2019

Jan 8th

Portgordon fowk tae ging bowling along: A sports project that they had in mind has now become more positive. After landing a four-figure cash boost, plans by the Lampie Hoose in the village to create a petanque court netted a £1679 grant one of 21 projects across Moray to earn a slice of a £33.000 funding pot.

Party serves up cash boost: There was an early festive boost for the students and staff at Buckie Community High School’s special education department when they were handed over £7000. For the sixth year in a row Suzanne and Derek Clark hosted a Mad Hatter’s tea party at their Shearer Avenue home in Buckie. The evening, which attracted around 120 people, helped raise £7207. Other fund-raising activities, including such as bonus ball run via social media and various items, including shopping bags and key rings, made by the couple’s son Jody, a former student of the department boosted the takings from the tea part. Mrs. Clark told the Advertiser ‘We’re very proud to have raised this sum. It’s amazing to think we’ve been doing this for six years now and raised over £32.000’.

PT special education department teacher Sharon Aitken paid tribute to the Clarks and their stalwart efforts, going on to outline the difference the cash has made to students over the years.

Buckie lifeboat adds to their ranks: As Buckie’s volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew brought to a close one of their busiest years to date, they face 2019 with one of their most highly trained and strongest life-saving teams ever.Coxswain/ mechanic Alan Robertson can now count on no fewer than three deputy coxswains, Connor Cowie, Stuart Mack and Stewart Taylor as well as deputy mechanics, Jordan Campbell and Brian Forbes. The new deputy coxswains will assist Mr. Robertson and second coxswain Mike Rennie while Mr. Forbes and Mr. Campbell will work with long- standing mechanics Gavin Hyne and David Grant. Mr. Robertson went on to describe the news as a major boost for the crew and the station. He told the Advertiser ‘I’m delighted to have them all aboard, it gives us a lot more strength in depth”.

Arradoul ‘Rural’ musical treat: The ‘Revellers’ a group of musical enthusiasts, who play fiddles, accordion and ukulele provided the entertainment at their December meeting; The president, Coleen McKenzie extended a welcome to members and visitors. While the musicians had a break some party games were played, in a competition for the Best Wrapped Gift and Flower of the Month, Jessie Low, veteran member and a prizewinner at countless competitions once again came first in both. Second was Wendy Crosby with Marion Hopkinson taking up that position in the second.

Baxter’s tartan: An exclusive tartan is to be made to mark 150th anniversary.

Cullen Library to be saved: Earmarked for the chop as part of the council cost- cutting plans, Cullen Library but has earned an 11th hour reprieve. Keith-Cullen Conservative councilor Donald Gatt said ‘I am heartily glad that Cullen library has been saved for the community and I would encourage everyone to make full use of it.

Meeting to start at Men’s Shed: Cullen Men’s Shed is up and running and looking for members. It was all hands to the pumps recently as the job of preparing the workshops at the Cullen Community Buildings began. A spokesperson for the group said ‘We hope to encourage as many men in the Cullen and Deskford area to participate and enjoy the facility which offers great potential. Some of the many ideas are to share skills, meet and mix and drink tea’.

Services saved in budget cuts: It was widely trailed as the toughest budgets in Moray Council’s history, although when the dust cleared there were chinks of sunlight for local communities. The meeting, held last Wednesday to set the local authority budget for 2019/ 20 saw councilors decide that all Moray public toilets will remain open for at least the next year to give communities the chance to take them over.

Gordon Castle hopes to setter the record to promote the breed: a Moray castle is attempting to host the largest gathering of a breed of dog, which was developed on the estate in the late 18th century. Gordon Castle, Fochabers is inviting Gordon setters and their owners from near and far to the castle attraction as part of the Gordon Castle Highland games this year. The four-legged gathering is part of a drive to save the breed following a Kennel club report showing a 60 percent decline in registrations. Castle owners Angus and Zara Gordon Lennox are hoping to do their bit to reverse the trend. Mr. Gordon Lennox said ‘The Gordon setter breed was developed in the late 18th century by my ancestor the fourth Duke of Gordon on this estate. We must all work together to keep our native breeds thriving for centuries to come’. The gathering takes place on Sunday, May 10.

Mar 12th

Buckie man is a Kiwi football star: Thirty selfless years dedicated to developing grassroots football in New Zealand have resulted in a Buckie ex-pat being recognized with a royal honour.

In 1988 Malcolm Cowie, left Buckie for a new life with St Kentigern College in Auckland and set about nurturing schools and youth football in the country, which was traditionally in thrall to two rugby codes and cricket. Three decades later his determination has earned him the New Zealand Order of Merit. This has been celebrated by his brother,Willie, a retired teacher who lives in Cullen.

Buckie grant cash pot up for grabs: Community groups who have a project, which aims to make Buckie a better place can now apply for a share of a £320,000 funding pot. After a hugely successful inaugural year in 2018, the Buckie Regeneration Group’s ‘Bucks4 Buckie’ scheme is back offering grants from £500 up to £3500. The destination and amount of the grants will be decided by an open vote at a public event to be held on May 11th. Regeneration group chairman Gordon McDonald said: ‘We have managed to pull together a £20.000 package of funds to support another Bucks 4 Buckie’

Landslip woes nailed at last: Nearly 300 massive soil nails are set to be driven into the ground at Portknockie to prevent further potentially disastrous landslips. A ‘drop in session’ in the village’s McBoyle hall last Friday by staff from Moray Council and contractors Morrison Construction outlined the plans, with workers from three firms due on site yesterday. Before the end of this month, the aim is to start driving a total of 274 five-metre soil nails into the banking at Harbour Road and Patrol Road, which will be covered with netting to stabilise the ground. This will then be finished off with soil and grass rendering the work invisible. Moray Council senior engineer Will Burnish said ‘Doing the work will be quite awkward as the only way we can do it is to send people down on ropes’.

Police hunt for man to wind down: The search for the missing Buckie man Alan Morrison, has been scaled down. His family last saw the 47-year-old man on Christmas Eve last year and the police have confirmed that there have been no positive sightings since the search for him began on January 11.

Room to improve, inspectors say: Inspectors have identified several areas for improvement following a visit to Milbank Primary School. The inspection, carried out by Education Scotland, before the October break in 2018, also praised the strong parental support for the staff and pupils.

Portgordon icehouse plans get building warrant boost: Plans to transform the disused icehouse at Gollachy; on the outskirts of Portgodon into a café and community facility have moved another step forward. The ice house a rarity of its kind to be built on the ground surface dates from 1840 is now owned by Brigit Aitken, she has been granted planning permission following an appeal to permit the creation of a coffee shop and wellbeing centre and manager’s flat. It is hoped that once up and running the facility would attract a range of activities under its roof including yoga and pilatees classes, while also providing a space for exhibitions and similar events. A car park will also be created as part of the scheme.

Charity Walk to get back on the road: The route may be a bit different but the challenge and charm of the Buckie Rotary Six Harbour Walk is set to return after a year out. The charity fund-raising event, relaunched in style at Buckie Thistle Ace Winches lounge, with May 5 unveiled as the date to mark in the diary. Landslips along the section of the route between Sandend and Cullen saw the organisers forced to cancel the 2018 walk. A further tragic double blow was dealt to the group when its convener Bill Greig passed away suddenly in February while stalwart committee member Charles McKay died in March of 2018. The walk is now under the leadership of Heather Pirie

Mar 19th

Charity’s jackpot joy: There were two bumper reasons for a Buckie based Moray charity to celebrate when they scooped grants totaling almost £150,000. Moray Reach Out, who unveiled their new HQ in the town’s East Church Street last November, have not only been awarded £123,253 from the National Lottery Community Fund, they have also been handed £23,000 from the Robertson Trust. The money will go towards renovation works at the premises and fund a three-year full-time spinning and upcycling training support post. ‘I’m absolutely delighted’ said the charity’s chairman, Terry Murphy. ‘This is all thanks to the efforts of Shona (Radojkovic, MRO general and business development manager) She’s done us proud’.

Firefighters’ £10k bonanza: A dozen organisations, including six schools, have shared in a cash bonanza worth almost £10.000 thanks to Buckie’s retained firefighters. The fire station was packed last week as representatives from a variety of good causes gathered to receive a chunk of the £9800 raised by the firefighters over the last year through charity car washes and their Christmas Street collection. The biggest cheque of the evening totalling £5000 went to the Firefighters Charity with a further £1000 handed over to the Fire Service Family Support Trust. There were £500 bonuses in store for the Fire Service Heritage Club and also Buckie Christmas Lights. Finding themselves £400 better off were Friends of Buckie Square and Monuments and Kieran’s Legacy. The remaining cheques - all for £200 went to Portgordon, St Peter’s, Cluny, Millbank, Portessie and Findochty Primary Schools.

Course gives young people career boost: Giving young people an extra boost in the job market has been the name of the game at Buckie Job Centre Plus lately thanks to an innovative new course. ‘Barnardo’ Works - part of the wider Barnardo’s children and young people’s charity are in the process of running a 13 week course designed to help people aged 16-24 move more confidentially and successfully into the often daunting world of the job market. Last week saw the trainees get the chance to meet Ben Lain, who founded the Threapland nursery near Lhanbryde. He spoke about the business and what he expected from employees in return for investing in their training and development.

Choir cash to help save lives: There was plenty to sing about in Portknockie when the village’s first ever life-saving defibrillator unit was unveiled. Tuesday evening saw Buckie and District Community Choir in town to officially hand over the unit at a special event in the Seafield Hall. It is the third such defibrillator unit to be donated by the choir as a result of their fund-raising efforts, with the communities of Findochty and Portgordon already in receipt of their units. The Portknockie device is situated on the wall of the Millennium Garden and a sizeable group of local volunteers have come forward to be trained in its use.

Award cash boost for kids: The efforts of a group of Findochty Primary senior students has handed the whole school a four-figure boost. Six P7 pupils, Murray Goodall, Abbie Morrison, Kyle Holland, Scott Slater, Layla Calder and Millie Hunkin had already been hailed for landing the Abernethy Merit Award after they had organised a fund-raising lunch with parents at the school. The young entrepreneurs were competing in the Abernethy Enterprise Challenge for Schools. On hand last Monday were Abernethy Trust CEO Phil Simpson and fund-raising officer Ruth Hutchison to present a cheque for £1000, a sum Findochty head teacher Dawn Thomson said would benefit the whole school. The Abernethy cheque is set to join a further two to the tune of £1000, each which were won at the recent ‘Buckie Young People’ budgeting event. Two groups from the school won the cash for their projects, the first seeking to look at the importance of play while the other will be examining loneliness busting involving developing links with older members of the local community.

Mar 26

Pride of our community: Not one but three local schools have been hailed for their contribution to the wider community at a prestigious awards ceremony. The Moray Young Citizen Awards saw Portknockie Primary pick up a Highly Commended, while Findochty Primary and Buckie Community High Scholl’s ‘Year of Young People’ group both went back home clutching Commended awards. All three schools were honored for their work in reaching to and engaging with the wider community in a number of different and innovative ways. Portknockie head teacher Karen Murray said the school’s triumph was one that should be shared by the whole village. Over at Findochty, head teacher Dawn Thomson was under no illusions what the commended certificate meant to the pupils concerned. She continued: ‘This award means everything to them, especially after all the hard work they put in. It’s wonderful to see them recognised like this’. Meanwhile senior youth worker for the Buckie area Barbra Leitch, who was involved with the YOYP project, praised the S4 students who organised a number of community fund-raising events, the proceeds going to charity ‘The YOYP committee ran for a whole year and saw both wonderful commitment from the young people and support from the wider community’ she commented. In addition they made and sold wooden crosses.

Buckie High YOYP committee members as part of their activities and fund-raising were able to hand over a cheque for £513 to the Friends of Oaks; Elgin and £250 to school funds. Findochty pupils raised £750 to purchase an aluminum Tommy statue gifted to the community their soup and sweet event and community assembly on Remembrance. Along with craft activities brought the community together in commemorating World War I and those who gave their lives. In addition they made and sold wooden crosses and poppies for their Remembrance assembly. At Portknockie the pupils held a ’Race for Life’ fund-raiser.

New cancer group unveiled: Exercise and therapeutic gardening groups are being held in Buckie and across Moray. Macmillan, in partnership with Moray Council, is running group exercises in Elgin, Buckie and Keith. Gentle movement sessions, similar to tai chi, are being held in Elgin. As are long and short walks. Keith-based Reap will be delivering therapeutic gardening sessions as part of the Macmillan Move More project too. The classes are open to all affected by cancer, with additional classes in Buckie and Elgin beginning yesterday

Reflections event is boost for playgroup: An event at the end of last year in Buckie has resulted in a local playgroup being handed a cash windfall. The Teddy Bear Developmental Playgroup that is based at Buckie Community High School found themselves £550 better off thanks to the Reflections at the Christmas concert in Buckie’s south and West Church. The donation is thanks to a collection taken at the event in aid of the group, who work with pre-school children with additional needs. Also supporting the event were Buckie Rotary Club, 1st Buckie Boys Brigade, and Buckie and District Community Choir. Presenting the cheque were Rotarian Malcolm Watt and BB company captain Alan McIntosh.

Appeal after jewellery theft: Images of jewellery stolen from a house in Buckie have been released by the family affected. It is believed the Cathedral Street property was targeted between 9pm on Friday, March 8 and 3pm on Saturday, March 9. A number of rings, necklaces, watches, bracelets, and earrings valued at around a low six-figure sum were taken, in a statement released through the police the family said, ‘The jewellery stolen has been collected throughout a lifetime and many of the items taken are of sentimental value and cannot be replaced.

Quiet week at harbour A total of 71 boxes of fish/ prawns and squid were landed at Buckie harbour over the course of last week being brought ashore by four boats. Two cargo vessels paid a visit to the port during the week. The first to arrive was the Latvian-registered Bon Vivant, on March 19 from Hamburg. She was carrying a cargo of malt weighing 1808.68 tonnes. The second vessel was the MV Pride, registered in Gibraltar, coming in from Rotterdam on March 21st. Her cargo was soya/ wheatfeed weighing 2428 tonnes.

Apr 2nd

Huge relief as toilets reopen: There was relief all round in Cullen at the weekend when the toilets at the links opened their doors again. The facility, near the golf club was closed last June, along with the one in the village’s Millennium Square by Moray Council in a bid to balance their books. However last Saturday, thanks to efforts by local volunteer, the toilets are back open again in time for the forthcoming Easter holidays.

