

T: 01224 780649

E: enquiries@smithskiphire.co.uk

Peterhead

T: 01779 430035

E: enquiries@smithskiphire.co.uk

COVERING ALL OF ABERDEEN AND ABERDEENSHIRE

New members and visitors are always welcome - for more information please phone Sylvia Pike on 01224-733821

Caledonian Steam Railway visit 5

Maryculter Woods Maryculter Woods Our community wood in Maryculter was created just over a year and a half ago. It has been a busy time, so we thought we would share some of the highlights! On January 20th 2016 the Maryculter Woodlands Trust bought the wood from Forestry Commission Scotland with the help of donations from the community, local businesses, the Aberdeenshire Council Area Committee and a grant from the Scottish Land Fund. We held our opening ceremony on 26th March 2016 – one of the coldest and wettest days of the year. Despite the weather, 150 native trees were planted and we definitely made good use of the large marque that we borrowed from Maryculter Scouts. We also showed off our new noticeboard shelter which has a wonderful sedum roof. In the summer we received our first felling license and we hired a contractor to fell some of the sitka spruce. This rescued the interspersed birch which was being rapidly killed off by the taller sitka and also generated an income. This all fits with our plan to slowly restore the wood to (largely) native species. In June 2016 we started our monthly work group which meets Work group at the woods in the wood at 2pm on the first Sunday of every month. These work parties are open to all so please just pop along if you fancy an hour or so of physical labour using hand tools (loppers, bow saws, spades etc). We always finish with tea and pieces in the shelter by the main entrance. Thanks to the monthly work group and community planting events (see photo) we have planted over 1000 native trees since we bought the wood.

Drone footage of the ﬁre-pit

We received grants / donations from NKRCC, MeikleCarewe Wind Farm Community Fund, David & June Gordon Memorial Fund and the AWPR CJV as well as further donations from community members. As a result the wood now contains 2 elm log seats, more bluebells and cowslips, bird boxes, a revamped entrance opposite Redwing, a dog bin and lots of mulched hag (branches left from the felling).

Plans for the next 12 months include construction of a forest road along the southern boundary to join up the two existing roads, installation of a large storage container, more mulching of hag and planting of a further 1000 native trees. The Mucky Boots Forest School will also expand its activities in the wood & the University will use the wood for more research & ﬁeld studies. You can follow our progress on our Facebook: Maryculter Woods Ed Thorogood (Chairman), info@maryculterwoods.com, www.maryculterwoods.com , Facebook: Maryculter Woods  A Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation SCO44224

Visit to JG Ross bakery

Church Notices Maryculter Trinity Church of Scotland Church services Sunday 10.30am in Maryculter Trinity Church. AcDviDes for children who wish to come along. Please note: All events are held in Maryculter Trinity Church premises unless otherwise in:mated. September  Blythswood Shoe Box Appeal Leaﬂets and shoeboxes are now available at church. Contact Helen Anderson 01330.811754. 24th Guild Dedica:on of Guild during morning service October  Sunday 1st Harvest Thanksgiving at 10.30am in Church Hall followed by a soup and sweet lunch for general church funds. November WEDNESDAY 1st NOVEMBER – Opening/Re-dedica:on service of refurbished Church 7.00pm for 7.30pm. Teas served by The Guild following the service. All welcome to aOend.  Sunday 12th Remembrance Day Services: 10.30am in Maryculter Trinity Church followed by Soup, bread and cheese lunch in aid of general church funds and present aid. ReDring collecDon for Earl Haig Fund. Cookney Memorial at 3.00pm followed by cup of tea at Kathleen Downie’s house Guild Week 19th-26th November Sunday 19th Communion. December Saturday 2nd Guild Christmas Coﬀee Morning and stalls from 10.00am-11.30am. Tickets cosDng £3.50 for Adults and £2 for school age children will be available from Guild members or at the door on the day. Schools Service – Date to be arranged Sunday 3rd Bereavement Service at 3.30pm Sunday 24th Usual morning service at 10.30am Family Service 6.30pm Watchnight 11.30pm. 2017 January Social Evening Date to be arranged

February Sunday 11th Communion followed by Soup lunch with proceeds going to “Souper Sunday HIV/Aids” . Sunday 18th Guides Thinking Day

March Friday 2nd World Day of Prayer 2.00pm   Fairtrade Fortnight 26th – 12th March Big Brew Wednesday 7th March at Community coﬀee morning.10.00am-11.30am with Fairtrade goods on sale.

A Bible Study Group meet every Tuesday evening in The Manse at 7.30pm. Please note that dates can change from Dme to Dme so please check with Rev. Mel Griffiths Tel. 01224.730150 before aOending. This is ecumenical and open to all who are interested. Come along and join in reading and discussing a different bible passage each week, sing hymns, pray, and enjoy fellowship over a cup of tea or coffee. Community Coffee Mornings are held on 1st, 3rd and 5th Wednesdays of the month in Maryculter Trinity Church Happy Lounge from 10.00am – 12 noon. Fresh coffee or tea and home bakes £2.50. Come and enjoy chats with friends, and make new friends. We look forward to welcoming you. For further details or to arrange a lif, please phone either Alison Stewart 01224.861048 or Dianne Brown on 01224.734687. The Guild led by Mrs. Helen Anderson is held on the first Monday of the month at 7.30- 9.30pm in Maryculter Trinity Church Hall from September to November and February to April. New members or visitors are always welcome to come and hear interesDng talks, enjoy fellowship and a cup of tea. Further details from Helen Tel. No. 01330.811754.

Fairtrade: We are a Fairtrade church which means we use, sell and promote Traidcraf products, and these are available at the sales table in the church hall every Sunday afer the morning service.

Chris:an Aid: We run events throughout the year for this organisaDon and have helped many projects including Water Aid, Present Aid and HIV/Aids. 7

Church Notices Blythswood Shoe Box Appeal As usual we are taking part in this worthwhile cause and boxes are due to be collected on Friday 3rd November. Last year we sent away 52 boxes and we hope to beat that target this year. Quay Project: During the year we joined a rota with other churches to help cater for homeless people in Aberdeen by making soup at Crown Terrace BapDst Church. Contact Shona Simpson Tel. 01224.712976 for more informaDon or if you would like to help. Youth Café Looking for something to do on a Thursday night? Everyone who is in school between P7 and S3 is welcome and if you are a liOle older than that but sDll want to be involved why not come and help out?! This rewarding experience allows you to get to know the wonderful young people in our community. We meet on Thursday evenings at Maryculter Trinity Church Hall between 7pm and 9pm and follow the school term. We currently have 65 members of Youth Café, who all live locally and come along regularly. There is plenty to do from football, table tennis and pool to board games and of course the tuck shop! Or just relax and chill out channg with friends. Contact Dianne Brown on 01224.734687 or 07801542154 if you would like to join the Youth Café. Minister: Rev. Dr. Melvyn Griﬃths Tel: 01224 730150 thehavyn@bLnternet.com Session Clerk: Mrs. Joyce Mackintosh Tel: 01224 733495 joycemackintosh@yahoo.ie Church Treasurer and Caretaker: Mrs. Anne Massie Tel: 01224 732071 www.marycultertrinitychurch.org.uk

Nature Classes Discover nature - play and explore outdoors. Weekly classes for 2 to 5 year olds.

Birthday Parties Toast marshmallows, build dens, climb trees and stomp in mud… outdoor birthday fun for two to ten-year-olds! Contact Mandy Tulloch on 07929 465680 or visit www.mudpieadventures.co.uk for more information

Church Notices St Ternan’s Church

St Mary’s Chapel, Blairs

St Ternan’s is the northernmost Scottish Episcopal Church in the diocese of Brechin.   We are part of the world-wide Anglican communion. The Church is located in the North Kincardine Rural Community Council area, to the west of the A90 about a mile from Muchalls Village on the Cause Mounth where the road branches oﬀ to Cookney and Netherley.

Masses and Services Sunday Mass: 09:30

The Church is open every day from 10am until 3pm. You are welcome to join us in worship at the 10.30am Family Eucharist on Sundays. Weekly services are held on major Saint Days and are advertised on the Church noticeboards and in the magazine.

Holy Days of Obligation: As announced in the weekly bulletin.

Our Community Meeting Room with kitchen and toilet facilities is available for use by anyone in the area for classes, dance classes, children’s parties, craft groups, meetings etc. It can accommodate up to 30 people, is ﬁtted with a loop system for the hard of hearing and has a wheelchair friendly entrance. A donation of £4.00 per hour is suggested when booking the facility.

Religious Education: After mass on Sundays

Please take a look at our website where you can ﬁnd full details of forthcoming events, our monthly newsletter and more. For bookings or more information contact Sheila 01569 731608, Audrey 01569 730600 www.stternans.co.uk

Confessions: On request, usually before mass.