MP hails BB football champs. The achievement of Buckie Boys’ Brigade senior football team in retaining their National Five-a-side Scottish Cup title has attracted parliamentary approval. The lads retained their crown in Grangemouth on February 16th, finishing the round-robin format finals undefeated, their triumph has since earned the praise of Moray MP Douglas Ross who has sent a letter of congratulation to the team.

On your marks for the Buckie 10k: Registration has opened for this year’s Buckie 10K race. On Sunday, April 14th the race will come under starter’s orders at 2pm on Queen Street in what will be the third race in the 2019 Northern Scot 10k series. Hosting the event for the sixth year is Keith and District AAC Club chairman Ron Wild who said: ‘We’re expecting in the region of 150 to 200 competitors in this year’s race which will start and finish near the Queen Street, West Church Street junction.

‘Share to care’ for community: Sharing was the name of the game at a community event staged in Buckie. The Fishermen’s Hall played host to the ‘Working Together’ event run by Buckie and District Community Council. A good turn out of both groups and individuals volunteering in and around Buckie was recorded. The towns three councilors being present. Community councilor Meg Jamieson, one of the event organisers said, ‘There was a real buzz in the room with a great deal of positivity about our town which highlighted the good community spirit in our area’.

No rent rise for council tenants: Rents for tenants of council houses will be frozen for the next 12 months. In previous years rents were increased by between four per cent and five per cent a year to help fund the council’s new build programme.

Charities urged to apply for Tesco cash: Local community groups could land themselves a bumper £25,000 payday thanks to Tesco. Supported by the charity Groundwork, the retail giant is encouraging applications to the Tesco Bags of Help Centenary Grant scheme. The cash is available to nonprofit organisations, which bring benefit to their community, ranging from improving community buildings and outdoor spaces to buying new equipment training or volunteers and hosting community events.

Firefighters bid farewell to Dougie: More than three decades of service dedicated to saving lives drew to a close when Buckie fire station’s commander retired. The station’s training night last Monday saw firefighters past and present from Buckie and beyond gather to honour watch manager Dougie Annand who has led the town’s team of retained firefighters for the last 20 years having been in the service for a total of 32 and a half years.

Paying tribute to Mr. Annand was the station’s new watch manager Colin Forbes who said: ‘It’s going to be hard to fill Dougie’s boots but he left the station in great shape. I’m really looking forward to the challenges ahead’. Recruitment is one of the immediate things we’re facing as we’ve got some people leaving or who have left and need to be replaced.”

We need your vote: Theatre group’s TV plea for vital lottery funding. Tonight a Buckie group’s bold bid for cash to create an arts hub will be screened on prime time TV. STV News at Six is to feature Buckie Community Theatre Group’s Art Hub project and their aim is to secure £46.468 in lottery funding to help refurbish the upstairs of their premises off Low Street. At present the group have only one rehearsal space, but once refurbishments have taken place there will be space for different groups to use the building at the same time This will be open to groups from the town and beyond, The arts hub is one of five shortlisted projects bidding for a share of a 3 million pot available through The Peoples Lottery. Where the money goes is up to the project receiving the most votes. The three projects with the most votes will receive grants up to £50.000. Buckie Community Theatre Groups artistic director Kevin Oaks told the Advertiser: ‘Voting for us will help make this transformation happen and will leave a legacy for Buckie. With enough votes we can make this happen’.

Apr 9th

We all need a hero: Maritime rescue lifesavers, a carer and a community champion are flying the flag for Buckie in the Moray and Banffshire Heroes 2019. The awards, run by Advertiser publisher SPP Media and sponsored by Inverness Airport seek to shine the spotlight on those who are selfishlessly trying to improve people’s lives and help others through difficult times. Buckie RNLI life boat crew are in the Emergency Services or Armed forces Heroes of the Year, In the Carer of the Year section in Nicole Barrett, founder of Buckie Buddies, who offer support for vulnerable and isolated people. The third person is Jane Murray leader of Buckie and District Community

Choir, which in the six years since being formed have entertained and collected thousands of pounds, which have been spent, on local good causes. To vote you were asked to visit a certain web site.

A quick fix on hand for cyclists: Cyclists who find their bikes in need of a spot of repair when passing through Cullen have been handed a major boost. Newly unveiled next to the bus stop in the eastern half of the village’s Millennium Square is a deluxe repair station, a ‘purpose-built’, all in one repair facility, which includes a pump, a wheel-holder and a repair stand. The stand provides a stable mount for any bike and a range of eight tools to make adjustments and repairs on the spot.

New roots for Square Group: The strength of community support for a Buckie group has seen it relaunch with an expanded remit. Friends of Buckie Square and Memorial was formed just over a year ago by local woman Meg Jamieson in response to ‘Facebook’ posts expressing woe over the down at the heel appearance of Cluny Square. Since then a growing band of volunteers have worked hard, along with other groups, including school children from the town, to transform a previously drab square into a blaze of spring colour. They were also instrumental in seeing the war memorial form part of Poppy Scotland Lighting Up Red campaign ahead of Remembrance Sunday last November. Public response has seen the title FOBS into Buckie Roots Growing Our Community Spirit as Mrs. Jamieson, the organisations’ chairwoman, explained. ‘We’re now a charity, have a new name and are looking to take on other areas of Buckie in what we’re aiming to be a measured expansion of what we do’. Praising their efforts Buckie and District chairman Kevin McKay said ‘The community shouted for help and these people stepped forward to the task’.

It’s farewell to Buckie for Gavin: Pastures new beckon for Buckie Baptist Church minister Rev. Gavin Hunter and his family as his tenure in the town draws to a close. Sunday’s service saw Rev Hunter finish his time with the church on the joyous note of a baptism, bringing down the curtain on a five-year spell at the helm. He is now set to take over the reins at Stoneleigh Baptist Church in Epsom, Essex, a parish which has many differences, although many similarities to Buckie. It might be near London but it’s got a population of around 9000, which is roughly the same as Buckie. Rev Hunter told the Advertiser ‘It’s been five good years here but it’s the right time for us to go as a family. My son is ten months old and if we’re going to move it’s best to do so before he begins to form friendships’.

Buckie kid’s home enjoys bags of help: Every little helps is the Tesco slogan, but thanks to the commitment of staff at the firm’s Buckie store a local children’s home has ended up with quite a lot. Linda Bellingham, a residential worker at Action for Kid’s children’s home in Buckie, was invited up to the store recently to receive a £1000 cheque from Tesco’s Bags of Help scheme. Local staff select three finalists from applications made to the scheme each month with customers voting which of the three cash awards of £1000, £2000 or £4000 they win. It has already been earmarked to make a difference for the four young people who currently call the centre their home. ‘The money will go to towards creating a garden area and buying stuff for the summer house at the home’, said she, It’ll allow the children to have friends round and give them a bit of privacy.

Retirement beckons for popular GP. After more than two decades of selfless service to patients in Buckie and the surrounding area to his credit, it was time for local GP Dr Bernie Welsh to hang up his stethoscope for the last time. Colleagues past and present joined by family and friends, gathered at Ardach Health Centre to pay tribute to the popular G.P, who first joined the practice when it was based in Benreay, 21 years ago. Leading the thanks to Dr Welsh, whose attention to patient’s needs, often meant that appointment timings went out the window when necessary, was senior partner Dr Lewis Walker. ‘Bernie has always been there with a wise head, a wide perspective and a cool head,’ he said. ‘He’s been a great counter- balance, a good voice of reason in the practice and will be a huge miss for us all. In preparation for a three-week cycle trek across Peru with his daughter later this year he was presented with a number of cycling related gifts. Apr 16th

Nobody is moving the goal posts: Pressure from Buckie’s three councilors has stopped potentially controversial plans to remove a set of goal posts from the town’s Linzee Gordon Park. The move had been mooted by Moray Council following complaints from what were described as a small number of Steinbeck Road residents unhappy at footballs damaging their property and some related anti-social behaviour.

As the football pitch is no longer the subject of regular bookings for matches, it was suggested that the goal posts at the Steinbeck Road be temporarily removed, only being replaced when a booking for the facility secure. News of the plans met with hugely negative reaction on social media and threatened to mirror the backlash six years ago when similar plans to remove the posts from the park were floated and later withdrawn.

Blue light day for school fete: The emergency services and Milne’s Primary are set to join forces this summer to bring a special community day to Fochabers. On June 15th the school’s fete will return after an absence of a number of years but will also bring together members of the emergency services. Behind the innovative event, the first of its kind to be held in the village are two members of the local retained firs station team, crew manager Gray Smith and firefighter Stuart Gerrard. Mr. Smith who works at the school said they had been overwhelmed by the support the event had already received.

Who’s your hero? Thousands of votes have poured in for the Moray and Banffshire Heroes 2019 awards in the first week alone. The awards organised by SPP Media Group and sponsored by Inverness Airport are promoted through six newspapers across Banffshire and Moray SPP Media Group editorial director David Bourn said ‘It was humbling to read the stories of dedication, bravery and commitment’.

Morven ahoy as club launches second skiff: There was a spot of Easter Sunday excitement at Findochty harbour when the village’s Water Sports Club launched their new St Ayles skiff given the name of Morven. Escorting the vessel into the water was a guard of honour formed by neighbouring skiffs from Banff, Findhorn, Lossiemouth, Whitehills, Cullen and Burghead. Ian Palmer christened the Morven with a 12 year- old Glenfiddich from sponsors William Grant and sons.

Play tribute to fishermen lost at sea: The memory of local men and boats lost at sea over the last 50 years is set to be commemorated as part of a new play. Burghead playwright Morna Young, who lost her fisherman father when she was just five years old, will this week see her first play, ‘Lost at Sea’ open in Perth as part of a national tour. At the end of each performance, there will be a roll call of the names of those fishermen and boats lost at sea from the 1970s to the present day.

Apr 23rd

Group’s funding bid blow: Buckie Community Theatre Group’s adventurous bid for a grant of almost £50,000 to create an art centre has fallen at the last hurdle. The project was one of five shortlisted to go head to head in a public vote for STV’s, The People Projects, with the top three most popular being in line for up to £50,000. However, the theatre group was not to leave entirely empty-handed, being presented with a £5,000 grant from the scheme.

Busy Cullen toilets reopen: Cullen claimed its latest victory against council spending cuts last Friday when the public toilets in the Millennium Square reopened. The much used toilets, which were converted from a WWII air raid shelter were closed in a bid to slash £14 million from the council’s budget, amid much anger from locals and those from further afield. The Square being a favourite stopping place. However, thanks to the efforts of the volunteer-run Friends of Cullen group the toilets are open once again. This comes hot on the heels of the Friends reopening the toilets near Cullen Golf Club, which had also been closed as part of the savings programme.

Mental health drop-in: A Buckie health centre is running a drop-in service offering mental health advice and guidance for children and young people. This Wednesday will see Ardach Health Centre host the latest session held run by mental health development workers. As part of their aim to help people navigate the support options available for young people in Moray, they will be using a three-stepped approach to try and identify the best strategy for each case.

Quay gates set to reopen: The gates to Buckie’s north quay will reopen after work on the structure is completed. However, anglers have been reminded that the area is a working harbour and public access will be restricted from time to time for safety reasons. The decision to restrict access to the end of the pier was taken after a woman died after falling into the water last August.

Apr 30th

High School pupil is RNLI crewman: Buckie Community High School pupils are well known for their commitment to volunteering for the local community but not many of them can say they set a record while doing it. However, that is just what Buckie teenager Aidan Smith (18) has achieved in being the first school student to serve as part of Buckie RNLI’S lifeboat’s volunteer crew. Lifeboat coxswain Alan Robertson, who himself joined the lifeboat crew as a 17 year old joiner’s apprentice, praised the contribution made by Aidan and also hailed BCHS for backing Aidan’s commitment to the life-saving charity to the hilt. ‘We’ve had 17 year olds join the lifeboat crew before but as afar as I’m aware he’s the first who’s actually been still at school’.

The Scottish population has continued to increase and now stands at a record high of 5.44 million This is the largest population ever in Scotland for the ninth year running.

Countdown to Harbour Walk: Anticipation is mounting as the last few days tick down until the Six Harbour Walk gets under way. This Sunday will see the charity fundraiser, which is organised by the Rotary Club of Buckie, resurrected after a break of a year, with registrations already pouring in. Heather Pirie, who is Six Harbour co-convener along with Andrew Murray, said: ‘We’ve had a very good response with over 200 registers so far. That’s a figure I’m really pleased with’.

Friendly Fest set for May: One of Moray’s big summer music events will have a star performer fresh from an appearance on a prime time BBC TV show. The Friendly Fest returns to Keith’s Kynoch Park on Saturday, May 18 after debuting in 2018, boasting an impressive lineup.

Generations have Easter fun at Lythe: The generations came together at the Lythe Care Home, Deskford, near Cullen, to celebrate Easter Sunday. There was plenty hilarity to be had from 2.30pm when residents were joined by family member, with all taking part in the festivities. There was certainly plenty to do for even the youngest visitors with a variety of games, songs and activities to enjoy. Snacks and drinks were served to residents and guests

Ross pays visit to fire station team: The work of Fochabers’ retained firefighters came in for praise after Moray MP Douglas Ross paid them an informal visit. The MP was a guest at a recent training night when he took the opportunity to meet members of the team and discover more about their wider community role as well as their core tasks of fire-fighting and attending road accidents He was to leave suitably impressed. ‘I was delighted to be able to visit Fochabers fire station and meet the crew and watch manager John Lawtie on their regular training evening’ he said. Other firefighters present were, Stuart Jenkins, Stuart Gerard, Dave Crawford, Gary Smith and Sid Whyte Bruce Milne was also visiting.

Choirs tune up for Glee heat: Youngsters from two Buckie primary schools are putting the finishing touches to their songs as they get ready to do battle in a national choir contest. On Tuesday, May 7 Portessie and Millbank Primaries join pupils from Bishopmill, Kinloss, Mosstodloch, and Greenwards in Elgin Town Hall, as the Moray heat of the Frisson Foundation Scottish Glee Challenge gets under way. It is the first time the region has held its own heat, reaching the minimum six choirs required before Christmas. One of those looking forward to the event is the chairwoman of Moray Council’s children and young people’s committee and Buckie councilor Sonya Warren. She has also been asked to present the prizes on the evening.

Elgin is top for buns: ASDA, supermarkets have revealed that the Elgin store topped the charts for hot cross buns sales in Scotland during 2018. The Moray store was closely followed by Dunfermline and Ayr in the chart of the country’s top hot cross bun stores. ‘Hot cross buns are now available all year round, but the demand really surges in the run up to Easter and we love to be able to make sure that the Easter tradition is alive in Elgin’ said Stuart Wood bakery section leader in Elgin. Store manager Martin Green added, ‘It’s a great time of the year-Easter wouldn’t be the same without hot cross buns’. The 2019 total is awaited.