Baptisms and Weddings: Contact Deacon John Wire. The Parish of St. Mary, South Deeside Road, Blairs Aberdeen AB12 5YQ Fr. Mark Impson www.stmarysblairs.org

Blairs Museum There's Something About Mary "In my end is my beginning" were the words Mary Queen of Scots embroidered on her final day before she ascended the scaffold at Fotheringay Castle. Three times the executioner wielded his axe before Scotland's queen succumbed to death and embraced immortality. This year Scotland celebrates the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology, but it is also 430 years since Mary was executed by her cousin Elizabeth. Mary's final words echo through the centuries, firstly as those who knew her tried to preserve her memory as a martyr, as a mother; and secondly in the centuries after her death, artists, poets, playwrights and scholars have presented her variously as a victim of envy, a woman of her times, a political failure, a dangerous threat, or a betrayed innocent. Mary is constantly reinvented and her story shows no sign of losing its fascination.

Yet, for all of the ink spilled about Mary, what is surprising is that there are only around ﬁfty historical images of her including drawings, paintings and coins in existence. However, what is even more surprising is that 3 of these images are here in South Deeside in the Blairs Museum. The Museum collection includes an exquisite miniature of Mary Queen of Scots taken whilst she was imprisoned, a beautiful golden coin struck when she was Queen of France, and the famous memorial painting that depicts her execution in haunting detail. These images are great treasures, but their presence on South Deeside is not widely known, so next time you are thinking about what to do of a Sunday afternoon, or thinking of somewhere to take your visiting friends or relations, then why not take them to meet Mary, Queen of Scots. Blairs Museum is open at weekends from Easter to October Copyright Blairs Museum Trust from 2pm to 5pm. You can also keep up to date with what is happening at Blairs Museum by following its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BlairsMuseum   Dr Alison Burke, Custodian

www.theloungeatchapelton.com hello@theloungeatchapelton.com Tel 01569 739319

Pre-School Maryculter Babies and Toddlers

South Deeside Under 5’s

We are a friendly, informal group, who meet every Thursday morning (9.30-11.30am) in Maryculter church hall. Anyone looking after children from birth to preschool (and those with bumps!) are welcome to come along and join us for a cuppa and to chat, share tips and local information. Children are able to play in a safe and friendly environment, sharing a variety of toys. It is an excellent way for children to socialise with peers and those who will become their school friends. Snack is provided for the children on a rota basis.

We love to see new faces

Baby & Toddler Group Meets on Monday mornings 9.30 to 11.30am £3.00 per family per session - first session is free Includes tea, coffee & biscuits for the parents and a healthy snack for the children.   For children from birth to five. Adults can have coffee and chat whilst children make their first friends. Children can take part in active play as well as games, songs and stories.   Maryculter Community Hall Next to the Old Mill Inn South Deeside Road, Maryculter, AB12 5FX

Cost is £2 per family per session. Please just come along and say hello.

Solstice Nurseries Growing Plants and People

CHRISTMAS FAIR

Please check out our website and Facebook for the date of our Christmas Fair. We will have a variety of local businesses and stalls plus refreshments. It’s a great opportunity to purchase some gifts as well as wreaths and table centres.

email: sduf5@outlook.com  Phone: 07860828430 Jennifer

Drumduan Walled Garden South Deeside Road Banchory Devenick Kincardineshire AB12 5YL Tel:+44 1224 865907 E: office@solsticenurseries.co.uk www.solsticenurseries.co.uk

Hunt for bugs, cook on the campfire & get marvellously muddy! Nature Kindergarten for 3-5yrs Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays during term time at Maryculter Woods Funded places available

Also Spring, Summer & Autumn holiday camps www.aacattery.co.uk

For details on how to book a taster session or find out more visit www.muckyboots.org.uk or contact Dawn on 07939 547016

Schools and Befriending Banchory-Devenick Primary School Banchory-Devenick Parent Council held our Summer Fayre in May and there were a lot of activities including face painting, stalls and refreshments. In other news, the school has recently donated 40 rucksacks to the charity Mary's Meals. These rucksacks will soon be on their way to Africa for children to use in their schooling. The rucksacks contained many items including pencils, a t-shirt, shorts, a spoon and a towel. We know that all the items will be put to good use when they arrive. As a homework project last term our pupils were asked to recycle old items into garden ornaments or something useful to brighten up the school grounds. We had lighthouses, bird houses and planters. This was part of our usual eco activities. We have also planted many items and made sure that we take care of our own environment. We are looking forward to lots of activities this term and look out for the date of our Christmas Fair. Head Teacher Paul Gill Email: banchorydev.sch@aberdeenshire.gov.uk Kincardine & District Befriending

WANTED - BEFRIENDERS SOUGHT TO SUPPORT OLDER PEOPLE Could you provide some companionship for an older person who is socially isolated? Kincardine and Deeside Befriending is a local registered charity looking to recruit volunteer befrienders to support older people in the community. The organization which was established over 20 years ago provides much-needed support to older people who are experiencing loneliness. Its volunteer befrienders visit on a weekly or fortnightly basis and their involvement can be a key factor in making an older person feel more positive and confident. Going for a short walk or drive, finding a local activity or just having a chat and cup of tea at home can make a real difference to someone’s life. Volunteers are recruited, trained and matched on a one to one basis to an older person. Anyone who is over 18, who enjoys talking and listening to older people and who has a couple of hours to spare every week or fortnight is welcome to apply. Volunteers attend an informal interview and a short introductory course . The next training course is scheduled for Saturday 23rd and Saturday 30th September. They will also be required to undertake an enhanced disclosure check. Having your own car would be of benefit and travelling expenses are provided as well as ongoing support. Volunteers are particularly needed to cover the Banchory and Aboyne areas. Phone us or see our website for more information and an application pack. Tel: Tel: 01330 823368 www.kdbefriending.org.uk

Meikle Carewe Wind Farm Applications

Closing Date 30th September 2017 Applications to fund can be made up from groups

and projects which beneﬁt the communities living in our area. More than £20,500 is available The fund is administered by Kincardineshire Development Partnership (KDP) and managed by a Decision Making Panel made up of members of the local community councils.

More information at kincardineshiredp.org 12

Schools Lairhillock Primary School What a fabulous start Lairhillock School had to their last term of the session with our 10th Birthday celebrations organised by Primary 5/6. It was great to have so many people turn out to support us. The main events included; Newtonhill Pipe Band playing as the guests arrived, a coffee morning for invited guests, including the Lord Lieutenant for Kincardineshire, Mrs Kinghorn and Mrs Youngson, Lairhillock School’s first Head Teacher, announced the winner of the competition to design a glass panel. This fabulous design was by William Irvine-Fortescue and made into a stunning panel by Fiona Paterson of Mearns Art House. The magnificent charity wishing well, made by Victoria Keith of Lairhillock Breakfast Club, was christened by two of the children with giant party-poppers. Victoria made the wishing well from individual bricks designed by everyone in Lairhillock School. The first charity for which we are collecting is Cancer Research UK. Every child dropped a token into the wishing well, courtesy of Sport Alpha UK.

Newtonhill Pipe Band

Glass panel artists William IrvineFortescue & Fiona Paterson

Throughout the day the children visited bouncy castle, so it was fortunate that the sun was shining all day. The ﬁnal event was an afternoon party for P1-P7, where the children sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to the school while the sparklers burned on top of the delicious birthday made by Anita Collin of Teacake at Chapelton (photo top left).

Larry, the Lairhillock School bear, visited the Juliet Johnston School in Tafo, Ghana, with Mrs Saward, Head Teacher, and her husband at the beginning of the summer holiday. They are starting to set up International Learning between the two schools. Larry will be blogging about his trip. If you would like to support the Juliet Johnston School please visit http:// Larry helptafotrust.co.uk/ We had an enjoyable day for the Crynoch Cup and are looking forward to this term’s Fairtrade cafe, Bikeability skills training plus our Christmas shows and Fair. We hope to see you there.

Charity Wishing Well

Enjoying birthday cake

H e a d T e a c h e r : C h r i s t e e n S a w a r d , E m a i l : lairhillock.sch@aberdeenshire.gov.uk, www.lairhillock.aberdeenshire.sch.uk

Lairhillock football team

Tug of war! 13

Guiding 1st Maryculter Rainbows The 1st Maryculter Rainbows were busy last term going on fun adventures, learning new skills and working towards their ﬁre safety badge. The girls also enjoyed planting potatoes, playing rugby, exploring Maryculter Woods, being scientists with the Aberdeen Science Centre, visiting a ﬁre station and learning about animals during visits to the SSPCA and Pets At Home. There's plenty to look forward to this term too, with a visit from the AWPR team about building roads and bridges, a visit about harvest from Tesco's Farm to Fork initiative and trips to Devenick Dairy to see the cows being milked and Cocoa Ooze for chocolate making. 1st Maryculter Rainbows meet during term time on Thursday from 4.15-5.15pm at the Corbie Hall. If your daughter is aged 5-7 years old and would be interested in joining Rainbows please contact www.girlguiding.org.uk. If you are interested in being an adult volunteer with Rainbows then please contact rainbowsmaryculter@yahoo.com Rachel Camm Leader of 1st Maryculter Rainbows

Rainbows doing yoga!

Maryculter Brownies The Brownies were glad to be back home to Corbie Hall so they now have lots of room to run about and somewhere to store things again. We were able to build a new shed thanks to our anonymous donor, to whom we will always be grateful. We have been working hard on our Essex Challenge Badge and had a visit from Anna, one of our Former Brownies, who was away to International Camp over the summer with Scouts and Guides from all over the world. We have also been doing our Keep Scotland Beautiful Challenge Badge and next term we look forward to a visit from PC Bob McKinney who is going to help us with our Crime Prevention Badge. We will also be having a visit from the Red Cross who are going to be teaching us CPR. At the start of October we attended a fun day arranged by our friends in the Portlethen Area at Templar's Park. We had a great day building shelters, taking part in the obstacle course and we even had a bouncy castle on which one of the leaders was caught having a shot. To end our day we had a sing-song at the campﬁre and tucked into sausages and smores. For more information please contact us via https://enquiryym.girlguiding.org.uk/ Leader: Lynn Murphy, lynnmurphy100@hotmail.co.uk

Sunnyside Home Farm

The home of free range food

Free Range Eggs Hen, Duck & Goose

Free Range Pork, Sausages & Bacon Saddleback & woolly Mangalitza Order online at http://www.SunnysideHomeFarm.com farm@SunnysideHomeFarm.com Sunnyside House Maryculter Aberdeen AB12 5GT On B979 Netherley Road

tel: mob:

GMO Feed

01224 734415 07971 406021

SunnysideHomeFarm @SunHomeFarm

Beavers and Cubs Maryculter Beavers In 1988 Maryculter Beavers were started. We are looking forward to celebrating our 30th birthday next year. During those years we have had many members, arranged many events and awarded many badges. In the next few weeks we plan to visit Drum Castle to explore in the woodlands and also to take photographs for the Beaver Photographer badge. We will also be attempting the Cook badge making pizzas, kebabs and waﬄes – all very European! This term will ﬁnish with a visit to the Panto at Stonehaven which is always an exciting night for the Beavers. Beavers meet every Tuesday from 5.30 to 7.00 p.m. in the Scout Hut at Kirkton of Maryculter. Boys and Girls aged 6 and 7 years old are welcome to join. Parental help is always welcome – especially from parents with hobbies or interests that could be the basis of a Beaver activity at some point. Enquiries about Beaver activities and for joining should be made to Kathleen Paterson, Beaver Leader, on 07748774535 or 01224 868676

Cubs Our Cubs group is now 8 girls and 16 boys, who have fearlessly pursued lots of new activities this year, including woodwork, fixing and riding bikes, finding ancient hidden pirate maltesers and navigating in the dark. The year started with some night rambles in the fantastic Maryculter Community Woodland, where we built loads of great dens and made and placed some bird boxes up trees in February. The Cubs have been learning about making and lighting fires responsibly, even when it’s wet, without matches or newspaper and we have enjoyed lots of camp fires, which give us a great opportunity to discuss past adventures and good deeds and to make plans for future activities. Our spring highlight was a two-night, joint Cubs and Scouts camp at Muir Cottage on the River Dee near Braemar, where fantastic weather got us hiking, swimming in the freezing river and eating our meals outdoors. Just before the summer holidays, the Cubs put their faith in newly-acquired bike maintenance skills by completing a 10-mile ride through the rough tracks in Durris forest, chased by midgies the whole way. There’s lots still to do in the Autumn during the light evenings, before we need to dig out our head torches again for sessions from about the end of September. We are planning a river boat race and an inaugural tattie-flinging challenge in October. We have reached our limit of 24 Cubs but welcome waiting-list applications from girls and boys aged 8 to 10½. Iain Morrison (07738 455524) Maryculter 1st Cub Leaders

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Scouts, Explorers and Music 1st Maryculter Scouts This year’s summer camp was in the sunny (well mostly) Kingdom of Fife at Wemyss Firs; a campsite owned by the Kirkaldy Scout District. With running water and flushing toilets, this was a step up from our usual greenfield campsites! The Scouts were kept entertained with a boat trip to Inchcolm Abbey in the Firth of Forth, visits to the Kingsbarn Distillery in St Andrews and the National Museum of Flight in North Berwick. They got to relax by lounging around on St Andrews beach and by climbing West Lomond, the highest point in Fife – though they may debate how relaxing the last activity was. After a well-deserved break over the summer, we have started the new Scout term in earnest, with a full and varied programme planned for the Scouts. As well as our usual monthly camp for the Zodiac award (yes, even in December!), we will be focussing on creative skills with a variety of activities including a photography competition, making model boats from upcycled waste and racing them in the local burn (leaving no litter behind of course), baking and decorating cakes, and woodworking to make Christmas reindeer. The Troop is still small compared to previous years, so we are on the lookout for any boys and girls, ages from 10½ to 14, that want to give Scouting a try. The days of badges and singing “Ging gang goolie” around the camp fire are long gone. These days the objective of Scouting is to give young people “Skills for Life”, develop self-confidence and, above all, have fun! Maryculter Scouts meet on Friday evenings from 1915 to 2115 hours at the Scout Hut in Kirkton of Maryculter. Anyone interested in joining should contact Kevin Stewart (01224 861048)

Auchlunies Explorers

Explorers aged 14-18 years meet at Maryculter Scout Hut fortnightly on Tuesday evenings at 7.15-9.15pm For further information contact Bob Michie, Tel: 01569 764536 (daytime),   01569 762082 (evenings)

Scottish Accordion Music Group This gathering of accordionists on the second Sunday of each month in the Kirkton Hall, Durris is one of the musical highlights in Deeside. Keith Duncan leads with a series of rehearsed tunes, interspersed with songs and poems and a social break for soft drinks and nibbles. It’s a bargain for only £2 entry but there are only 100 seats so come early for the start around 7pm. The group takes bookings for additional performances.   Please call to make arrangements. Secretary Irene Fraser   Tel 01224 319484

Community Halls Cookney Hall The Hall continues to be a busy venue for events with the usual , classes, clubs, fundraising events such as January’s Burns’ Supper, coffee mornings and private celebrations. Any proceeds raised from these events continue to be ploughed back into the upgrading of the Hall, especially in the area of electronics. It may also be worth mentioning that the Hall is now fitted with a defibrillator, in the kitchen beside the First Aid box, for certain types of emergencies. Forthcoming Hall events will be: Saturday 7 October – Traditional Music and Song Association concert Saturday 11 November - a dance with Country Edition Saturday 20 January 2018 - Burns Supper Other events include the Cookney Cuppa, which has proven very popular, and future dates are: Friday 1 September, Saturday 14 September, Saturday 2 December, all at 10.00 am, so come along and have a chat with your neighbours in a friendly atmosphere with some home bakes to boot. For the latest news on what’s happening at the Hall and how to obtain tickets, please see our Facebook page at https:// www.facebook.com/groups/234268613296289/ or alternatively you can find us by searching on Facebook under Friends of Cookney Hall, then hit ‘Like’ to be kept up to date with posts. As always, if you’d like further information about hiring the Hall for a function or celebration, please contact Willie Angus on 01569 730123 or by e-mail at wgangus@btinternet.com Bob McKinney, Friends of Cookney Hall Facebook: Friends of Cookney Hall

Corbie Hall & Field, Maryculter After a summer of maintenance the football pitch is in fantastic condition and all teams are enjoying playing on such a great surface. Thanks to local farmers and others who worked hard to achieve this. A new gate has been ﬁtted on the bridge with a view to restricting access for unauthorised vehicles. Users are also reminded that the bridge is for cars only and larger vehicles should remain parked on the Mill Inn side. Emergency vehicles can access the ﬁeld from the South Deeside road/Milltimber bridge corner. The committee have purchased a PA system (microphone and amp) that can be requested by hall users. It also has the function to play music from an iPod or equivalent and disco lights. This has been proving popular with children's parties and youth groups. Although the hall continues to be well used we're always keen to welcome new groups.   For hall bookings contact 07960 231855. Facebook: Corbie Hall and Field Email: maryculterhall@yahoo.co.uk