Young Rotarians give walk the once over: A group of young Rotarians have been lending their adult colleagues a helping hand as the Six Harbour Walk fundraiser approaches. It was a bright and early start for the 14 strong band of Cluny Primary youngsters accompanied by parents and staff on Thursday, April 18th as they began a walk that would take them all the way back to Buckie. With them was Cluny head teacher Claire Wood. She said;’We had a representative from each class on the walk, which left at 9.30 in what was really beautiful weather. On our way to Buckie we popped into Portknockie, Findochty and Portessie Primaries to talk a bit about the Six Harbour Walk as well as stopping for a snack and later on some lunch. ‘We got back about 2pm having thoroughly enjoyed ourselves’. The group would like to thank Mayne’s Coaches for providing a minibus which took us over to Cullen.

May 7th

Blown away by support: Strong winds failed to blow the return of the Six Harbour Walk off course as hundreds from far and wide took part in the charity fundraiser. After a hiatus of a year due to landslips blocking sections of the route, the event, which is run by the Rotary Club of Buckie, came back in style. It exceeded the expected number of participants with 420 making their way over the 15 mile course rather than the 300 or so initially predicted by the organization. There was a new registration and finish point for this year’s walk, the South and West Church hall providing the venue for the first time. Communities came together to support those raising money for charity through the trek, with bacon rolls on offer at Sandend, while teas and snacks were also provided at Cullen Sea School and in Findochty courtesy of the gala committee. The primary charities set to benefit from this year’s walk are the Rotary’s own Shelter Box initiative Sue Ryder and CLAN Cancer Support in Elgin. Groups of four or more doing the walk had the option of splitting their sponsorship money equally between the three Rotary-nominated charities and good causes of their own choosing.

Inspection praise for Local RNLI: The hard work of Buckie RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew and shore teams over the last five years was lauded following an inspection by the life saving charity. Last Wednesday saw a warm welcome extended to an inspection team led by RNLI Operations Committee deputy chairman Sir Tim Lawrence, also known to many as Princess Anne’s husband, who examined a wide range of factors in the station ‘s ability to save lives at sea. With around 240 RNLI stations along the coast of the UK and Ireland to cover, a full coastal review usually takes in the order of five and a half years to complete. Sir Tim said ‘The fundamental reason for the review is to assess if the station has the right life-saving assets in place. It’s important to find out how the station is supported by the RNLI’.

The inspectors were to leave delighted with the work of the station and its contribution to the wider search and rescue picture in the Moray Firth. Buckie RNLI‘s lifeboat operations manager Joe herd told the Advertiser ‘We were delighted to welcome Sir Tim and his team to Buckie for the coastal review. It was wonderful to see the hard work and selfless dedication of our volunteers being recognized by the inspectors’. Coxswain Alan Robertson added ‘the results of the review are a credit to everybody at Buckie RNLI lifeboat station. They were really happy with what we’ve been doing here over the space of the last five years. It was all good news and there were lots of positive comments on the various aspects of the work we do, both ourselves and in partnership with other agencies. The inspectors were also very pleased to hear that the station has raised a lot of money which is all thanks to the ongoing generosity and support of the local communities we serve’.

Choir on song for cystic fibrosis after successful store season: A picture in this edition of the Advertiser shows Moray Male Voice Gospel Choir charity shop volunteer Isobel Mair presenting a cheque for £600 to Cystic Fibrosis community fundraiser Nicola Holland joined by fellow volunteers Kathleen Mair, and Ida Gray as well as choir members Findlay Mair, William Mair and Stewart Gray. The cash was donated from the proceeds of the shop, which was based in Lossiemouth. The charity shop began back in 2003 and has proved to be an enduring and popular success story. The choir draw their members from across Moray and regularly perform at a variety of venues including on Easter Sunday, Rafford Church.

Crafts fair set for big return: Three Buckie groups have come together to create a new, bigger and better autumn arts and crafts fair The Buckie Area Arts and Crafts Group have been forced to scale down their previous events held in the Fishermen’s Hall, basing them in the Baptist Church Hall instead. However thanks to a recent community networking session held by Buckie and District Community Council, the fair is set to return to the Fishermen’s Hall. Arts and Crafts Group committee member Margaret Hamilton said: ‘We are delighted to be working with the Friends of the Fishermen’s Hall Association, who will be doing the teas on the day, and Buckie Roots (formerly Friends of Buckie Square). One of the things we’re looking forward to doing with Buckie Roots is doing a ‘craft bombing’ session where people will be asked to help knit, sew or crochet poppies for Cluny Square garden on Armistice Day.

Can you help; we would be pleased if you can? Fresh faces are being sought to help run Buckie thistle Football Development and ensure the future of the club. With a number of current office bearers set to relinquish their posts as their youngsters move on from BTFD a number of important roles and now vacant. In particular the club need to find a new chair and vice chair of the primary section as well as replacements for the treasurer and child wellbeing officer positions.

Have your say on how money is spent: Communities are being offered the chance to have a direct say in how a funding pot worth £20.000 is handed out. Saturday first, May 11th will see the second Bucks4Buckie participatory budget event getting under way at Buckie Community High School’s Highfield Hall. A total of 10 groups have casts their hats into the ring for a share of the cash, with grants ranging from £500 up to £3500 up for grabs on the day. Behind the event is Buckie Area Forum’s Economic Regeneration Group.Chairman Gordon McDonald said ‘Saturday is an excellent chance for local people to come along and have a direct say in which application gets awards and also how much they will receive. Everybody in the audience will have a vote on each application.

Gardening help for the less mobile: a local allotment group has handed Gardeners who have restricted mobility a boost. Cullen Community Allotment Association have unveiled a series of box beds in order to provide an opportunity for people who are perhaps not as spry as once they were to take part in the enjoyable and rewarding hobby of vegetable growing. The beds, which are 2.4 metres long, one metre wide and just over half a metre high are being funded by the Co-op local community fund and are the latest project undertaken by the allotment volunteers to make the site more accessible. Margaret Baird was one of the first people to make use of the beds ‘This is a fabulous addition for people who have slightly less mobility and would be unable to take on an ordinary plot’ she said. A picture shown Margaret as she tends to her new raised box bed, as CCAA chairman Bruce Edelsten offers to help.

May 14th

Lifeboat crew are our heroes: The crew of Buckie lifeboat have been crowned the Heroes of Moray and Banffshire. They were the inaugural winners of the new community award for their selfless devotion to saving lives while putting their own lives at risk every time they go to sea. Joe Herd and Dave Grant collected the trophy at the Moray and Banffshire Heroes awards at a red card ceremony in Elgin last Thursday night.

The SPP Media Group awards, which were sponsored by Inverness Airport celebrated unsung heroes across all walks of life. Buckie RNLI won the emergency services award and at the end of the night were declared the first ever winner of the Hero of Heroes title. Joe Herd, the lifeboat operations manager said: ‘I was speechless as we didn’t expect this’. Dave Grant, the second mechanic on board the lifeboat said: ‘We are totally shocked to win this award.’ Coxswain Alan Robertson said of the award: ‘This is for the entire team here at Buckie RNLI. We couldn’t do I without the crew and if it wasn’t for the fundraising team we wouldn’t have a boat, In all there are around 40 people in a variety of roles who come together to make this all happen and this award recognises all of their efforts. There is also the huge support we receive from the local community on an ongoing basis. We’re all very honoured to be so highly thought of by the people we serve’.

Glee brings joy for local kids: Three local primary schools were on song when they performed in the first ever Moray heat of the national choir competition, Findochty, Millbank and Portessie were joined by youngsters from Bishopmill, Kinloss, Mosstodloch and Greenwards, Primaries in Elgin Town Hall on May 7 as the Frisson Foundation Scottish Glee Challenge got under way. Bishopmill were to walk away with the first prize with Mosstodloch a close second, the former school qualifying for the national finals. There was nevertheless glory to be had for Findochty who were awarded the Spirit for Glee Trophy after performing I Believe. Delighted Findochty Primary headteacher Dawn Thomson told the Advertiser ‘I am very proud of our Glee group, they were a mixture of P1-P7 pupils and they were fantastic.’

Buckie to share in town centre cash: Applications are being invited from Buckie businesses to share in a £1.2 million town centre regeneration scheme.The sum is part of a wider £50 million pot made available by the Scottish Government to boost town centres across the country.

Moray Council will welcome applications for turning empty space in Buckie, Forres, Elgin, Lossiemouth and Keith into living space. Grants of up to 50% of project costs, capped at £15.000, are available for structural works, replacement windows, rewiring and creating new entrances to properties. Smaller settlements with a population of 1000 or more are also eligible to apply.

Developer fund cash boost hailed: More than £35,000 has been allocated to local organisations in Buckie to improve community facilities. Five organisations will benefit from the developer obligations cash, money secure by Moray Council in contributions from Tesco and Robertson from the building of Tesco’s Buckie store.

Moray Reach Out has been awarded £5,187 to build a disable toilet, which will be open to the public under the Moray Council comfort scheme. The Fishermen’s Hall Trust has been handed £8.000 to enable aside entrance to the hall to be created. Buckpool Harbour community Group will use it £5500 award to upgrade a path and to install an additional seating area, and Buckie Roots will spend its £7000 grant to clean the Buckie war memorial, Buckie North Church has been awarded £10.000, the money to be spent on replacing the chiming mechanism refurbishing the clock faces.

May 21st

Jackpot Joy-Nine community groups have shared in a second £20.000 windfall in Buckie.The Bucks4 Buckie event saw local people decide who received the cash. It is the second year that the Buckie Regeneration Group and Buckie Area Forum have allocated £20k pot through what is known as participatory budgeting. The groups to share in the handout are, Moray Reach Out, £3500; Royal British Legion, £2204.02; Radio Buckie £1910; Buckpool Harbour Community Group-£1600; Buckie Ladies Football Club-£1518.98; Buckie Arts and Crafts Group £2000; Buckie Community Theatre, £2500; Buckie Roots, £3500; Fishermen’s Hall Trust, £1267. Most of the cash came from a Tesco developer contribution paid when the store was built in the town, with additional funding from the regeneration group, which runs the Town House in Buckie.

Salute to Banffshire Heroes: The crew of Buckie Lifeboat has been crowned the Heroes of Moray and Banffshire. They were the inaugural winners of the new community award for their selfless devotion to saving lives while putting their own lives at risk every time they go to sea. Joe Herd and Dave Grant collected the trophy at the Moray and Banffshire Heroes awards at a red carpet ceremony in Elgin last Thursday night. The SPP Media Group, which was sponsored by Inverness Airport, celebrated unsung heroes across all walks of life.

Deia has a ‘natural eye’ for film-making: A film trailer created by a Buckie High student has wowed the judges at a northeastwards ceremony. It was time for class

S3 Deia McAllister to take centre stage at the recent stage at the recent Grampian Children’s Book Award when she claimed the best movie trailer prize. Her two- minute piece was based on the novel 1000-Year-Old Boy by Ross Welford. This was to turn out a prophetic choice of book as it was to be crowned the Grampian Children’s Book Award winner for 2019

Dancing to refurbish popular statues: Friends of Buckie Square Memorial (FoBS) will hold a dance to bolster its fund for refurbishing the local war memorial. Buckie’s Roots, a charitable group branching off from FoBS, organised an inspection the monument by stone and bronze specialists. Though the report was favourable there were concerns over the state of the soldier and sailor statue. The group have organised the dance for Saturday 25, at 7pm in the Royal British Legion in Buckie. The cost of refurbishment will be in the region of £14.000. The group has received £7000 from the Tesco Obligation Fund. Discussion s with Royal British Legion will take place.

May 28th

Islamic community say thanks for Support: Senior figures at Moray’s only mosque have thanked people in Moray for their support following an alleged racially motivated attack on their place of worship. A 42 year old man has been charged with daubing racist graffiti on the Elgin Mosque. Swastikas and other insulting slogans were spray-painted on the outside walls and building in Gordon Street on Monday night last week. Zafar Ali, who owns Buckie Furniture and Carpet Centre, has lived in Moray all his life after his father, Nemat came to Scotland in the 1950s. He said: ‘I am really disappointed, we all are. We didn’t think things like that happened here but Islam is a religion of forgiveness, not hate we forgive the person or people who did this. Our prayers are with them. Keith Grammar School teacher Mustapha Akoub was among the worshippers who made the discovery. He said ‘I think Moray is the best place in the UK to bring up a family because people here are generally so friendly, He added ‘Moray’s small Islamic community had taken heart from the enormous amount of backing they had since received. Moray MP Douglas Ross said ‘The Muslim community in Elgin have our full support at this time’.

All aboard for Charity Drive: Classic car and motorcycle drivers are being encouraged to join a charity gastronomic drive. The sixth annual Clan Cancer Support Cavalcade will take place on Saturday, June 29 featuring a gastro tour allowing participants to taste a wide range of high quality food and drink. Setting off after breakfast at Threaplands ,Nursery, Lhanbryde, the route will drop in on some of the area’s famous restaurants and food shops including Buckie Seafood specialists, Cluny Fish, world-renowned baker, Walkers Shortbread in Aberlour the Cheese Pantry, home to award winning organic cheeses and Woodside Farm and Shop in Kinloss. Lunch will be at the Grantown East Station restaurant and the tour will return to Elgin to enjoy a celebratory supper at the Sunninghill Hotel.

Thousands flock to castle for fun-packed Highland Games. The busiest Gordon Castle Highland Games also saw the largest ever gathering of Gordon Setters. More than 100 were brought to Moray by their proud owners from all over the UK. The dogs were just one of many attractions at the event on Sunday, which was hailed as a great success by Angus Gordon-Lennox who owns the stately home near Fochabers. He said ‘The general feeling is that more people were here than ever before. There were at least 10.000 people present on the day’.

June 4th

Hopefuls reveal gateway designs: Model artworks shortlisted for a new gateway to Buckie feature went on display to the public for the first time at the weekend. Three artists had their work selected as a potential new gateway to the town, as part of a UK wide competition launched in February. The design and creation of the winning feature has been funded through developer obligations money Moray Council received during the building of the Tesco store in Buckie and will be located on the grassed area beside the roundabout, opposite the store. A total pot of £23.500 has been ring fenced as part of the developer cash agreement for the project and must be spent by 2020 or the funding will be lost.