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Woodman, spare those trees! by Callum Stuart Aberdeenshire Council have recently adopted “The Aberdeenshire Forestry and Woodland Strategy 2016”. This will help to support and guide the Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan. It aims to “inform the location, design and management of these highly valued features of our lives and landscapes.” The Strategy has 4 themes. One of these, “Theme 3”, looks at the area of “Communities, Development, Access and Health”. This highlights how community involvement in woodlands should be further supported to encourage access for learning, health and education. The residents of Maryculter have clearly lead the way in the creation of the Maryculter Woodland Trust and the buyout of former Forestry Commission land. This is allowing many innovative ventures to encourage the public involvement envisaged. This has echoes in a previous chapter of Maryculter history and the authors of “the Strategy” surely could have gone no further that an article published in “The Deeside Field” in 1938. The article “A Lower Deeside Beauty Spot” was written by local solicitor, Colonel Lachlann Mackinnon. “Our County Council should not, it is respectfully suggested, ignore the intention of Parliament in the matter of preserving trees. The opening of a register is a simple matter. The Maryculter trees would, if registered even now, be protected for all time. The preservation of amenity is not to be sneered at or neglected. The beauty of Deeside has not only a sentimental value, but a real commercial asset in these days of tourists, motor-cars, hotels, amusement and sport. What else will in the future keep our folks alive in the glens, now that the village trades and crafts are fast disappearing?” So, what had got the Colonel so irked? Where were these trees which were causing so much concern? What was the importance to him of the “preservation of amenity?. This looks now, all too familiar in light of of the “new” 2016 Strategy. So what went on, in the recent past of 1938, and what did our Colonel do about it? Firstly, SDV readers, you must wonder where my sudden interest in trees has come from. To be honest, it was an inquiry from the Culter Flower Show asking when the Society had started. Due to the research I did for the Culter Gala, I was able to pinpoint this to 1871- the “Culter Highland Games and Picnic” having started in 1866 was held in conjunction, several years later, with the Flower Show. Query solved.

Local Press 15th August 1938

Curiously, one of the articles which I came across in the local press, dated 15th August 1938, was headed “Trees Saved For Public - Maryculter River Bank Bought - News Cheered At Flower Show”.

In this article, Colonel Lachlann Mackinnon “intimated the good news” that “one of the loveliest spots in the district was to remain unharmed in its natural beauty”. This was, obviously, the same spot which he had championed in his “Deeside Field” submission. Colonel Lachlann Mackinnon 18

Public Art Project The article continued: “When I spoke to you here a year ago, I told you of the attack that was being made on the noble trees, and I asked you that my appeal was not made in vain, and that with the aid of money subscribed in the village and around it, of which some came from Aberdeen and other places nearby, not only have the trees been saved by purchase, but the riverbank itself, right along from the ferry up to Maryculter House, has been acquired, and is to be handed over to the Deeside District Committee of the County Council to be preserved for all time as a resort for the inhabitants of Peterculter and of the parish of Maryculter.” Quite prophetically, Lachlan left us with this thought “Future generations will have to protect the beauty spot in their own way. We have done what we could in the meantime. “ So, you know I like a challenge. What trees? Who subscribed? What can the Council tell me? “Preserved for all time”? This needed investigation… NEXT TIME: In Part 2 FALLEN GIANTS My research takes me “Back to the Thirties”: The death of Cosmo Duﬀ-Gordon (he of the Titanic and the ﬁve pound notes), the death of his fashion-designer wife “Lucille” (designer of the “Merry Widow” hat) leading to the break up of the Maryculter Estate, the Innes family move in to Maryculter House, the Scouts purchase Templars Park … oh, and what did happen to those trees? Callum Stuart

A group of local residents has come together as the North Kincardine Public Art Group to create a treasure map of North Kincardine. This is not buried treasure, but the diﬀerent treasures within the landscape: its rich cultural history, stunning views and the little known gems in the countryside. This map, which covers the area from Torry to Stonehaven and from the sea to Maryculter, shows selected footpaths and cycle routes that will guide you through the treasures in our local landscape. Each walk has diﬀerent themes to explore and to learn about. Some walks are fairly short, while others are quite long. Artist, Anne Murray has been chosen by the group for her experience in working with communities who want to make the most of their heritage. Anne has been working with the group for several months and the maps have now been distributed. Printed copies of the maps were delivered to households in North Kincardine and will also be available in libraries and other local centres. We are now working on a website, www.discovernorthkincardine.org.uk, to compliment the map and allow the individual guides for each walk to be downloaded. If you have photographs of the area, or have any interesting information that you would like to share, then please get in touch with us at michaeljmorgan64@aol.com. 19

Nature Notes Unwelcome Visitors Surprise, dismay, anger and bewilderment. Just some of the emotions I feel as I type! I had been out in the garden before, summer and tidying. Beyond lots of ground elder, I found far too many plastic plant pots, ﬁve water pistols and several old compost bags that had blown into a pile under the hedge after a storm. I love bugs and beasties and often lift old planks and rotting wood to see what is living in my garden so I therefore bent down and lifted the bags, full of anticipation. I did a double take, then another double take, then groaned. There, curled up like a tiny chocolate Swiss roll, was a New Zealand ﬂatworm. More groaning!

New Zealand flatworm

I have spent years telling families coming along to my nature classes about these worms. I have found them in Hazlehead Park, in the grounds of the Lairhillock School and many Aberdeen City schools and even under logs in Countesswells Woods, but to find them in my own garden is a step too far! The problem is that these worms are, as their name suggests are not native and therefore not part of our ecosystem. More importantly they eat earthworms. The first confirmed recording of the New Zealand flatworm, Arthurdendyus triangdatus, was from Belfast in 1963. It then spread to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in 1965 and has since made its way across mainland Scotland, having even reached Shetland and the Outer Hebrides. Cooler and wetter areas of England, Wales and Ireland have been infected too. They spread in two ways – either through crawling (up to twenty metres a day) or within the soil in plant pots. It is thought they originally arrived in this country via the horticultural industry and given their ability to curl up and hide I am sure this is still the main way they are moved around the country. They are not the most attractive animals! Usually around 0.5cm wide and up to 15cm long, being dark purplebrown on their upper surface with a pale margin and the same pale colour underneath. Unlike earthworms they have no segments and are covered in a sticky mucus. They spend the day curled up awakening at night to feast on earthworms. They consume their prey by wrapping their bodies around the earthworms then secreting digestive juices on to it. They then use a mouth tube that apparently extends from the middle of the underneath side of their body to suck up the earthworm. Whilst other earthworm predators such as moles and birds need to actively look for their smaller prey, flatworms can simply follow an earthworm through its burrow – clever! In this way they can consume several earthworms a week and it was this observation that led to concern that decreases in earthworm populations would affect national agricultural productivity and also wildlife populations. The concern thankfully has not materialised and flatworms seem to have remained near to gardens rather than spreading across the countryside. Black ground beetles do eat flatworms so encourage these into your garden by limiting insecticide sprays and keeping a few log pile houses. If you too would like to feel surprise, dismay, anger and bewilderment then put out a trap to see if you have any worms! Water an area of soil and cover it with an old plastic compost bag or bin bag. Weigh this down with some stones. Lift the plastic a few days later and if you are unlucky enough to have the worms you will see them lying curled up on the soil. 20

Old Pain 2 Go Their eggs when hardened are black and the size of an oval-shaped black currant. These contain around seven young so remove these from your garden too. There are no known chemical controls so recommended disposal methods include dropping them in hot water (>30°C), squashing them or sprinkling them with salt. I have also put them in the freezer but usually throw them into the ﬁre – a quick end I hope. Just make sure that the container you collect them in is air-tight - I have seen them escape through the air holes in a bug box. I have never experienced it but their mucus can apparently irritate skin so wearing gloves might be a good idea too.

Setting a trap to capture New Zealand flatworms

The Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) network is a UK-wide citizen science initiative that is currently carrying out a national survey to discover how far the New Zealand ﬂatworm has spread. They would be very interested to hear from you whether you found the worms or not. See www.opalexplorenature.org/nzﬂatworm for more details. This would make a great project for children whether at school, home or in a community group!! Mandy Tulloch

Emma Armes is a Client-Centred Clinical Hypnotherapist working out of Cammachmore. Prior to this she was a paramedic but suffered a back injury in 2010. She was medically retired after this and lost her career of 17 years. Unable to lift her one year old son or roll over in bed, she was living in constant pain and in a haze of strong painkillers. She had tried everything - operations, steroid injections, nerve blocks, physio, Chiropractor, osteopath, acupuncture, ultrasound, TENS machine, support belts, electromagnetic pulse, reiki, heat, cold etc. After seeing a video of a fellow hypnotherapist using OldPain2Go, Emma was amazed and wanted to know more so she could share her experience with others. In May, she received the treatment herself and has been pain free since, takes no medication and is able to walk anywhere without worrying about managing to go the distance or having to rely on painkillers. She can even play football in her garden with her son. Now she’s helping others become pain free for good and describes it as an ‘amazing gift’ to be able to change lives. Emma says “ This is not pain management. This is getting rid of your OLD, unnecessary pain permanently. NEW pain protects. OLD pain is a message in your mind that is no longer needed once it has done its job of alerting you to the problem. But somethimes that message can get stuck in the ‘on’ position. We can turn that message off. The area is not numbed and you will be able to receive new pain if it is needed. This is a talking therapy, no physical touch is needed and it’s not hypnosis so no trance is required” You can find out more about Emma’s amazing treatment by getting in touch with her on 07415 535445,   Facebook: Aberdeenshire Hypnotherapy and OldPain2Go Practitioner, Emma Armes or www.aberdeenshirehypnotherapy.com

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North Kincardine Rural Community Council (NKRCC) The North Kincardine Rural Community Council continues to be very active in your area. I am pleased to say that attendance by members of the public is good, but we would encourage you to come along and find out what is happening in the community – and also how you may be able to take part. Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route The continuing effects of the AWPR project remain probably the most frequent item on our agenda, and that engendering the greatest public concern and annoyance. Matters such as damage to the local roads network, noise, pollution, local road closures and keeping the public informed about progress and time scales are aired at almost every meeting. NKRCC is in constant dialogue with the local authorities, the contractors and the Managing Agent, in relation to the issues being raised in our community. We feel we have managed to keep most of these issues current and have made some small progress in the matter of advancing the repairs to the potholes in the area, as well as formally complaining about the unauthorised use of the local road network by heavy construction vehicles. We have held a number of public and private meetings with the stakeholders and we will continue to do so, to ensure that the concerns of our community are articulated and hopefully addressed. At our last public meeting over 100 members of the public attended to find out what was happening with the AWPR and air their concerns. Further updates will be issued and any meetings where we invite the Managing Agent to attend will be well publicised. Please come along and find out what is happening with this historic project. It has to be said that it is an engineering wonder, whatever the impact on our area. Planning All local planning applications are reviewed at our monthly meetings. Where required, these are discussed and may result in a letter of concern, objection or indeed support being sent to Aberdeenshire Council. You will find copies of all of these submissions on the NKRCC website.

NKRCC Meetings Community Council meetings are held in Lairhillock School on the third Monday of each month at 7.30pm (no meeting in July, December meeting is on second Monday). We look forward to welcoming you along to hear what is going on and join in the discussions. Henry Irvine-Fortescue , Chair

Proper Clobber are moving loca:on!

Proper Clobber are on the move!  We will still be available online at www.properclobber.com, by telephone 01569 731333 or email sales@properclobber.com for appointments/queries.   An updated service will resume very soon. Please view our Proper Clobber Facebook page for all the latest discounts and location news. Thank you in advance for your patience! Morag 23

How broad is your band? Part 2 How Broad is your Band? Part 2 A lot has happened since the report in the last issue of the South Deeside View. First of all there was the very well attended public meeting in Corbie hall on the 28th of November 2016. You can ﬁnd the report of this meeting on our new website dedicated to keeping you informed of local activity and updates about broadband in our area.   https://superfastsouthdeeside.wordpress.com

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At this meeting it was suggested that groups of houses can apply to have installation of ﬁbre expedited through the BT Community Fibre Partnership program (CFP). Meantime 6 groups have been formed and have applied for an early installation of ﬁbre in return for partially funding the cost. Two groups one (near the former) Maryculter West School and one along the B979 with the Postcodes AB12 5GT and AB12 5FA) have now been told by BT that the installation of fast broadband will now happen

Most in our area to not have a fibre cabinet close enough to their property (less than 1.2km)   to enjoy a fibre connection. Additional cabinets will have to be installed.

under the Digital Scotland plan in 2017, so will not have to proceed with a CFP. Another group has discovered that they are indeed included in the initial roll out but no timeframe is given, although some households within their areas will be ‘hard to reach’. This means they will have to wait for the next phase of government funding for improved speed to be available to them. Other individuals, who are not prepared to wait for the promised roll out to complete in 2021, have installed interim solutions. Some are utilising mobile, satellite and wireless networks to improve their speeds now. Recently some of the mobile masts in our area have been upgraded to 4G. Read all about this on the superfastsouthdeeside website. Very recently a number of green cabinets have been installed on the South Deeside road near Ardoe House hotel, the former Banchory Devenick church and at the entrance to Templars Park. Others are on the Netherley road near the Gas reducing station, at the entrance of Maryculter Churchyard and near Cookney church. Hopefully all these will be activated soon. The latest news is that the Altries Wood addresses near the former Maryculter West school, will be directly supplied by fibre to each house. You can find out from the Open Reach website when you are due to get connected.   https://www.homeandwork.openreach.co.uk/when-can-i-get-fibre.aspx Meantime please keep the pressure on by contacting:   Community Fibre Partnership http://www.communityfibre.bt.com   Digital Scotland https://www.scotlandsuperfast.com, and your provider, as well as elected representatives whose email addresses are at the end of this publication. Website: superfastsouthdeeside.wordpress.com Kees Witte 01224 732738 24

The Tin Coo at Devenick Dairy The Tin Coo at the Devenick Dairy Recently opened is the fabulous farm shop, cafe and soft play area called The Tin Coo at The Devenick Dairy, Banchory-Devenick. The shop has a fantastic range of funky tasty food and their own butchery goods, plus a wide variety of cheeses which are made on the farm. In the cafe delicious real homemade food, both hot and cold ,and the very best cream scones and homebaking are served up. You can also allow your 1- 6 year olds burn off some energy in the new soft play area while you relax with a coffee and a fine piece. They’ve got lovely milkshakes with four new flavours to satisfy any sweet tooth. Oreo Crumble, Fudgey Moo Moo, Very Berry and one for the adults - Choccy Espresso - to help see you through the day! Summer has gone but there is always the Tin Coo’s Picnic Bench Afternoon Tea, available daily from 2pm-4pm. This is tasty seasonal produce all served upon a miniature picnic bench with your choice of tea or coffee. The price is £9.45 per person. Be sure to pre book for more than 2 people to avoid disappointment (£5 per person non refundable deposit required). Call on 07546 979510 to book or visit in person. Devenick Dairy minced beef and homemade blackpudding pies

The first Open Day was held in July this year. The mini farm had chickens and calves to meet the visitors and there were lots of delicious samples of cheese, sausages and new ice cream flavours ready to try. The tractors were fuelled up ready for the tractor and trailer ride, and a plastic milking cow came out for good measure for the kids! The weather wasn’t too unkind and fun was had with a bouncy castle, face painting, plus burgers and hotdogs for everyone. Don’t forget to visit the onsite butchery, with a viewing gallery to see the butcher working away, plus opportunities to watch the cows getting milked and see them out in the fields! With Christmas just around the corner, don’t forget to pop into the shop for deliciouis goodies and gifts. As usual, bronze turkeys and gift hampers will be available for MEET ONE OF THE GIRLS Christmas.

ice cream

OPENING HOURS: 7 DAYS from 9am to 5pm MONDAY- SATURDAY & 10am - 5pm SUNDAYS. Bishopston Farm Banchory-Devenick, Aberdeen AB12 4RS Tel 01224 782476 Email: info@devenickdairy.co.uk

Big Red (No.35) Name:

Big Red (Number 35) Born:   03/06/11 Favourite Food:   cow cake( 6kg per day), but loves spring grass in May as main diet. Job:   Milker (currently doing 38.7 litres a day). Last calved:   23/01/17 with a red and white bull calf (approx weight: 35-40 kg) Next holiday due:   17th December Picnic Bench Afternoon Tea 25

MSP & MP Maureen Watt MSP As I write this article on 4th September, the impressive Queensferry Crossing is being opened by Her Majesty the Queen. It is the biggest infrastructure project in Scotland for a generation and should ensure that there are no delays or diversions due to adverse weather for those travelling south on the east coast. Good progress is also being made on the other major road project in Scotland, the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR). Though smaller in scale, the bridge crossing the River Dee looks likewise to be an impressive structure. As the project nears completion I look forward to seeing the benefits that the AWPR will deliver for people in Aberdeen and the north-east. Some constituents have experienced disruption and upset during the project. I continue to engage with Transport Scotland to raise their concerns and, like them, am regularly updated by email or project update meetings. Summer is a time of festivals, agricultural shows and highland games. We are blessed in the north-east with many such events which are a great way to meet friends and old acquaintances. I was honoured to be asked to open the Milltimber, Bieldside and Cults (MBC) festival this year which, like so many of these events, is run entirely by volunteers and well worth supporting. Throughout the summer months we have been busy helping constituents with a wide range of issues. I meet constituents in my constituency office, surgeries in community centres or libraries and home visits when necessary. If you think that I can be of assistance for any issue, then do not hesitate to get in touch with me. I hold surgeries on Mondays at my office on 51 Victoria Road, Torry, from 1pm to 3pm. To arrange an appointment please email me at maureen.watt.msp@parliament.scot or call on 01224 876743.

Andrew Bowie MP I am delighted to be able contribute to this edition of the South Deeside View. It is, amazingly, nearly three months since the General Election. Having spent the summer criss crossing West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, I am constantly reminded how varied this seat, which stretches from Strathdon and Upper Deeside to Stonehaven and the Mearns, is and how vast the range of issues facing constituents, can be.