Artists inspired by town’s heritage: The finalists all highlight very different aspects of the town’s heritage and culture. Portsoy based Carn Standing’s design is called Buckie’s Darling, a 3D sculpture, which would be hand-made in Portsoy from stainless steel bars, sheet and tubing. He drew inspiration from the origination of the town’s name. ‘I was also inspired by how Buckie grew as a town and a community and the importance of fishing. I started to see the herring within the body of the deer as a composition to unify the two things and a symbolism for the uniting of the several villages, which led to the Buckie we know today’. The silver darlings merged into the body of the deer would be arranged as a turning shoal of fish to maximise the movement of the sculpture to bring it alive.

Emma Crawford who is currently a fourth year student at RGU in Aberdeen and was unable to make the unveiling due to exam commitments, has created Fishing for Flowers, a metal construction capturing the heritage of Buckie, along with the history behind the town’s nickname, Little Norway. ‘The floral details within the design will be made out of metal and are inspired by the national flowers of Scotland, Norway and Denmark, thistles, purple heather and marguerite daisies. These reflect the growing community and offer a welcoming entrance to both visitors and locals’.

Portknockie woman Maggie Clyde’s feature would see five freestanding stainless steel panels erected, powder coated in various colours. The final design will be influences by community engagement carried out by the artist. ‘Each is aimed to represent cultural and historical aspects of Buckie’s past, present and future including Doric text, fishing, shipbuilding, lifeboats, football and the origins of Buckie. Buckie in S. Steel will convey the indomitable spirit of the Buckie community far into the 21st century’.

June 11th

700-mile cycle run to gran’s for charity: There is nothing unusual in youngsters jumping on their bikes and riding over to see their granny however, for one Findochty girl that trip is going to involve a 700-mile pedal traversing three countries. Maya Muhle MacDonald (11) along with her mum Ulrike is set to begin her epic journey on June 25th during which she hopes to raise cash for the charity Mary’s Meals. Her dad, Peter MacDonald, explained ‘It’s an amazing journey Maya and Ulrike are about to undertake. They’ll travel down to Newcastle, take the night ferry to Amsterdam, then following various cycle paths, head towards Berlin and then south to Dresden, where her Omi (grandmother) lives in a town (Pirna). The journey on the bikes will take t least three weeks to arrive in Dresden, but they are following designated cycle paths and stopping off at campsites along the way through Holland and into Germany.

The charity Mary’s Meals operate in a total of 18 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America Eastern Europe and the Caribbean. The core aim of the charity is that every child has at least one proper meal a day in a place of education by attracting youngsters into school and persuading them to stay in the classroom and learn. It is hoped that they will use their education to try to haul themselves, their families and their communities out of poverty.

Knitters unveil poppy project: A group of local volunteers are working hard to create a spectacular spread of poppies to help mark Remembrance Sunday in Buckie in November. Still in its infancy, the Working Together Group has taken on a project, which will see poppies knitted, crocheted and even created from the bottoms of juice and water bottles, which will adorn the war memorial quadrant of Cluny Square. It is an initiative, which has grown from the grass roots and seeks to involve as wide a range of the local community as possible, explained Working Together chairwoman Meg Jamieson. Sea school set for new skiff launch: A joint effort between Cullen Sea School and Buckie Community High School is set to take to the water with the launch of a brand new Wemyss Skiff. The sea school have been developing, in conjunction with BCHS and Moray College UHI an accredited wood working course designed to help stimulate interest in pre-serving fast disappearing traditional boat-building skills.

Tories call for grass cutting: A call has been made for Moray Council to reconsider cash saving moves which involve the reduction in grass cutting on local authority managed sites across the region. The council Conservative group leader, Buckie councilor Tim Eagle, said it was time all group leaders worked together to reverse the decision immediately. The call however, has been branded ‘political opportunism’ by the SNP council leader Graham Leadbitter, who said the Tories were ‘all over the place on budget issues’. (Whatever a large number of people in Buckie are of a mind that the grass on all council managed sites ought to be cut as before not only because it looks most unsightly but also other good reasons that have been spelt out).

June 18th

Busy times for Seafield Arms: After leaving a community shell shocked following its sudden closure in 2011, the Seafield Arms Hotel in Cullen is thriving after reopening under new management at the beginning of May. The well-known hotel in the centre of the village was completely refurbished inside to transform it into a modern boutique hotel boasting 14 rooms, three suites and three self-catering cottages, which are due to open at the end of this week. The hotel also has areas available for private dining and business meetings. While the Seafield Arms is a state of art establishment, the original fireplace still takes pride of place in the Findlater lounge.

Business has been brisk since May, hotel general manage Donald Thain told the Advertiser. ‘We’ve had a lot of interest and positive reactions since we opened. It’s been a breath of fresh air into the local community. There’s nothing of this standard between Elgin and Banff.

Caledonia singer for Fochabers: Fochabers is set to offer a warm welcome to one of the best-known Scottish singer/song-writers this Friday evening. The latest in the Arc Sessions performances will see Dougie McLean creator of the rousing anthem Caledonia taking to the stage in the village’s Public Institute at 7.30pm. Arc Sessions organiser Mhairi Marwick said, ‘I am so excited to have the legendary Dougie McLean play at the Arc Sessions it’s going to be a special night, Caledonia is one of the greatest Scottish songs so it will be particularly special hearing this live’.

Lifeboat had a busy time: The Buckie Lifeboat, William Blannin with its volunteer crew was called out twice within three days. On Tuesday a fishing boat in trouble saw the boat launched in the evening as a Buckie RNLI spokesman explained: ‘The fishing vessel Conquest ran into trouble not long after leaving the harbour. Around five mile out of Buckie her engine had packed in and there were concerns that she was drifting fast. Another fishing vessel was en route to tow her but she was still some way out, so the lifeboat decided to establish a tow on the Conquest. However the Moray Endeavour appeared on the scene and took over the tow and the Buckie lifeboat returned to her moorings around 1am having first set sail at 9.15pm. The Conquest was eventually towed into Peterhead harbour by the Fraserburgh lifeboat.

On Sunday, June 9 the Buckie lifeboat was launched at 3,36 am to assist emergency services at an incident at Lossiemouth although she was stood down en route and returned to Buckie.

‘Plan B’ call for dredger: Moray Council’s harbours could be left undredged when their dredger goes into dry dock. The ill-starred £2.5 million MV Selkie is to head for routine maintenance in mid July. At last Tuesday’s meeting of the council’s economic development and infrastructure services committee, councilor and chairwoman of Buckie Advisory Committee Sonya warren and fellow councilor Gordon Cowie voiced concern at the lack of a ‘Plan B’. Concern was also expressed at the low tonnage removed by the Selkie 20,839 tonnes, 2017 18,6651 to date this year. Councillor Warren said ‘When I heard that the dredger was not going to be available for part of this summer it immediately became apparent that we need some sort of Plan B to cover this period.

A Moray Council spokeswoman said the Selkie would hopefully be operational this week after undergoing repairs to the oil-cooling unit on the excavator.

Meets will help groups co-operate: A new’ Working Together’ group has been formed as a result of recent public meetings hosted by Buckie and District Community Council. The Working Together group meets once a month to focus on the following local priorities, sharing information, sharing resources (such as equipment, people and skills) and sharing ideas and expertise, for example for sourcing funding for local groups. Representatives on the group come from a variety of community organisations within the Buckie area as well as well as Community Council members and local Moray council member Sonya Warren. Among the groups represented are Friends of Buckie Square, Guides, Buckie and District Community Choir, the Fishermen’s Hall on the group come from a variety of community organisations within the Buckie area.

Positive thinking key for new Buddies. Buckie High’s Buddy Scheme welcomed its latest batch of recruits at a packed training day held in the Highfield Hall. The S5 and S6 students spent most of the day participating in a range of workshops and activities which will help them in the new roles assisting new S1 students first of all find their feet at the school and later aiding them in class. Tracey Sutherland, one of the organisers, said: ‘One of the major theses this year was being positive of having a positive image of the school, of learning and being a good role model. During the training an important thing is to try and take them back to their own SQ days so they can appreciate what it’s like for the P7s coming up to Buckie High. As well as providing valuable support for S1 Buddies develop and range of skills too.

North east newspaper titles join SPP stable: Scottish Provincial Press, the publishers of the Banffshire Advertiser title, has agreed to take over the operation of three local newspaper titles from W. Peters and Son Limited of Turriff. The Turriff Advertiser, Inverurie Advertiser, and Ellon Advertiser have been serving their respective towns for many generations, with the oldest title, the Turriff Advertiser being established in 1933.

June 25th

Students push the boat out: Hard working youngsters reap the reward of their efforts. The fruits of a project, which has spanned the generations, took to the waves in style when Cullen Sea School launched their latest skiff. On hand to name the vessel by splashing the bows of the Weymss skiff Artemis with whisky was the Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire Clare Russell. It was built by a team of retired shipwrights and four Buckie Community High School students, Alexander Mair, Lewis Grant, Ethan Hickman and Brandon Runcie. Opening the proceedings to a large crowd of well wishers, including pupils from Cullen Primary School, was Three Harbours Association chairman Prof Ashley Mowatt, who urged everyone to join in the occasion. Addressing the audience, Mrs. Russell said that she had a ‘very soft spot in her heart’ for Cullen due to pleasant childhood memories of playing on the beach. To find out more about the sea school, which is run by the Three Harbours Association, visit their website at www.cullenseaschool.co.uk

Hoping to soon spring into action: Plans to create a trampoline park on the site of the site of a derelict Buckie factory are now up for planning consultation. Local man Graham Cormack, of the firm Braidreef, has been working with Infinity Trampoline Parks to transform the former pork factory on Great Western Road into Moray’s only trampoline and play facility. Three years of hard work have seen plans submitted to Moray Council for consideration. The first two phases of the project should it receive the green light from planners, would see a new building constructed to house the large trampoline area itself while an existing neighbouring structure would house the parkour and ninja warrior facilities. A café would also form part of these phases of the development Mr. Cormack added that an estimated 40 jobs would be created.

Police probe hoax mayday: Police are treating an incident, which saw Buckie’s RNLI lifeboat William Blannin launched last Monday as a hoax. The lifeboat launched at 12,30pm after a distress call had been received via Facebook around half an hour previously that a vessel about two nautical miles off the coast of Lossiemouth had lost all power and was in trouble. Those sending the distress call claimed that they could not get a mobile signal leaving social media as the only means of communication. An extensive search by the lifeboat and her volunteer crew along with Coastguard colleagues, revealed no sign of anything untoward, The Facebook account from which the distress call originated has, on further investigation, found to have been deleted.

Buckie RNLI’s lifeboat operations manager Joe Herd told the Advertiser ‘It is vital that should a member of the public consider that anyone may be in danger or have found themselves in trouble that they contact the emergency services. Hoax calls are rare and the public must not be put off raising a concern where it is felt that assistance may be required’.

Ceremony honours successful students: Depute rector of Buckie Community High School, Sean Duffy is seen in a picture on page 5 of the Advertiser presenting medals to S5 Dux Charley Taylor and S6 Dux Amber Smith who was also awarded the Dux Shield.

End in sight to Ianstown flood misery: After enduring years of frustration and heartbreak, the end finally looks in sight for the recurring flooding nightmare, which has plagued residents in the Rathburn Street area of Ianstown for years.The heavy rain over Thursday, June 13 saw the misery return, with the Buckie Coastguard, later joined by the town’s retained firefighters, to help deal with the incident which saw properties flooded. The road was closed for two hours while the water, which contained raw sewage, was pumped out heralding yet another clean-up operation. However Scottish Water have revealed that they have finally identified the source of the problem, which should hopefully see a permanent resolution to the flooding problem. A defect has been found in the outfall pipe from the pumping station appears to have restricted its capacity to manage storm flows. This will be amended.

Cullen Pharmacy changes hands in six-figure deal: Cullen Pharmacy has been acquired by MB Pharma with support from a six-figure funding package from the Bank of Scotland. MB Pharma has acquired the business and property of Cullen Pharmacy from its previous owner as part of plans for subsequent acquisitions over the coming years. Cullen Pharmacy is the first premise to be owned by MB Pharma ‘s director Mark Buchan, who qualified as a pharmacist five years ago. The takeover has secured the independent ownership of Cullen’s only Pharmacy and preserved the jobs of eight members of staff.

Students riding high following donation: The memory of a cycle-mad Moray teenager is helping students at Buckie Community High School forge ahead with their own enthusiasm for bikes. Keiran’s Legacy was formed after 16 year old Keiran McKandie was killed in an accident out on his bike in 2016 and his mum Sandra was in school recently to hand over 12 safety helmets and five maintenance stands. The principal beneficiaries of the charity’s generosity will be the school’s SQA Cycling Award students. A picture on page 27 shows Mrs. McKandie handing over the safety helmets, and bike maintenance stands to PE teacher Stefan Wojcik. .

July 2nd

Business booming at Buckie shipyard: Moray’s MP has seen first-hand how Buckie’s proud ship-building heritage has been resurrected thanks to the hard work being done at Macduff Shipyard. More than 60 jobs were lost at the Buckie Harbour site when the previous owners closed the gates for the last time two years ago, the yard is now thriving and is once again one of the town’s major employers. Mr. Ross said ‘It’s good to see how the shipyard has been significantly. I was also very encouraged to hear that their purchase of another part of the old shipyard had gone through the council successfully.

The MP paid visits to Boormalt malting plant on March Road and Mayne’s Coaches on the Cunningholes Industrial Estate two of three towns major employers,

Buckie gives Chernobyl kids memories to treasure: A special treat was in store for a group of Belorussian youngsters when they made their second visit to Buckie in a week. The 18 strong group aged from seven to 12 all hail from the fall out zone created by the explosion of the number four reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986 and are in Moray for a month-long visit as guests of the Friends of Chernobyl’s Children, Moray. Thanks to Buckie businessman Mike Coull who owns Time Restaurant and the Little Kitchen, outside caterers in the town, the children kicked off on June 20 with a visit to Buckie RNLI lifeboat station, and then enjoyed an hour-long kickboxing workout at Eastern Tigers Martial Arts Club. A spot of lunch at Time was followed by a two-hour programme of potted sports laid on by Portessie Primary. Mr. Coull has also organised a raffle, generously supported by local businesses and the Rotary Club of Buckie, which will pay for items from the chemist for the children to take back home. It was a chance conversation, which led Mr Coull helping children who live every day with the legacy of radioactive contamination.

Tributes to ‘champion’: The legacy of a community champion who grew Portsoy’s Scottish Traditional Boat Festival from humble beginnings to an international showcase was remembered at this year’s event. Roger Goodyear, who was co- chairman, died just weeks before this year’s festival held from June 22nd 23rd after a short battle with cancer. It was the 26th time the festival had taken place in the town and it included a wide range of maritime, crafts, music, and food and sports events. At the opening ceremony, Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire, Clare Russell paid tribute to Mr. Goodyear and the work he had done for the event over the years, She said ‘He and his team made the festival what it is today. Roger’s legacy to Portsoy is amazing. The festival has gone from attracting 3000 people to well up to 20,000 now, with people coming from all over the world. The Salmon Bothy, Boatshed the Sail Loft and the caravan site have all been renovated beautifully and are thriving. Roger had been involved with many other projects and events all over Banffshire and Aberdeenshire, but of course from my point of view he was the most marvellous vice lord lieutenant of Banffshire, always by my side helping me.

The festival was once again sponsored by Ace Winches and Valerie Cheyne from the company said ‘This is the fourth year Ace Winches has been the gold sponsor and we are immensely proud to continue our support of this fantastic event and promote how wonderful this part of the world is’.

July 9th

Cash boost for Cullen centre plan: Bold plans to upgrade Cullen Community and Residential Centre have received a large four-figure boost thanks to the National Lottery Awards for All scheme The Three Kings Cullen Association who runs the centre on behalf of the wider community had plenty to celebrate last week when it was confirmed they had been handed a grant of £6,500 which will help fund a new suite of toilets.

Busy week for Buckie RNLI: Three emergency call-outs in less than a day were all in a busy week’s work for Buckie volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew. Two shouts on Tuesday then a further one on Wednesday morning capped a varied 24-hour period, the most dramatic being the second call out as a spokesman for Buckie RNLI explained. The William Blannin, Buckie’s RNLI lifeboat, was launched at 4.13 pm on Tuesday, July 2nd receiving reports that a 28ft yacht had fouled her propellor off the East Mucks ‘Without power she was drifting towards the rocks which was a concern. The crew established a tow and hauled the vessel further out to sea further from the rocks. We were then assisted by the Macduff RNLI to tow the yacht back to the safety of Buckie harbour’.

Of some concern was that one of the call outs on Tuesday was proved to have been a hoax call. The second was when it was reported that a boat was on fire off Portgordon. It was found that the boat had been idling for some time and when the person aboard set his motor in motion revving up causing a cloud of smoke.

‘No licence exemptions’ for Cullen pet cemetery, MP told: Cullen pet cemetery will not be exempt from national inspection and licensing requirements, Moray MP Douglas Ross has learned. Mr. Ross said ‘We are all aware of the excellent service Stephen provides to Cullen and the wider community. This cemetery is well used by people from near and far to bury their family pets’. To a question put by the MP he was told that such as the pet cemetery came under regulations by law that inspections were made to ensure that here was no danger to the public or environment from contamination. A charge would be incurred with regard to licensing.

Cluny gets pat on back after school inspection: Cluny Primary has received glowing praise from education inspectors for the ‘positive and happy’ environment pupils enjoy in the school. The school was rated as “good” across two indicators: learning, teaching and assessment, and raising attainment and achievement.

Healthy times at Findochty: Living a healthy lifestyle and having some fun with it were firmly at the top of the agenda at Findochty Primary School when they held their annual health week. As the summer holidays rolled closer, all of the youngsters at the school joined in what was to prove a packed five days’ worth of activities, workshops and learning.

Maclean rocks the house in Fochabers: There was a legend on stage in Fochabers when the latest ARC Sessions performance came to town. A packed Public Institute in the village gave a warm welcome to Dougie MacLean-best known for his iconic anthem Caledonia on June 22nd when he was supported by James Alexander and James MacGregor. Arc session’s organiser Mahair Marwick said: ‘The concert was a huge success, it was sold out, which was brilliant’. Caledonia is one of the greatest ever Scottish songs so it was particularly special hearing this live Mr. Maclean’s rendition of that very special and emotional song brought the house down.

BBs enjoyed being kings of the castle: There was a special treat in store for a group of young golfers from Buckie Boys Brigade when they were invited to try out the course at Ballindalloch Castle. The lads had the chance to get in some hints and tips on the game as they enjoyed a lovely evening on the splendid fairways and manicured greens. By the time came to return home to Buckie Finlay McKay and Aiden Milne had been crowned as the champs for the lowest score and nearest the pin at the second respectively, while the booby prize went to Euan Murray. The 1st Company is grateful to Claire and Oliver Russell for the use of the course.

July 16th

A cut above - Group set to get to grips with grass: A Buckie community group has revealed that it is stepping up to the plate to tackle areas affected by Moray Council’s reduction in grass-cutting services. Many public areas have been left partially or completely uncut as part of the local authority’s bid to shave £15 million from its budget, a move which has sparked outrage and health concerns across Moray. However, Buckie and District Community Council along with Buckie Roots (originally Friends of Buckie Square), a sub group formed by the organisation a year ago, are set to take on the mantle of cutting as many priority areas of grass as possible.

Call outs could have been hoaxes: The police are regarding two call outs that saw the RNLI lifeboat put to sea twice in 24 hours to locate nothing in the area describe as possible hoax calls.

July 23rd

Why won’t charity hand over money: A Buckie family have issued a heartfelt plea for money raised by the local community for their ten year old son to be released by the charity they say is holding the cash. In September 2017, Cumbernauld based charity Bumble Bee Babies charity held a fund raiser at the Buckie Tesco store for Adam Smith, then aged eight, who has the rare genetic disorder Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, symptoms which include hyper mobility of his joints, pain, tiredness and anxiety. The fundraiser was for a measured-to-fit car seat which would give Adam more support and make road journeys more comfortable. The £1200 raised was not quite enough to buy the seat but it was handed over to Bumblebee Babies by Tesco.

The charity have to date failed to give the money to Mr. Smith because of ‘certain technicalities’ which are outlined on page one of the Advertiser. MP Douglas Ross has been working to try to broker a solution to the stalemate between the Smith family and Bumblebee Babies.

Life-ring boost for Spey site: Riverside safety at the Spey has just been boosted by the unveiling of a new life ring. Sited near the Burnside of Dipple farm, the new facility has been put in place thanks to Fochabers retained firefighters , who have put a donation of £600 from cooking oil recycling firm Oileco plus cash, plus cash from a local farmer to good use. Crew manager Dave Crawford said: ‘We were looking for the most suitable location for the life ring and chose the Burnside of Dipple site after two fatalities occurred last year. The local farmer said that had there been something like a life ring there at the time perhaps these could have been avoided. We’re looking to install another two life rings along the Spey, which would give us coverage right up to Boat of Brig’.

Man charged after alleged break-in: A man has been arrested in connection with a string of alleged offences in the Buckie area .The 19 year old is facing charges, which include theft by housebreaking, theft of a motor vehicle, driving under the influence of alcohol and driving after being disqualified. A number of incidents were reported to police overnight on Sunday, July 14th and into the morning of Monday, July 15th in the Kessock Road area.

Star quality set to light up Speyfest: Scottish singer Eddi Reader is set to top the bill at what promises to be the best Speyfest yet. The event runs from Friday, July 26th to Sunday, July 28th and some of the best national and international contemporary and traditional Celtic music arts will descend on Fochabers for a packed weekend for all the family.

New café on song at Buckie Church: A new take on live café music is proving a hit for a Buckie Church. Buckie Methodist Church launched its Song Café at the end of May and it is set to become a regular feature on its calendar. As well as featuring the tunes of house band Rejoice, the café also provides an opportunity for informal worship. Buckie Methodist minister Rev Chris Jackson said ‘It is essential a music evening to introduce new music for churches. ‘We have a six piece band drawn from experienced musicians from different churches, we're all a bit long in the tooth , a bit like a Christian version of the Rolling Stones. The music is modern and quite loud, but also suitable to be used in church services’.

Stars are given a chance to shine: Hundreds of pounds was raised for charity at the hugely successful Moray’s Got Talent show held at Buckie High School’s Highfield Hall. The second showcase for local performers welcomed around 40 entrants, including singers dancers, musicians and even a magician. It was to be a special evening for Cullen singer Gemma Kemp and musical trio ‘The Country Quines’ from Keith who shared top prize. Running them close was talented Buckie dancer Sophie Roy. The evening was to be a bonanza for the charity Contact the Elderly Moray, who received a boost to their coffers to the tune of £778.69. Organiser Leah Rossvoll said ‘We’re absolutely delighted at the success of our second Moray’s Got Talent and it’s a case of onwards and upwards’.

Artists set for annual show: The finishing touches are being applied to a variety of works as Portgordon Arts Group eagerly awaited annual exhibition draws near. Spey Bay Hall will once again play host to the two-day display of talent. Looking ahead to the event, group member Kitty Bell said ‘We’re all really looking forward to this year’s exhibition. As always all the works on display will be original pieces created by group members over the course of the last year. The subject matter of the pieces on display will very greatly and have been created in acrylic, watercolour, oil, pastel pencil pen and in and so on. Group chair Alanda Calmus will be undertaking a pastel painting during the exhibition and raffle tickets will be on sale with a pastel by her of the winners choice as the main prize .’This will be worth approximately £200’.

July 30th

Eagle seeks to soar for Tories: The Moray Conservatives have selected Buckie Councillor Tim Eagle as their constituency candidate for the Scottish Parliament elections in 2021. Councillor Eagle lives near Drybridge with his wife Rachel, who is a local G.P and their three children. Having previously worked as a police officer in Caithness, he is now an agricultural assessor and runs a small farm. The 39 year old, who was elected in 2017, was selected by the local association of the Moray Conservatives and Unionists at an extraordinary meeting.

Lifeboat in Lossie rescue: The sudden closure of the East Beach Bridge in Lossiemouth meant Buckie RNLI lifeboat was called into action. Last Thursday an estimated 40 to 50 people defied Coastguard advice not to attempt to wade the river to reach the beach and later became trapped by the tide. A spokesperson for the RNLI said ‘The lifeboat was launched at 3:36 pm on Thursday, July 25th to assist a kayaker believed to be in trouble off Hopeman, although he managed to make it ashore safely himself, on her way back home, the lifeboat was tasked to assist at an incident at the East Beach Lossiemouth where a group of people had become trapped by the tide. The Y boat, the lifeboat’s daughter craft, was launched and helped 12 of those trapped to safety. Last Tuesday another potential hoax mayday was received.

Speyfest a success though a shadow hangs over the future: The sun shone on the 24th Speyfest over the weekend as the crowd flocked to Fochabers – but the financial future may not be so bright for the internationally renowned Celtic music event. Eddi Reader topped the bill and packed in the crowds as a host of talent, both local and from across the world, entertained. Speyfest chairman James Alexander said ‘We had very good attendances and Eddi Reader showed she still has the ability to pack crowds in to hear her. The Young Entertainers of the Year once again showed a very high standard indeed, however the truth is if we want to see Speyfest 25 we’re going to have to show a profit from this year’s event. Speyfest has enjoyed very generous support from local sponsors but we’re getting starved of funds from public sector sources. If the likes of Creative Scotland are serious about having festivals like Speyfest they’ll have to re-examine how they allocate their spending’. Taking the Young Entertainer of the Year crown was Lhanbryde sibling band The Collies, comprising Amy, Sophie and Arran Collie.

Scottish dreams now a reality for Wes. Going from a mountainous eastern region of Tennessee to coastal Buckie has taken the South and West Church’s new minister 20 years, but it has been a dream worth following. Last Thursday evening saw a warm Buckie welcome extended to Rev. Wes Brandon when he was formally inducted at the Kirk. Rev Brandon joins the South and West Church after a year spent working in Paisley as part of his transfer agreement from the Presbyterian Church, USA, where he served as a minister for 15 years. However, it is certainly not by whim that the town’s latest clergy finds himself on these shores. ‘I was born in Germany to a military family and I’ve always felt more European orientated in my mind than American’ he told the Advertiser. ‘My entire life I’ve wanted to be in Europe, my fascination with

Scotland,and I know this sounds kind of cheesy came after watching the Brigadoon musical’.

Aug 6th

Buckie Gateway: A bold sculpture celebrating the growth and heritage of Buckie has been chosen to be the new gateway feature to the town. For nearly two months, customers visiting Buckie’s Tesco supermarket have had the opportunity to post their suggestions to which of the three possible gateway designs should be given the honour of greeting those entering Buckie. Last Wednesday Portsoy-based artist of some thirty year’s standing, Carl Standing, was unveiled as the winner of the UK- wide contest with his design entitles Buckie’s Darling. The sculpture is shaped like a deer and formed of individual herrings to reflect the town’s name – home of the buck or male deer and it’s fishing heritage. It will be situated on the grassed area near the roundabout opposite Tesco.

Fochabers’ Hall doing grand! Morrison Construction and Scottish Gas Network have donated £500 each towards the maintenance of the Fochabers village hall, which is owned by the local community. The Fochabers Village Association Ltd will use the donation to complete the installation of an air conditioning unit in the balcony seating area of the hall. The two firms mentioned worked together to complete works costing £800,000 and £500,000 to replace a rising main across the old road bridge over the Spey and replacement of the gas main over the bridge.

Phone box views sought: The fate of a number of the red phone boxes once found scattered all though the countryside and a much needed necessity in days gone by comes under the spotlight in a new consultation launched by Moray Council. The local authority has been invited to respond to BT with comments, so is asking local residents their thoughts on the removal of the phone boxes at the Square Fochabers, Auchenhalrig, Spey Bay, North Murrayfield, Fochabers.

Blast from the past for Buckie lifeboat: While the Buckie RNLI lifeboat the William Blannin was engaged on the search for a kayaker said to be in trouble off Hopeman she was joined in the search by one of her predecessors, the Glencoe, Glasgow, a Watson class motor vessel which served Buckie RNLI from 1949 through to 1960. Now named the Vagrant, the former lifesaver is a pleasure boat based at Burghead. Buckie lifeboat coxswain Alan Robertson said how he had recognized her right away though she has been heavily converted. He continued: ‘I’ve been actually been on her and see her when we take the William Blannin to the Burghead Gala’. During her 12-year stint at Buckie the Glencoe, Glasgow, is credited with saving nine lives.

Fochabers fire station talk: A special guest recently attended a training session for retained crew at Fochabers fire station. Jackie McKenzie who, as well as being a firefighter herself was representing the charity Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Family Support Trust joined them. During her time at the station she talked about the charity’s varied role. The trust offer a wide range of support and assistance services to both serving and retired firefighters and their families, including grants and respite care. Founded in 1923 by members of Glasgow Salvage Corps, the trust is the oldest fire and rescue charity currently operating in the UK.