However, it won’t surprise you to learn that one topic that comes up time and again is frustration with broadband coverage. This is a particular problem in rural areas- everywhere from Garlogie on the outskirts of Aberdeen to here, the South Deeside area.

Whilst HM Government at Westminster is responsible for legislation on telecoms across the whole country, in Scotland it is the devolved administration, the Scottish Government, that has responsibility for the roll-out of broadband. And unfortunately, due to bungled contractual arrangements with BT which have resulted in some properties being passed by fibre cable but not connected to it and a concentration on percentage of population connectivity rather than household (which puts us in rural Scotland at an obvious disadvantage), we are lagging behind the rest of the UK in terms of coverage. Whilst some areas, such as the Western Isles, face difficulties due to remoteness from infrastructure, the difficulties in Aberdeenshire and more sporadic and complicated. Aberdeenshire has pockets where there is next to no coverage or at best unreliable coverage.

This has to change. Internet connections are such a vital part of modern life and we simply cannot aﬀord for rural areas to fall behind. People and businesses should not be punished simply because of where they live.

I have already contacted BT and Digital Scotland regarding the situation, and I hope to have some news for you soon. Colleagues of mine are always amazed at the sheer amount of shows, fayres, galas and games that populate the summer weekends. I haven’t gone one Saturday since the election without attending some event and I can safely say it is one of the highlights of this job. However, I know there are some events that I did not make it to this summer so if you are holding, or know of an event coming up in the South Deeside area (or elsewhere in the constituency) that you think I should know of or would like me to attend, please get in touch with my oﬃce on Andrew.bowie.mp@parliament.uk and I will do my best to ﬁt it in.

Similarly, if you have any issue, large or small that you think I could be of help with, please don’t hesitate to email using the above address, call on 01224 766959 or write to Andrew Bowie MP, Westpoint House, Arnhall Business Park, Westhill, AB32 6FJ . I hope this is the ﬁrst of many columns for the South Deeside View.

Councillors Cllr Ian Mollison

Now that autumn is on the horizon the opening of the Aberdeen bypass is in sight. Contractors have been able to work seven days a week from 7am to 7pm, including public holidays. They have assured residents that they "will only work additional hours at the weekend in areas where this is required.” Given its troubled history, I contact the council's environmental health department and was told the agreement was to undertake “quieter structural and surfacing” works, on the understanding that the disturbance will be low. New bridges have been opened recently, such as on the Lairhillock / Portlethen road, and it won’t be long until the Dee is bridged. Meanwhile complaints continue about the impact on local roads, with permanent repairs being delayed until the project is completed next year. Our country roads have taken a battering. Please keep reporting the potholes and temporary repairs will be done - https://online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/apps/roadfaults/. Since I last wrote the council has opened its recycling centre at Badentoy in Portlethen. There has been positive feedback about the centre – and the cheery staﬀ. It isn’t open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (that’s their “weekend”). In June, the Supreme Court heard the Chapelton appeal on whether the developers should make substantial contributions towards a strategic transport fund for the North East. A decision is expected shortly. To recap, the developers had been asked to provide £8m, but Court of Session judges reduced that to £287,000. Over the last 10 years I have regularly attended meetings of North Kincardine Rural Community Council. Representatives of many organisations – the police, Aberdeenshire Council, the AWPR contractors, Digital Scotland, BT, developers and so on – have attended to answer questions. One recent guest was local police inspector Sheila McDerment. She advised that residents can email questions and concerns to local oﬃcers at NorthKincardineCPT@Scotland.pnn.police.uk.

Cllr Alison Evison I was honoured to be re-elected in May to serve this community. Since 2012, I have met many inspiring local volunteers, who all contribute to making this area a very special place and I am looking forward to continuing to work together. The Council is currently consulting on its priorities for the next ﬁve years, and this will be followed later in the year by budget consultations. Details of all consultations are on the Aberdeenshire website. In February, Aberdeenshire launched capacity grants to support community groups involved with sports and cultural projects – details are also on the Aberdeenshire website. The funds are available until March 2019. Over the summer there has been discussion of the future of visiting specialists, teaching subjects like music, art and languages in our schools. I am pleased that the Director has now given a commitment that there will be no changes to visiting specialists in 2017-18. The issue will be discussed again at the Education Committee in December. The Discover North Kincardine walking and cycling maps which were designed by our Public Art group, have been distributed to each house in the area. Please get in touch if you have not received one. I have been working with an enthusiastic team to make Portlethen more dementia friendly. This will bring beneﬁts for those across North Kincardine who are living with dementia and who use the local shops, medical centre and community facilities. We are working in partnership with the council to develop dementia-friendly walking routes and are planning social events. The dementia friendly group is open to all those interested in its work. We are still experiencing challenges in relation to the condition of local roads. Please report any issues relating to pot-holes or verges through the Road Condition Reporting System on the Aberdeenshire web-site.

Cllr Colin PIke As a newly appointed Aberdeenshire Councillor for the North Kincardine ward, these ﬁrst few months have been a whirlwind of inductions, seminars and meetings learning about the inner workings of the council and how it administers 1300 diﬀerent services every day of the year. Some 15,750 people are employed and each performs tasks which are often unseen but vital to the smooth running of a business spending some £540 million annually. 27

The Lounge at Chapelton Just like many households the council is seeing rising costs outpacing income and there is a fine balancing act of demand and ability to deliver. This is where the work of a councillor begins in providing due diligence and scrutiny to the operation by examining in detail how the council performs but it is not our role to put on the rubber gloves and pick up the tools at the coalface. The council is striving to reduce the amount of paperwork it produces and is moving more and more information and processes into the digital world. The council provides a comprehensive website where many services and information can be found and this is being expanded daily to accommodate ever more demand. Joining any large organisation it takes time to bed in but hopefully my fresh eyes and a commercial aptitude will bring welcome changes to Aberdeenshire Council as I take up my roles on the Kincardine & Mearns Area committee, the Infrastructure Services committee, the Aberdeenshire South Licensing board, the Office Strategy group, NESTRANS and a new committee, Sustainability, to which I have been appointed as the Chairman. I live in the circulation area of the South Deeside View and I see the good, bad and indifferent workings of Aberdeenshire Council daily but if you need help with a council matter please contact me by mobile, 0777 909 5385 or email me: cllr.c.pike@aberdeenshire.gov.uk.

The Lounge at Chapelton The Lounge at Chapelton opened in October 2016. Salon owner/directors Kelly and Norman had a vision of providing their clients with a higher level of expertise and customer satisfaction, set in a unique and stylish salon based in the new town of Chapelton. The Lounge at Chapelton oﬀers an ever growing list of treatments which are administered by The Lounge beauticians and hair stylists who all have a passion for their trade. Kelly is the inhouse makeup artist specialising in occasion makeup. She has also turned her hand to beauty treatments, oﬀering her exclusive facials and also the very popular Dermaplaning. The salon makes for a perfect location to go for your treatments with a wonderful cafe situated right next door you can really make a day of it.

READER OFFER: To tempt the readers of the South Deeside View, Kelly and Norman are offering the readers a generous 20% off beauty treatments in the month of September. To qualify just mention/bring a your copy of the deeside view to the salon and experience the next level of customer care in a unique boutique setting.

Advertising TENT FOR HIRE  The Maryculter Scouts Group has a large canvas Mess Tent which is available for local community members to borrow in return for a donation to the Scouts Group. The tent measures 24' by 14' by 7' high. It is a heavy duty canvas mess tent, and as such it comes with a steel pole frame and quite a weighty canvas. It requires a minimum of 3 people (preferably 5) to erect and dismantle it. To ensure this is done correctly the Group insists their own experienced tent pitcher helps with assembly. A donation of £50 minimum is suggested in light of the effort involved, especially if the tent has to be dried after the event. To check on the tent's availability and suitability for your event,   please contact: Kevin Stewart on 01224 861048

NORTH BURNSIDE KENNELS AND CATTERY

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The Lairhillock Inn is open 7 days a week for tea/coffee, lunches and evening meals. Look on our website for menus and opening times.

info@paragon-systems.co.uk www.paragon-systems.co.uk Paragon Systems (Scotland) Limited The Office, Corbie Cottage, Maryculter, AB12 5FT

Netherley, Near Stonehaven, AB39 3QS Tel: 01569 730001 Fax: 01569 731175 Email: info@lairhillock.co.uk

Accredited Heat Pump Installers

www.lairhillock.co.uk

! Learn the art and tradition of carriage driving Arrive in a horse-drawn carriage for your wedding Enjoy a farm tour and riverside drive Visit our unique carriage collection Bring disabled friends for a drive Let us take you for a drive to mark a special occasion

We can do all this and much more with our experienced horses and ponies. We also have a selfcontained flat overlooking the River Dee – ideal for business visits or short breaks.

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Jane and Ewen MacInnes, Home Farm, Maryculter Tel: 01224 732310 and 07889 340362 Email: homefarmmcdc@lineone.net www.marycultercarriages.co.uk

Repair'Specialist' Used'Car'Sales'

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www.coplandmotors.co.uk' 29

Chapelton No-one will be surprised to hear that it was a slow year for sales in Chapelton in 2016. The appetite for larger houses disappeared for a while. When it did fall away the design team were quick to react, scrutinized the plan and adapted the designs to fit the new reality. The results have brought forward some interesting new areas such as the cottage courtyards which have found their way through the planning process and have been started. There is a good deal of mechanical activity on site at the current time and indeed an additional £5million is being spent on new infrastructure. 250,000 tonnes of material are being stripped from the top of the hill to prepare the way for Retirement village and the next public green space. This space will be Liddell Park, a triangular green with a children’s play area rising towards the Retirement Village. It will also incorporate a Visitor Centre community building which will be used by Liberty Retirement in the early day’s as their sales centre. Building of this will commence in the spring with the first homes ready in early 2018 and Chapelton will be the first site in the UK with this new and exciting concept.

The Hut at Chapleton

The northern side of the Park will have 8 semidetached houses leading up to a commercial area and built by AJC Homes. In the top corner, there will be a Bistro with guest suites for families visiting their relatives in the retirement village. In addition, we are exploring other retail/business opportunities for the neighbouring sites and these will have apartments on the ﬂoors above. Bunting Place leading on from Hume Square has also been started by ZeroC and this will be a beautiful green corridor with front doors facing on to green space and a pedestrian area. Chapleton cottages - street scenes

The march forward towards the ﬁrst primary school continues and, with the coming of spring, there has been a great deal more interest from house-buyers. The last month or two has seen a steady increase in sales and interest for all our builders on site and 16 out of 21 of the cottages have been reserved, ahead of being built. The Chapelton Bike Ride was held early September this year where many joined us to raise money for NESS (North East Sensory Services) aiding the blind and deaf in the area. There was music, food and stalls all day. Participants could either cycle a 42 or 12 mile route, or enjoy a 2.4 mile family walk around the Elsick Estate. First back- Stuart Gray (l) and Lee Rosie (r), Aberdeen

Chapelton Local businesses joined in on the day, including The Lounge at Chapleton oﬀering massages to participants and Emma Armes of Hypnotherapist and OldPain2Go Practitioner, Cammachmore who made lots of new contacts for future demos to interested groups. A doggy pitstop was provded by Long Dog Walkies at their stall along with the chance to win a doggy gift hamper too. Chapelton artist Bee Struthers is participating in NEOS Open Studios this year (9th-16th September) and is opening up her studio to the public. Find out more about Bee at www.beestruthers.com or Facebook: Bee Struthers - Artist. For more information visit Facebook: Chapelton or www.chapeltonofelsick.com www.beestruthers.com

North Kincardine Rural Community Council Contacts Visit website and facebook pages to get the latest information Website : www.nkrcc.org.uk   Facebook: North Kincardine Rural Community Council - NKRCC  Email: secretary@nkrcc.org.uk Meetings are held on the 3rd Monday of every month at 7.30pm, except July and December. Venue is Lairhillock School. All welcome. We also have our agendas and minutes posted on the noticeboards at Banchory-Devenick School, Cookney Hall and Corbie Hall.

Come along and enjoy our 7000ft Indoor Play Den Amazing Racing Slide & 4 Lane Astro Slide,   Climbing Wall Tower, Giant Ball Canyon Awesome Sports Arena, 140 seater restaurant Birthday Parties from £10.99 All weather attraction at Storybook Glen with 20 acres of active outdoor learning  Free Parking

Open daily 10am - 5.30pm Den Entrance Fees Under 1yr FREE 1-3 yrs £3.95 4+ yrs £4.95 Adults/OAPs FREE

Glen Entrance Fees Under 1yr FREE 1-3 yrs £3.95 4-14 yrs £4.95 Adults/OAPs £2.95  During busy periods, admission is limited to 90 mins The Den and the Glen, Maryculter, off South Deeside Road, Aberdeen AB12 5FT, Tel 01224 732941

Blairs Museum offers a unique insight into Scotland's Catholic history and heritage with spectacular collections spanning more than 500 years. Opening Times (April to October)  Saturdays, Sundays and Local Holiday Mondays 2-5 pm. Visitors are very welcome outwith these times and throughout the year, by arrangement at a time to suit you. Group visits can include a guided tour and refreshments. For details of upcoming events please visit  www.blairsmuseum.com  manager@blairsmuseum.com  Tel: 01224 863767

www.denandtheglen.co.uk

A History of Maryculter Trinity Parish Church Maryculter Trinity Parish Church Maryculter Trinity Church and its graveyards are situated in Kirkton, Maryculter. The parish was founded by the Knights Templar, parts of lands of Culter being granted to the great Abbey of Kelso by William the Lion in AD 1187. After the suppression of the Templar Order by Pope Clement V in the early 14th century their vast holdings which included 8,500 acres of Maryculter, passed to the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem. During this early period of Templar rule the parish originally extended on both sides of the River Dee but was later divided into Peterculter and Maryculter. In 1287 a Preceptory (college) Chapel was built near the south bank of the river Dee, dedicated to St. Mary. By Parliamentary Act of 1528 some parts of Maryculter parish were allowed to be deeded by feu to ‘men of substance to improve them’, so that by the early 17th century the entire parish was owned by three families –at Altries, Kingcausie and Maryculter House.

Maryculter Trinity Parish Church

In the mid 16th century a church some 82 feet long and 28 feet wide was constructed of rubble stone near the Preceptory with pointed arches above windows and doors. This is thought to have been funded by Thomas Menzies, then laird of Maryculter, whose effigy, with that of his wife, was later moved to the West Church of St. Nicholas in Aberdeen where you can see it today. The 16th century church served the parish for over 300 years with several additions and renovations, and its remains can be seen within the old churchyard in the grounds of Maryculter House Hotel. Some of its stones were used to construct the first South Deeside turnpike road nearby in 1842. The 17th century Reformation was a period of great disruption. Royal supremacy of the Church was abolished and Presbyterianism established as the main religion in Scotland in 1690. The same year Parliament passed the first of many Acts for Observation of the Sabbath and worship of the ‘new’ religion replaced that of the Church of Rome in Maryculter Kirk.

Church ministers had increasing responsibilities. Kirk sessions which met after Sunday worship, were tasked to uphold common morals and ensure support of the poor. The Education Act of 1696 prescribed a school in every parish and in 1709 the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland recommended that there should be a library in each Presbytery. Church ministers were expected to take the lead in setting these up in association with local landowners. We learn from the Statistical Account of 1833 (produced by the parish minister) that ‘The great majority of the inhabitants belong to the Established Church, and divine service in it is well attended…. There are two or three teachers connected with the Established Church who have small schools in which around 40 children are taught reading and writing. Their renumeration is what they receive from the parents. On many Sundays, before public worship begins, children of the parish come up to the church and receive instruction from the minister and elders’. A new parochial school had recently been constructed, capable of accommodating 90 scholars where ‘the scriptures are read daily and catechism is taught regularly’. There was a parish library housing some 336 volumes and a Savings Bank was instituted in 1823. Kirk records include Session Minutes which go back to 1719 and the Baptismal Register from 1697. The present church was built in 1787 as a small rectangular building, constructed with roughly-shaped granite blocks with small packing stones. Statistical records of 1833 show that the parish church, when first built, was 'conveniently situated for the population, its state of repair... good' and it ‘afforded accommodation for about 460 persons, allowing eighteen inches for each seat'. With an exposed hammerbeam roof, box pews for the local landowning families and wooden gallery round three sides, it provided an intimate place of worship. Surrounding the church were ten acres of glebe land for the upkeep of the church and the minister’s stipend. It had a strong connection with the former Templar Chapel through a marble plaque bearing Templar insignia, and it is believed that some stones from this Chapel were used as foundation stones in its construction. The manse (now Glenburnie) was built some 'twenty nine years before the present church to which later additions were later made’. A gabled south aisle was built in 1882 to house a new organ, and at the same time a hall was built onto the north end of the church. Later additions in 1959/60 include a kitchen, toilets and an office. The 2006 hall extension with office, Happy Lounge and Upper Room has a glass section of wall and roof, which floods the interior with light. Social change and declining church rolls led to amalgamation of congregations – with Cookney Church in 1982 and BanchoryDevenick in 2000. Altries Free Kirk had joined in the early 20th century. Sale of the churches and Banchory-Devenick hall provided funds and a decision was made to redevelop the now Maryculter Trinity Church. Work began in October 2016 and will hopefully be complete later this year. 32