Anniversary open day for Buckie Hall: A weekend of anniversary celebrations is being held at Buckie Fishermen’s Hall to mark its first year of community ownership. This Saturday and Sunday the Friends of the Fishermen’s Hall who run the facility, will throw open its doors with a warm invitation to all to see for themselves the progress made since the hall was taken over from Moray Council control last summer. Visitors will also learn what the next 12 months will hopefully bring. One of those eagerly anticipating the festivities is the Friends chairman Glen Campbell.

Aug 13th

Buckie RNLI lifeboat deputy coxswain wins double gold. Stuart Mack, (28) Buckie Shipyard manager returned from the Skiffle World’s 2019 at Stranrear, the triennial world championships for St Ayles skiffs with not one but two gold medals to his name. A full report on the above is given on the first page of the Advertiser of this date.

Gordon Castle Walled Garden: On Friday, Saturday and Sunday of this week the Flower Farmer’s big weekend gets under way. The showcase is part of a national imitative promoting naturally grown British cut flowers. The castle’s Walled Garden, one of the oldest and largest of its kind in the UK is home to four huge flowerbeds and more than 60 varieties of flowers.

A top class effort by students: As the exam results dropped through letterboxes up and down Scotland, there was plenty to celebrate at both Buckie Community High School and Milne’s High, Fochabers. At BCHS four students, Lily Clarke, Amber Smith, Jake Newlands and Chelsey Hahmann, were being hailed for achieving five straight ‘A grades’ at Higher. In the National 5 exams there were six straight ‘A’ celebrations for Erica Wood, and Max Gill while Emily Strowger earned himself five as plus a Higher. Over at Milne’s Ailsa Young completed a year to remember with five A’s at Higher to add to her Dux award in June, Joining her in jubilation were five National 5 students Carla Morrison, Hannah Kingham, Callum Hughes, Roddy Manson and Emily Dale. In addition to her National 5s Emily secured a Higher. The results left BCHS rector Neil Johnson and his Milne’s colleague Trish Cameron overjoyed.

Keswick focus falls on Heaven: Heaven, what it means and how it affects the way people live today were all under the spotlight when the 34th Keswick in Buckie convention came to town. Taking place in the North Church Hall, Christians from across the country joined together to examine various aspects of heaven along with the convention’s three guest speakers, Revs Malcolm Duncan, Alan McKnight and Derek Burnside.

Garden party farewell for Lady Clare: Clare Russell has announced a musical garden party to mark the end of her long run as Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire, and said Banffshire would always be her passion. Lady Laird of Ballindalloch Castle, Mrs. Russell and her husband, Oliver, will throw open the gates to the castle grounds for the informal garden party on Sunday, August 18th. Families are invited to take along a picnic and join the celebration of local music; the afternoon will also mark the 100th anniversary of Strathisla Pipe Band. Mrs. Russell was appointed as the Queen’s representative for the area in 2002, succeeding James McPherson and stepped down on Sunday, August 4th, the date of her 75th birthday and the age when lord lieutenants have to retire.

Aug 20th

Better together: A better Buckie that was the clarion call groups, agencies and individuals alike rallied to when an improvement plan for the centre of the town was launched. The ten-year plan, which focuses on the central east area of Buckie, is the result of a year’s hard work with the wider community.

The united group will look at tackling four main priorities, Young people; Learning and life skills; Connectivity and Community Voice. Supporting the programme is Moray Council community support officer Tracey Rae.

Car Show set for park return: This year’s Buckie Classic Car Show is set to be a memorable one , as it returns to the Linzee Gordon Park .The change of venue from Cunningholes is set to mean more vehicles on display as no one but two important anniversaries are marked. Around 400 vehicles from across the country are registered to attend. Car Show chairman John Clark said ‘This is a special year for a lot of vehicles mainly the Mini, which celebrates its 60th anniversary and it just happens it was August 26, 1959, that you could actually order a brand new Mini from the showrooms. As a result of that, we decided to hold a special event to mark the occasion. It then occurred to us also the Ford Capri’s 50th anniversary and the Capri was and still is an iconic car, so we decided to hold a special event for it as well. It’s also the 30th anniverary of the Mercedes SL roadster, a car you just don’t see on the roads any more and the same goes for the Rover 200 series, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary too. These cars used to grace our roads but now very few are left , less than 400 of them , going by the DVLA website.

Rovers Return: Buckie Rovers players from days gone by are being invited to a reunion this weekend. An invitation has been extended to all players who were in the team which won the Morayshire Junior League 1974-75 , Dod Walker’s cup-winning side of 1975-76 and those who played during that period until 1980. The event organised by Alan MacDonald and Sandy Innes is to be held in the upstairs lounge of the Craigenroan Bar.

Aeromodel enthusiasts show concern: The local group of aeromodel enthusiasts who regularly follow their hobby at the former aerodrome at Dallachy are rightfully concerned that new legislation could see them up in the air. This was the message, which was sent to Moray MP Douglas Ross last week when he visited Dallachy Aeromodellers Club at Spey Bay. The new legislation which has been debated has arisen because of encroachment in airports by drones. Mr.Ross admitted that he now had a much wider knowledge of aeromodelling than he had previously and was thus able to speak with some authority on the subject.

Aug 27th

Speyside Way Race There were celebrations and farewells at the end of what was a very special Speyside Way ultra marathon on Saturday, A last minute blow was delivered to the line up when previous winner and many people’s favourite for the race, Terry Forrest had to withdraw due to injury. For Elgin native Grant Jeans, who now lives and works in Glasgow there was victory by some distance to savour after taking the tape in the 36.5 mile course in a time of 4.10.54. He was almost 17 minutes clear of second-placed Adam Gray who clocked 4.27.39.

The event itself had cause to break out the champagne to celebrate the 10th such race since it was resurrected by race organiser Sarah Louis Cull and her team of fellow enthusiasts back in 2010, having since gone from strength to strength.. It was an emotional day for Mrs. Cull herself as brought to a close her association with the race handing it over to Kyle Greig at Aberdeen Metro. She said the course had been in incredible conditions and paid thanks to the Speyside Ranger and also the team of volunteers and marshals. The sponsors this year were – Buckie Tesco, Walkers of Aberlour, John Dewar and Sons, Distillers and Baxter of Speyside.

A total of 130 lined up at the start at Cragganmore distillery for the gruelling yet scenic challenge, which is part of the Scottish Ultra Marathon Series. To score points competitors had to successfully complete the route in nine hours or less.

New High School Staff: A larger number of new teachers joined the ranks at the beginning of the term, June Reid took up post as depute rector job-sharing with Mrs. Taylor. Mrs. Annand returned full time from her secondment as PT Guidance for Rathburn. Mrs. Dawson joins us as permanent PT Guidance job sharing with Miss McIntosh for Cluny. Ms. Jenna Ogg joins us as PT Business Education & ICT job sharing with Mrs. McLeod. Lorna Stoker becomes acting PT Geography to cover Mrs. Smith’s maternity leave. Teaching staff joining us are Ms Georgia Pender, Biology and Science; Caitlin Maclean, History and Modern Studies; Clare Hale, Maths; Leah Bernard, Modern Languages; Brigitte Michel, Modern Languages, Michael Laing, P.E; Laura McDonald, ASN; Thomas Bowes, Technical. We also have eight new PSA’s joining us, all women.

Secure future in store for Jag’s park: An important milestone in Buckie Thistle’s history has been marked with a special presentation. This season is the hundredth the Jags have played their home games at the present Victoria Park and to mark the occasion club president Garry Farquhar was presented with a commemorative crystal trophy by Murray Thain principal trust of the Thain Victoria Trust. The Thain Victoria Park Trust was formed in January 1995 for the sole purpose of purchasing Victoria Park from the Buckie Welfare Society. The principal reason was to ensure Victoria Park was secured as a venue for football for the town but first and foremost the Thistle Previously Buckie Thistle had no lease for the ground and no legal standing as to the control of the park. Mr. Thain who was president of the club at the time saw this as an opportunity to provide the club with long-term control of the ground. This has been done with no financial risk or obligations to the football club and the Trust has leased the park to the club for a peppercorn rent ever since. Buckie Thistle having a formal lease for Victoria Park has been paramount to satisfying conditions required by the SFA for securing funding and grant applications for the club over the years.

Deskirt Flower Show: The weather this summer may not have been ideal for avid horticulturists across the North and northeast but it certainly didn’t put a dampener on the annual Deskford Flower Show. Now in its 120th year the event proved to be in the rudest of health when competitors from far and wide converged on Deskford Community Centre to enter their exhibits in a wide range of categories. Visitors, young and old alike also flocked to the show to enjoy the displays of flowers, vegetables food, handicrafts as well as other entertainment on offer.

Alan Morrison retained the Baldwin Cup for most points for gents overall with Muriel Farquharson doing likewise taking the Rose Bowl for most overall ladies points. Speaking after the show, committee secretary Maimie Mitchell said ’We’re all really delighted with the way it went. Before the show we had been worried about how the poor summer weather had affected the flowers but it turned out very well. The industrial section was particularly good this year’.

Sept 3rd

My memory takes me back 80 years: as I pen these snippets and I hear again my mother and father speak of what appeared to them to be of momentous concern; the news of the day that Britain had declared war on Germany, though at nine years of age I can’t think that it had any great significance. I was to live and learn.

Iconic cars make for a classic combination: They were the motoring icons of their times and at Buckie Classic Car Show it was time to throw a party for the Mini and Capri as the models marked milestone anniversaries. For the affordable compact immortalised in the film The Italian Job - and the sporty hatchback , it was a case of 60 and 50 years young respectively as they took centre stage at the show in the Linzee Gordon Park. Show organiser John Clark said ’We knew it was a special year for both the Mini which first went on order on August 26, 1959, and the Capri so we decided to do something special to mark it. It was great to see such a large turn out of both vehicles and it caused a lot of interest. There were big anniversaries for the Mercedes SL Roadster and the Rover 400 series, which clocked 30 years each.

New faces clock in at Milne’s High: Fresh faces were welcomed among the ranks of the staff at the start of the new term at Milne’s High, as well as new additions to student numbers. Joining the teaching ranks are, Vickie Slater (music), Brian Donlin (PT geography), Catriona Marr (history and modern studies), Carolyn Blance (maths) and Helen Rongong (maths and numeracy). New to the office team is clerical assistant Nicky Duff, Mrs. Slater is no stranger to the area being a local quine and has just completed her NQT year. She will be spending two days at Elgin Academy and three days here at Milne’s and I’m really enjoying it.

Sept 10th

Aye Afloat: A popular community run seaside facility will benefit from a £3480 cash injection thanks to the National Lottery. The volunteers who keep Portknockie’s coastal paddling pool going will use the grant from the Big Lottery fund for ongoing maintenance of the tidal facility. Thanks to community backing and a series of fund raising events, the 60 year old seaside attraction has undergone a much-needed refurbishment over the last few years. Among the volunteers were, Lillian Urquhart, Kirsty Farquhar and Donna Coull, seen in the Advertiser along with the report.

RAF Lossiemouth: A £75 million contract to resurface the runways at RAF Lossiemouth has been awarded. Vlker Fitzpatrick Ltd will do the work as part of the Station’s preparation for the arrival of nine P8a Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft and is a further boost to the base. Russ Liddington, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s project for the resurfacing works said: ‘It’s exciting to be part of the start of a new era for RAF Lossiemouth. The improvements to the runways will make them suitable for use by the new maritime patrol aircraft and continue to enable Typhoon operations, which are essential to the UK’s defence capabilities

Buckie harbour news – There were 1115 boxes of fish, prawns and squid landed at Buckie harbour last week however, there were no boxes of clams. The boats which landed included Emulous, Boy Sam, Jann Denise, Deeside, Amaryha, Transcend, Radiance and Saltire. On the cargo front, MV Olza, registered in Cyprus, arrived with 2193,9 tonnes of soya on September 3. She sailed again three days later.

Choir to set to mark 50th anniversary: Next year is going to be an exciting one for Buckie Choral Union as they prepare to celebrate their 50th anniversary. The choir was formed when several local church choirs joined together for a Songs of Praise broadcast in 1969, before forming Buckie Choral Union, whose first performance was Handel’s great masterpiece Messiah in 1970. The choir plans to perform the same piece for the golden anniversary concert on April 18, 2020.

Choir voice support for new defibrillator: Buckie choir was singing a song of praise for one of its own members when it took delivery of a life-saving piece of equipment. Choir chairwoman Kathleen Thomson said ‘The funds towards this defibrillator have in most part come from a very generous donation the choir received from choir member Caroline Fowler’. This was raised from the sale of her Doric poet anthology, which was written in memory of her late husband Rob Fowler. A total of 25 choir members have volunteered to undergo training in using the equipment.

Planning application: Change of use and refurbishment of former food processing factory to an indoor trampoline/activity centre and gymnastics and café/snack bar at Grampian Country Pork Ltd, Great Western Road, Buckie.

Sept. 17th

Photo haul reveals a reel insight: Tens of thousands of old photos documenting Buckie’s history have been donated to the town with many destines to go on public display. The pictures date back to 1961 and record just about every face of life within the town and the surrounding area. They have been handed over by the Johnston family who for many years owned the Banffshire Advertiser. It’s estimated that within the enormous collection there are about 30,000 pictures and this figure doesn’t even begin to take into account all the additional photographic negatives.Jack Johnston has handed over them all to the Buckie and District Fishing Heritage Centre.

Welcome return of Post Office: Moray MP Douglas Ross has welcomed the return of Post Office services to Portgordon. Concerned residents had contacted Mr. Ross after the Post Office service in the village was disrupted with the store in which it was situated, meaning the nearest facility was in Buckie. The Portgordon Bowling Club has had the equipment installed with a Post Office outreach service being in operation on Mondays and Thursdays from 9am until 1pm. It is hoped that public will get behind it and hopefully this may lead to the restoration of a fuller service in time, said Councillor Marc Macrae, (Fochabers and Lhanbryde).

Coastal Runners on the go: Keeping fit and making new friends is the aim for a new group in Buckie. Local Jog Scotland leaders Anne Herd and Johnny Dunbar have joined forces to form Coastal Runners, part of the Jog Scotland network and are rolling out the welcome mat to people of all ages and abilities.

Clan celebrations are set to come to Cullen: A cancer charily is hosting an open afternoon in the Royal Oak Hotel in Cullen this week to celebrate its anniversary Clan Cancer Support, which formed in 1983, and has bases across the north-east, is inviting people to come along to its Go Purple for clan event this Friday from 1pm till 4pm at the Royal Oak Hotel in the village.

Sept 24th

A shepherd hangs up his crook: Over two decades of dedication to local government and communities drew to a close when Councillor Ron Shepherd announced his resignation from Moray Council. Councillor Shepherd who is 81, a native of Kirkton in Deskford and lives in Cullen, represented the Rathford ward and on the introduction of multi-member wards, the Keith, Cullen ward on the local authorities as an Independent. One of the longest serving elected members since Moray was created as a unitary authority in 1999; he was also a member of Cullen Town Council prior to regionalisation in 1975.

Charity’s H.Q set to reopen. Moray Reach Out’s newly refurbished headquarters building in Buckie is set to be formally reopened next week, next Thursday at 11am will see the ribbon cut at the 23 East Church Street premises (formerly Packman’s) after months of work transforming the building into a base not only for the charity, which offers training opportunities for adults with learning disabilities, but also a whole host of other local groups and projects.

Her logo was chosen: A Portessie youngster’s design is set to become the symbol of one of Buckie’s fastest growing community groups. Earlier this year Buckie’s Roots formerly Friends of Buckie Square Memorial (Fobs) had invited primary school pupils from the town to submit their ideas for what is to become the group’s official logo. Over 169 colourful drawings were submitted presenting something of a headache to pick a winner. Pick of the bunch was to be Melanie McKechnie from Portessie and she was presented with her prize at Cluny Square by Buckie’s Roots’ chairwoman Meg Jamieson and other committee members.

Would you believe it: The average house in Moray costs more than those in Aberdeen according to new figures from the Land Registry. However the change about has more to do with steep falls over in Aberdeen rather than a rise in Moray prices. Prices in Moray have actually remained relatively stable over the past 12 months with the average home now costing £152.755 as opposed to £151.772 a year ago. This represents a slight rise of 0.6 per cent.

Oct 1st

A clean getaway: Remarkable dedication to duty, the likes of which is rarely seen, was honoured by a local law practice when their stalwart cleaner headed for retirement, at the age of 92. At a time when most people were considering calling time on their working life, Jenny Duncan of Scott Terrace, Buckie, was just getting to know her new employers Alexander George and Co. later to become Grant Smith Law. Thirty-two years and a replacement hip later, Mrs. Duncan finally called it a day last Wednesday at a surprise lunchtime retirement bash at the practice’s East Church Street office in town. It marked the end of a 60-year association with the building for the energetic nonagenarian. She told the Advertiser, ‘I suppose you could say I’m part of the fittings here; I seem to have come as part of the building when in changed hands. I’ve been with the law practice for 32 year but was here when it was a paint shop and then a bakery, which must be about 60 years altogether. I’ve enjoyed working here ,there have been a lot of changes’.

Moray Firth sharks: A number of basking sharks have been spotted just off the coast of Moray. A light aircraft crew conducting a beach pollution survey spied them between Burghead and Findhorn on Friday, September 20. The calm seas and sunny weather meant that at least four sharks were clearly visible in the shallow water. Basking sharks are slow-moving filter feeders and can be threatened by fishing gear and plastic pollution. They are often spotted on the West coast of Scotland but have occasionally been known to visit the Moray Firth. They are listed by the IUCN as a vulnerable species.

BCHS add to poppy display: Students and staff alike at Buckie Community High School have been working hard to create their contribution to a Remembrance Sunday display in the town. Earlier in the year, Buckie Roots and Buckie Arts and Crafts Group launched a project encouraging groups and individuals to knit, crochet and sew poppies, which will adorn the war memorial quadrant of Cluny Square. Members of the public can even create poppies from the bottoms of juice and water bottles.

Bank closures slammed: It has emerged that Moray has lost almost twice the national average of bank branches to closure than the rest of the country. The startling figures, revealed in consumer magazine, which, state that the region has waved goodbye to some 59 percent of bank branches over the course of the last four and a half years.

Lady Clare cooks up new book: Lady Clare Russell may have just retired as Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire, but that has not stood in the way of her love for cooking. She has just released the latest in her I Love Food series, I Love Food 3, which seeks to showcase the best of Scottish produce, particularly that of the Moray- Speyside area. Mrs. Russell said: ‘I never thought that I would write another cook book, but I have so many delicious recipes, tried and tested over the last few years that I’d like to share with you that I couldn’t resist so, here I go again. In addition to more than 120 recipes the book contains poems, stories, a potted history of Mrs. Russell’s fascinating life, tales from her Lieutenancy, a section especially for dogs and a short history of the latest Ballindalloch Distillery, all illustrated with full colour images by Inverness photographer. John Paul. The ‘I Love Food’ series of books has its own dedicated website (ilovefood3.com) where signed copies of the books can be bought.

Oct 8th

A new era dawns for Buckie-based charity: Moray Reach Out embraced a bold and bright new future when it officially opened its refurbished headquarters in Buckie. Situated in the building on East Church Street first built for George Packman and Sons, Plasterers and Building Contractors and more recently occupied by Cruickshank’s as furniture and general store. The facility has taken a year to complete and was declared open by the new Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire, Andrew Simpson. The social enterprise, which finds work placements for adults with learning disabilities and other adults who have faced challenges in their lives , mainly mental health, will now be able to host a wide range of projects under the one roof. Buckie Yarns and Crafts has moved from its site on West Church to the hub in the east of the town, and the Thrift Shop has found a new home upstairs.

Bid to reverse grass-cutting decision fails: An attempt to reverse Moray Council’s stance on grass cutting has been defeated. A meeting of the full council last Wednesday rejected a motion to reverse the decision they took in February to drastically scale back grass cutting on council land. Putting forward the motion, Councillor Tim Eagle (Buckie Conservative) argued that February’s decision had proved a highly unpopular mistake, which had only saved the council £45.000. ‘A petition generated by Moray’s MP Douglas Ross to reverse the decision had been signed by 5000 people’ he said. volunteers have been cutting some areas of grass since the Council stopped doing so.

Cullen group’s award boost: A bold volunteer project to transform an overgrown hilltop into a popular attraction for tourists and locals has been hailed as one of the to three of its kind in Scotland. Since 2016 when Cullen Volunteer Group obtained a six-year lease from the Seafield Estates, it has closely worked with them and other partners to transform Castle Hill, where a wooden castle once stood. It is claimed that Robert the Bruce’s wife Elizabeth de Burgh died there after falling from her horse. and the Duke of Cumberland‘s army amassed in the surrounding fields before journeying on to participate in the Battle of Culloden.

The volunteer group’s efforts has led them making the final three of the MacRobert Trust Award for Working with Communities, part of the Scottish Land and Estate’s 2019 Helping it Happen Awards. CVG chairman Stan Slater attended the awards ceremony in Edinburgh last Wednesday. Although not a winner on the night, he said that all at CVG were very proud.

Oct 15th

Local group’s fury at park cash grant: A row has erupted over the decision to to award more than £40.000 town centre regeneration fund cash to revamp a Buckie play park. Ian Johnston Park, a Moray-Council run facility, has been handed a total of £43.000 for new play equipment from a total of £220.000 allocated to the town as part of a £1.2 million award to Moray from the Scottish Government. The equipment in the park has been deemed past the end of its lifespan and has been fenced off for safety reasons. However a number of community groups including Buckie and District Community Council have been left angry and bewildered as, despite submitting an ambitious list of projects based solely in the town centre received just £2000 towards new signage. A spokesperson for Moray Council said that none of the projects the groups had in mind had been costed.

Community support hailed: A Buckie Community champion has just been overwhelmed by the support shown for her latest venture to aid local groups. On Monday, Buckie Community Shop opened its doors at 47 West Church Street for the first time. Behind the counter in the town’s store with a difference was Jane Murray, former manager of Buckie Red Cross shop for ten years and a finalist in SPP’Community Heroes awards earlier this year. The proceeds from the sales of stock, which is all donated, will go towards helping local groups and organisations supporting those in the area who are in need,. The Advertiser caught up with Mrs Murray to see how her first week had gone. ‘We’ve been really, really busy, it is amazing the amount of donations we’ve had already’ she said. ‘everybody has been so supportive of what we trying to do here and have really got behind the idea’.

Buckie shoebox appeal: Efforts are gearing up in Buckie to bring festive smile to the faces of some of the most impoverished people in Eastern Europe. The Blythswood Care Shoebox Appeal will be setting up shop again in the Buckie Baptist Church Hall for three days and the volunteers are poised for a busy time hoping local people are generous with their donations of goods and cash. Organiser, George Flett said ‘We’re delighted with the number of leaflets that have been given out so far and we can now confirm our collection dates for the Buckie area. We’ll be pleased to receive filled shoe boxes , suitable goods for filling the shoeboxes or money donations to help with the transport of the boxes. Many thanks go to all who’ve helped us in the past and we look forward to your help again this year’.

Oct 22nd

A snapshot of time : Delight as intricate model of former lifeboat station denoted to Centre.: An inspirational homage to Buckie’s maritime life-saving past has come home and is set to go on display to the public. From 1922 to 1960 , the town RNLI lifeboat station was an impressive feature situated in what is now basin one near the mouth of the harbour. It was to be a unique variation on that particular design of station sacrificing a launching ramp as there was insufficient room in the basin to accommodate it in favour of a hoist system that saw the lifeboat go under the structure before being winched out of the water ready for her next emergency. The station was demolished in 1980. However, a lovingly created and detailed 1/32 scale model of the station, which was completed in 1928 has been donated to Buckie District Fishing Heritage Centre Ltd and is set to go on public display when it reopens next spring.

The model, which was crafted by the clerk of works who supervised the construction of the station, Edward Ernest Ransom, includes cutaway sections to reveal the exquisite internal detail of the facility, even down to the crews lifejackets on a shelf and protective oilskins hanging up. The lifeboat, the KBM is seen departing its launch cradle.

Heritage secretary Adam Robertson who is also a deputy launching authority of many years standing with Buckie RNLI explained some of the background to this latest acquisition to the Advertiser. ‘The model had been in a museum in Redcar in the north of England for a great many years but unfortunately it had lost its funding and had to close. Rather than go into cold storage, the grandson of the man who made it, also Edward Ernest Ransom, initially got in touch with Buckie RNLI lifeboat station who then passed him on to us at the Heritage Centre. We’re deeply grateful to him for thinking of us this model is unique, the only one of its kind in existence ,so to have it here and to be able to show it to the public is wonderful. It’s snapshot of time and is incredibly detailed. We’re just the custodians of this piece of history for future generations’ he said. A picture of the model in the Centre, a small picture taken as the lifeboat left its mooring to take to sea with some further information is to be found in this edition of the Advertiser.

Special night for Arc show: Fochabers Institute will welcome back one of the village’s favourite sons onto its stage later this month. Following two sell- out shows last year, James Alexander MBE is set to perform alongside a stellar line up. Appearing on Friday, October 25 and Saturday, 26 October will be Charlie McKerron (Session A9/Capercaillie): Paul Anderson (Glenfiddich Scottish Fiddle Champion ), Buckie’s Douglas Lawrence (has won every major fiddle competition); Gregor Borland (has played with many artistes) including Kathryn Tickell and Davy Steele); Raymond Jappy Glenfiddich Fiddle champion), from Findochty; Shona Donaldson (one of Scotlands leading young tradition bearers in Scots song); Colin Mackay (Country style vocalist/ guitarist), born in Buckie.

Quiz show looking for Moray players. A brand new televised quiz show is looking for participants from Moray and the north-east. Very Hard Questions, which hopes to be the toughest quiz ever seen on the box, wants people from the north of Scotland to sign up to take part. The show, which will produced by Youngest Media and broadcast at the start of 2020 on so far unnamed channel, is looking for teams of three to answer some of the most difficult question on TV/ Filming will take place in London in December and thousands of pounds will be on offer for the winners. Travel and overnight expenses for contests will be paid. Andrew Mallon, a producer working on the show, said:’We are looking for teams of three of the strongest quizzers in the UK to take part. People from the North east of Scotland are often under represented on TV so we would love to get a team from the north of Scotland to take part.

Affordable homes win approval: Plans for 46 more affordable homes in Mosstodloch have been given the green light by Moray Council. Permission for the development off Stynie Road was granted during a meeting of Moray Council’s planning and regulatory services committee which took place last week. The homes will be situated on the North and east portions of the site, which is part of a larger planned development. Permission has already been granted for 30 affordable house/units.

Music man to be remembered: A tribute night will celebrate the 100th birthday of the man who brought the Beatles to Moray. Albert Bonici succeeded in attracting many famous names to his venue, The Two Red Shoes ballroom ,on Elgin’s High Street. As well as the Fab Four, the roll call also included The Who, Pink Floyd, The Yardbirds, The Animals and Cream. Albert died in 1990. However, to mark what would have been the centenary of his birth, several popular local bands from yesterday will be reforming to play at Elgin Town Hall. The line up at the tribute gig on July 18th the day before Albert’s birthday will include Johnny and the Copycats, Windy Miller, The Jacobeats and Apaches. All four bands were from Moray. David Dills, one of the organisers of the tribute night, has searched the era on his website Scotbeat. The Elgin resident said ‘Albert was a visionary who loved music of all types, including jazz, skiffle and soul. The evening is going to be a celebration of his life and all the things he did for Moray. Billed as the Love Me Do Boys , the Beatles still had just one hit to their name when they played the Two Red Shoes on January 3rd 1963. By the end of the same year, however, they were well on their way to becoming virtually the most famous people on the planet

Oct. 29th

Back with a bang: After a weather wipeout last year Portgordon fireworks returned to celebrate a belated 25th anniversary. Friday saw a large crowd gather at the harbour and surrounding area as well as vantage points to see the Show

Church minister hurt in woods attack: A former Fochabers church ministers in hospital with serious injuries sustained after an attack which left a pensioner dead, In an incident which has shaken Moray, great-grandfather Frank Kinnis (83) died following last Monday morning’s incident at Birkenhill Woods just south of Elgin. Reverend Morris Smith who is locum minister for Aberlour and Craigellachie Church of Scotland and his wife Jan were found with serious injuries .They remain in hospital where their condition is described as stable. Rev Smith who retired in 2013 was locum minister for Bellie and Speymouth before taking up the post at Aberlour and Craigellachie.

Plans for Buckie community orchard and garden unveiled: A new community orchard and garden is being installed in Buckie. The project is being financed by £20.000 developer contributions secured by Moray Council from Tesco superstore. The former rose garden site at Queen Street was deemed to be the most suitable Its original design has been incorporated into a draft sketch that will assist the transformation of the space into a quality area for the community to enjoy. In a joint statement, Buckie councillors Sonya Warren, Gordon Cowie and Tim Eagle said they were looking forward to the project being completed and hailed it as a community asset.