Maryculter Trinity Parish Church cont’d The initial plan to remove one gallery and retain the two side ones had to be abandoned when all were found to be in a perilous state with wet and dry rot. The organ had been deteriorating for many years and could not be renovated without enormous outlay. Lifting the wooden floor revealed only bare earth beneath while the 19th century hall floor rested on beautifully constructed drystane dykes. The original wall between church and hall was taken down – you may have seen the pile of its enormous stones, revealing the shell of what has become the new enlarged sanctuary. At the time of writing in early September cement floors have been laid, the entire building insulated and walls plastered. The kitchen has been enlarged and fitted out and a disabled toilet installed. The five stained glass windows, presented by the Kinloch family of Altries in 1886, and four lead-lined windows have been installed after highly skilled renovation, and kaleidoscoptic light floods through them into the light and airy sanctuary. Carpet tiles should be laid by the time you read this then the new comfortable chairs will be delivered. A moveable organ has been obtained, and the sound and audio visual system installed. Sunday services have already moved into the hall area after being held in the upper room of the 2006 extension for several months. Initial costing of this project was within the amount of money in the Kirk coffers. As with any major household renovation, several unexpected complications appeared including the need for additional drains and downpipes, replacement roof on the 1960 extension and the massive cost of preserving stained glass windows. A considerable financial shortfall is anticipated and the congregation will be engaged in ongoing fundraising. There will be more fundraising events in the coming months, and support of any kind will be most welcome. We’ve seen how Maryculter Church was central to worship, education, social support and pastoral care over the centuries. This fine tradition has evolved though the State has taken over most of the non-religious responsibilities. A Scout hut was built on the adjacent glebe in the early 1980’s and in 2006 part of the glebe field was fenced off for recreation purposes to enable Scouts, Cubs and Beavers to share the use of church land. The Guides, Brownies and Rainbows also used the hut for many years before relocating to different premises. The glebe field scan be hired and recently had exercise equipment installed. The 60 plus members of the Youth Café currently meet each Thursday in a tent nearby, and look forward to having much more space, warmth and facilities in the renovated sanctuary. Those attending coffee mornings will appreciate comfortable seating and more space to circulate as will Guild members at their monthly meeting. The sanctuary and hall have been redeveloped as a multipurpose venue for use both by the church and wider community. Maryculter Trinity Church wants once again to stand in the heart of the community. Both minister and congregation trust that a new phase in the life of Maryculter Trinity church is about to begin. Thanks to Minister Mel Griffiths, Beadle Anne Massie and librarians at Portlethen.   A list of references used and further information discovered during research for this article can be obtained from the Church Office.

Useful Numbers and Info Home Deliveries Neil Gammie, Fernieflatt Farm, Kinneff delivers free range eggs and hay/straw bales from on Tuesdays and Fridays. Orders, by phone, e-mail or online must be in by 5pm the day before delivery. Minimum order is £8 and payment on delivery by cash or cheque.   Tel: 01569 750374 /07790 558880, Email: fernieflattfarm@amserve.com, www.fernieflattfarm.co.uk Fish George Fairweather delivers west of the B979 road on Thursday afternoons and east of the road on Friday from 11am. Phone orders ahead to establish approximate timing.   Tel: 07974 311326 Coal J.H. Roberts of Auchenblae delivers orders in our area on Monday mornings. Stocks of a variety of smokeless fuels and domestic coal to suit most types of stoves and open fires. Also stock wood pellets for wood boilers, recycled wood briquettes, peat, soft wood logs, heavy duty plastic coal bunkers and kindling both for delivery and collection.   Tel 01561 320335

Bookings of Halls and Grounds

Library

Lairhillock School Cookney Community Hall Christine Saward, Tel 01569 732520,   Willie Angus Tel 01569 730123   Email : lairhillock.sch@aberdeenshire.gov.uk Email: wgangus@btinternet.com

The mobile van visits fortnightly on Thursdays: Kirkton of Maryculter at 9am By former Maryculter East School at 9.20am Banchory-Devenick crossroads at 10.10am Library Service Tel: 01651 872707

St Ternan’s Church Community Room Sheila, Tel 01569 731608 or Audrey Tel 01569 730600 Maryculter Church Hall & Glebe Field Anne Massie, Tel 01224 732071

Maryculter Community Hall & Corbie Field Tel 07960 231855 Email: maryculterhall@yahoo.co.uk

Schloss Rothenburg Wines Wholesale Importer of Wines (Est. 1978)

Independent, local wine merchant, personally sourcing wines from around the world. From everyday easy drinking wines, to fine wines and champagnes. Most of our wines are not available anywhere else in the area. Mixed cases available, delivery included. Contact us for our current wine list or if you are looking for a wine in particular, we are always pleased to try and source it for you.

Sinead Graham Sunnyside Farmhouse Maryculter AB12 5GT Email: sinead@schlossrothenburg.com Web: www.schlossrothenburg.co.uk  Tel: 01224 733110 34

Useful Numbers and Info MPs, MSPs and Councillors

Bus Services Number 103 Nicoll Coaches 01561 37726 www.aberdeenshire.go.uk

Andrew Bowie MP 0207 219 2791 andrew.bowie.mp@parliament.uk Facebook: Andrew Bowie MP

Number 204 Stagecoach Bluebird 01224 212266 www.stagecoachbus.com

Maureen Watt MSP 01224 876743 maureen.watt.msp@scottish.parliament.uk  Facebook: Maureen Watt

Number 22 & 23 Kincardine & Mearns A2B Dial-A-Bus 01224 665599 (9.30am to 3.30 pm Mon to Fri) www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk Aberdeenshire council's A2B dial-a-bus services provide wheelchair-accessible door-to-door transport for people who have mobility diﬃculties. The service is also open to people who live in areas with limited public transport. In order to travel you must register to become a member. No.22 Thursday weekly Stonehaven - Netherley - Cookney - Portlethen Downies - Findon - Portlethen No. 23 Tuesday weekly Kirkton of Durris - Kirkton of Maryculter - Blairs - Banchory-Devenick - Portlethen

Councillor Alastair Bews 01224 784594   cllr.a.bews@aberdeenshire.gov.uk Councillor Alison Evison Mobile: 07876 475386 Twitter @alison2812 Facebook Councillor Alison Evison: Scottish Labour in North Kincardine   Email: cllr.a.evison@aberdeenshire.gov.uk  Surgery: 2nd Monday of the month, excluding July/August, 7pm - 8pm. Portlethen Academy Councillor Ian Mollison 07747 638348 cllr.i.mollison@aberdeenshire.gov.uk Facebook: Councillor Ian Mollison

Castles Drum Castle, Garden and Estate Drumoak

Councillor Colin Pike Mobile: 0777 909 5385 Facebook: Cllr Colin Pike

Castle, Shop & Tearoom, Gardens Grounds open all year round Tel 01330 700334 drum@nts.org.uk www.nts.org.uk

POLICE Emergencies Tel: 999 or 112 All non-emergencies Tel: 101 Crimestoppers Tel: 0800 555 111 Drugs Information Line Tel: 0800 371 553

Crathes Castle, Garden and Estate By Banchory

Castle, Gift Shop, Cafe, Walled Garden Estate open all year round Tel 01330 844525 crathes@nts.org.uk ww.nts.org.uk

Library

The mobile van visits fortnightly on Thursdays: Kirkton of Maryculter at 9am By former Maryculter East School at 9.20am Banchory-Devenick crossroads at 10.10am Library Service Tel: 01651 872707

Dunnottar Castle  Stonehaven

Castle open 9.00 -18.00 Tel 01330 860223 Email dunnottarcastle@btconnect.com www.dunnottarcastle.co.uk

Diary Dates

September 18 North Kincardine Rural Community Council 30 Meikle Carewe Fund Applications close October 07 Meal an’ Ale Concert, Cookney Hall 14 Cookney Cuppa 16 North Kincardine Rural Community Council November 2016 02 Friendship Club 11 Dance with Country Edition 11 Chapelton Event with Cocoa Ooze 20 North Kincardine Rural Community Council 25 Lairhillock Primary School Christmas Fair 1000-1200 December 02 Cookney Cuppa 07 Friendship Club 11 North Kincardine Rural Community Council January 2017 04 Friendship Club 06 New Year’s Charity Ceilidh, Cookney Hall 15 North Kincardine Rural Community Council 20 Burns Supper

February 01 Friendship Club 09 Cookney Cuppa 19 North Kincardine Rural Community Council

Display boards available to borrow

March 01 Friendship Club 19 North Kincardine Rural Community Council 24 Cookney Cuppa

Eight Marler Hayley display boards.   100cm by 60cm with green, textured surface and connectors.   They can be self-supporting on the floor or table-mounted. Tel: 01224 732738 or email: witte@btconnect.com

April 05 Friendship Club Lunch 16 North Kincardine Rural Community Council May 04 Cookney Cuppa 19 SDV & NKRCC Plant Sale & Coﬀee Morning 21 North Kincardine Rural Community Council

The South Deeside View Published spring and autumn

June 16 Cookney Cuppa 18 North Kincardine Rural Community Council AGM

Lynne 01569 739132 sdeesideview@yahoo.co.uk Accuracy of content cannot be guaranteed. SDV cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the editor(s). Printed by