Give the gift of Christmas joy. With Christmas just over eight weeks away, the time is almost here to launch the 2019 Christmas Toy and Food Appeal. The annual event will officially get under way on Friday and this year the Moray and Grampian group of news papers The Northern Scot, Banffshire Herald, Banffshire Advertiser, Banffshire Journal and Huntly Express have a new appeal partner. The St Giles Centre in Elgin has hosted a popular Giving Tree for a number of years and this year will be incorporated as part of our Christmas Appeal. For more than 30 years the toy and food appeal has provided much needed festive cheer for young children, teenagers and older people.

Nov 5th .

Appeal after spate of car vandalism: Vandals have damaged 12 cars in Buckie an estimated cost of £20,000. Police in the town have appealed for information following attacks on cars within the town centre on Thursday, October 31st to Friday, November 1st. The incidents took place in Banff Street, Milton Drive, Cluny Place car park, High Street, South Pringle Street and West Church Street.

Lunch group has recipe for success: A community effort to build a better Buckie is already bearing fruit since a campaign to help those on tight budgets, eat well got off the ground. The Fishermen’s Hall in Buckie played host to a community lunch , where a soup and sweet were far from the only thing on the menu. Taking centre stage was a drive to bring different strands of the community together to get behind a project aiming to help people living on a tight budget eat well and prepare meals from scratch.

Buckie man eyes awards finals glory: A Buckie man has been named as a finalist in the Scottish Apprenticeship Awards. Run by Skills Development Scotland and now in its 18th year, the Scottish Apprenticeship Awards bring together apprentices, employers and earning providers to celebrate the contributions apprenticeships bring to the economy. Hoping to walk away with the Apprentice Instructor of the Year category trophy, which is in partnership with Scotlands Apprentice Network, is NHS Grampian learning and development manager Douglas Andrew, who is originally from Buckie. He is based at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin.

Creative kids cook up some mud: Mud, mud glorious mud is now very much the order of the day for creative kids at Lady Cathcart Nursery in Buckie thanks to the efforts of a local Men’s Shed. With funds gathered from various events organised throughout the year by parents, such as a, daffodil tea, it was decided to build a mud kitchen to the rear of the nursery. A parental contact with Cullen Men’s Shed saw them brought on board to construct the kitchen from reused pallets. In return for their efforts, the Men’s Shed was presented with a cheque by grateful nursery pupils and staff. Nursery manager Elaine Sydney explained some of the uses of the mud kitchen and how it can serve as a gateway to stimulating young imaginations. ‘The mud kitchen is an outdoor resource which allows the children to use natural items like mud, bark and leaves to make ‘potions’ and ‘soups’ she told the Advertiser. It allows them to be really creative and use their imagination. “

Nov 12th

Remembering the fallen in the Buckie area: Buckie and surrounding communities joined with others across the land on Sunday in bowing their heads in remembrance and gratitude. A large crowd of young and old alike made their way to Cluny Square in Buckie to pay their last respects not just to those who fell in the two world wars but in the myriad of conflicts since then. As the parade of veterans, currently serving military personnel, representatives from local organisations joined by a large contingent from 1st Company Boys Brigade bugle band under the command of Peter McPhee started off down High Street from the British Legion headquarters they were led by Buckie and District Pipe Band preceded by a convoy of bikers. Local veteran John Grant, accompanied by his wife took the salute. Providing music at the Square adjacent to the War Memorial were Buckie and District Community Choir. Creating a striking backdrop to the proceedings at Cluny Square was a display of sewn, knitted and crochet poppies draped from one of the windows of Struan guesthouse. The flowers had been created thanks to a joint venture between Buckie’s Roots and Buckie and District Arts and Crafts Group featuring contributions from many groups and organisations. The service this year was again led by Rev. Canon Jeremy Paisey from Buckie All Saints Episcopal Church. Reading from the Scriptures was Buckie Church of Christ minister Rev. Sam Burton. Janet Winterbourne once again was bugler while the traditional lament Flowers of the Forest was played by a piper of the local pipe band.

Fresh chapter for caravan site - A new chapter is set to open for a local caravan site. Findochty Caravan Park, a licensed leisure site situated near the village’s harbour, has been sold at the closing date by chartered surveyors D.M. Hall. The site has changed hands for the sum of £335.000. The sale will mean a fond farewell for Moira and Dennis Main, who have run Findochty caravan park for over two decades.

New play park design unveiled: The winning design for a revamped play park has been unveiled. Following a period of voting in which both schools and local community groups were involved the winner for the Ian Johnston Park make over was announced as Wicksteed. The news was welcomed by the town’s three councillors.,Tim Eagle, Gordon Cowie and Sonya Warren.

Nov 19th

Public needed to help orchard bear fruit: Organisers of a plan to breathe life into a neglected area of Buckie are urging grassroots participation to make the project flourish . The public got their first glimpse of plans to transform the Rose Garden of town off Queen Street into a community orchard and garden for all at a public drop- in consultation session in Buckie Thistle Function Hall. On hand to talk through graphic representations of what is planned were architect Matthre Benians and Moray Council planning officers Darren Westmacott. A cash pot of £20.000 is available to bring the gardens to life, the money coming from developer contributions accruing from the opening of the Buckie Tesco store in 2010. It was one of a number of projects earmarked for developer cash, including town centre initiatives and traffic improvements

Kids get peek at new nursery: There was a peek into the future for a group of Cullen pre-school kids when they got the first glimpse of their new nursery. The nursery has for some while been housed in temporary accommodation but that is soon to be a thing of the past as a brand new, purpose-built premises is currently under construction next to the primary school. The youngsters accompanied by staff and helpers, made the short trip across the playground to get suitably kitted out in safety gear and then see for themselves what awaits once the work is finished. Being built by Morrison Construction, the new nursery will offer two classrooms, a small kitchen, shower and laundry, not to mention a play area and staff room. A special room for parents, where they can pick up their children is included in the design, as is underfloor heating.

ASL hail loyal staff in Buckie: An incredible millennium of service has been honoured at Buckie fish processors ASL. The firm, a major local employer, presented a total of 70 awards at its Low Street plant, representing more than 50 percent of ASL’s permanent staff. To qualify for long service, employees must have been with the company for at least five years. Among those gathered to celebrate were six staff members with more than 25 years of service and one employee who had clocked up 35 years. All the long service employees have been awarded increased holidays. After the ceremony , all staff on site that day were provided with a free lunch, drinks and a cake specially baked for the occasion. The event held on Wednesday October 30, was also a special occasion as it heralded the unveiling of the firm’s enhanced benefit package. In Buckie, ASL is the parent company to Moray Seafoods and Lossie seafoods.

Nov 26th

Big Bang Christmas Kracker pulls in the punters and the pounds: Crowds who packed Buckie for the ninth Christmas Kracker have been praised for making the event a festive jackpot for businesses in the town. Young and old alike travelled from new and far for Saturday’s day of celebrations, which culminated in the big Christmas light switch on Adding excitement was the appearance of Emmerdale stars Chris Chittel and Lesley Dunlop, who are married in real life, along with co star Nicola Wheeler. Christmas Kracker chairman Gordon Cowie said :’It was incredibly busy and everything went very well. It is difficult to say how many were there but I would estimate between 2000 and 3000 people. We had entertainment all day and I would have to say it was coming close to the best one we have ever had . It was just brilliant. We are a very small committee and we’ve got about four or five young lads that do the putting up before the event and the taking down afterwards If it wasn’t for them we couldn’t do it so I’d like to give them a big thank you’, The After Kracker Party, held in the Fishermen’s Hall brought the night to an all singing, all dancing finale.

Tories win in bye election: Conservative candidate Laura Powell has won the Keith and Cullen by-election. The by-election, which could act as a barometer ahead of the upcoming general election on December 12, was after the resignation of Independent Councillor Ron Shepherd from Moray Council . Ms. Powell, from Portknockie, was elected after stage three of the single transferable vote process with a total of 1339 votes. She received 41.5 per cent (1142) of the first preference vote an increase on the Conservatives total of 32.7 percent at the election in 2017. The turnout was 33.9 per cent with 2750 votes cast. MS Powell said ‘I’m very excited for the next chapter. I was surprised by the margin, I thought it would be closer. I think the personal vote helps, with me being a Portknockie local.

Stitch in time for good cause: A magnificent quilt sewn by ladies in a Cullen group is set to raise £1000 for charity. The culmination of a project which has brought together people of all ages in and around Huntly, the quilt is being raffled to raise money for ‘Networks of Wellbeing’ a charity which supports people in the Strathbogie area with mental health and wellbeing issues, Amanda Edwards , from Cornhill , who volunteers with NoW came up with the idea and roped in her ‘Sisters in Stitches’ craft friend Fiona Vadler from Ruthven.

The designs were taken to groups around the area and coloured in based on a palette chosen by Fiona. Fiona created the layout for the patterns and roped in the ‘Hackers and Tackers’ sewing group in Cullen to fashion the squares into the quilt which will easily cover a double bed.

Church set to host Reflections service: There will be a time for reflection as the festive season approaches at a special service in Buckie. The town’s South and West Church is set to host the annual Reflections at Christmas event on Sunday. Supporting the Service is Buckie Rotary Club, joined by 1st Company Buckie Boys Brigade and Buckie and District Community Choir. The evening will provide an opportunity for many to remember those they have lost and who are not able to be with their families. An offering on the night will be taken for Friends of Seafield Hospital.

Welcome for gallery in Cullen: A new addition has been made at the Cullen Antiques Centre. A new gallery named AREA 51, has been instated at the centre. The first exhibition, which ends on Hogmanay, is called ‘Four Women’ and consists of four artists , all hailing from Aberdeen, sculptor and painter April XJ Prestley and painters Lesley Cullan, Debbie Forsyth and Karen Curran. The antiques centre itself is open seven days a week 11am till 4pm from Monday to Saturday and noon to 4pm on Sunday. Entry is free.

Villages set to trip the light fantastic: The local communities will be switching on for Christmas when they turn on their festive lights this week. First up will be Cullen, the village is ready to bring light to Millennium Square at 7.15pm on Thursday night with primary children doing the honours with the switch on. The evening itself will get under way at 5.15pm up at Cullen Bowling and Tennis Club where a wide range of stalls featuring local groups and organisations will be on offer. After a gap of two years pupils from the village school are due to flick the switch at 4.30 outside the town hall. From 2.30pm the hall will play host to a community fair with festive stalls, tombolas, hampers, raffles, homebakes, kids craft room and a lot more. Cullen Primary will sing carols, taking over from the local Brownies and Guides. Meanwhile over in Findochty, Saturday will be the big day for the Yuletide switch-on and Christmas fair . Late afternoon will also see Fochabers getting to festive spirit. The square will be the place to be throughout the evening as an array of attractions are to be put on for the public.

Dec 3rd

Tree mendous effort. Festival continues to grow in popularity as community comes together to help charities. The second Buckie Christmas Festival of Trees has been hailed as a successful community effort. Boosting the coffers of two local charities as well as bring festive sparkle. Buckie South and West Church organised a display of 20 Christmas trees, which were decorated by members of local clubs, businesses and school children. Funds raised will be shared between the RNLI Buckie lifeboat and men’s wellbeing project, ‘The Shed’. The church events committee brought together various branches of community life through its project. The attracted tree entries from the local theatre group, the Boys Brigade, the British Legion and local schools. One stand-out enter was a tree modelled from copper pipe with another tree was tantalisingly adorned with freshly made cup cakes.

Bake Off star pens life story: A moray man who brought his baking skills to a mass audience on television has published a book about his TV experience. Norman Calder made it to round five of the Great Britain Bake off in 2014 and he still has viewers writing to him , including from the United States where it is showing on cable stations.

A marvel of Doric poetry for MS: A Buckie poet has penned a new book as a tribute to her grandparents who undertook a gruelling walk for charity. Caroline Fowler’s Brose with Marvel is a collection of 37 poems , mainly in Doric but some also in English. Brose a traditional morning dish made from oatmeal which was taken with marvel, a powdered milk and boiling water to sustain them on a 185 mile cross country walk in the early 1980s. Mary and George Fyvie’s daughter Daisy, Caroline’s mother, had Multiple Sclerosis, and they undertook the walk to raise money for research, and were both in their 80s at the time. The book costing £5 can be had from a number of local outlets, including Pozzis, Newsagents, etc., also Buckie Community Shop. Proceeds will go to MS Moray and research into MS in Scotland.

Young Musician of the Year: Wednesday evening saw a packed Highfield Hall, Buckie Community High School, for this year’s Young Musician competition. The event, in partnership with Buckie Rotary Club, proved to be an enormously high standard this year. The extended period for decision making this year allowed the audience to see group acts from the local Vocal G, string quartet, NC. Dance class and the house band. The winners on the night were Finlay Wood (euphonium) and Brogan Ferguson (voice) in the Junior Section and Abbie Nye (violin) and Deia McAllister (voice) in the Senior Section. Overall winner was Abbie Nye.

Dec 10th

Four weeks to save popular bowling club: Appeal for committee members. A popular community-based sports club is on the brink of closure unless more people can be attracted to serve on its governing committee. Despite having a thriving membership of over 50 including 20 or so junior members, Portgordon Bowling Club recent AGM saw no one step forward to fill the vacancies on the committee. A total of nine, six of them office-bearers, plus three ordinary members , need to be filled for the club to continue running. Should nobody come forward soon the bowling club which was formed in 1981 will slip into the pages of history. However, PBC secretary Ian Paterson stressed that should the club have to fold, this would be a loss not just to the bowlers but to the wider community as a whole. Ian continued by saying ‘The Post Office currently hold an outreach service at the clubhouse twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays and from what I understand this is very popular and well used. I have to wonder what would happen to it if the club was gone’. The local OAP group also meet in the club house free of charge.”

Peter Pan to soar at panto: Tickets have gone on sale for what will be a landmark show for Buckie Community Theatre group. Peter Pan, which will take to the stage in the Fishermen’s Hall will mark 60 years of the group performing pantos in Buckie.

‘Massive leap’ for trampoline park: Christmas has come early for a bold project to bring a trampoline and leisure park to Buckie. The last three years or so have seen local man Graham Cormack who represents Braidreef Construction Ltd, working to transform the derelict site which formerly housed the Grampian Country Pork factory into a leisure facility. The facility will offer trampoling, gymnastics and much more as part of a multi-phase development project. Patience paid off for Mr Cormack last week when he announced that a major hurdle for the scheme, change of use permission from Moray Council which now sees the site zoned for recreational rather than industrial use-has been cleared.

Service gives time for quiet reflection: There was time for remembering loved ones and friends who will be sadly missed this festive season at a special concert in Buckie. The South and West Church again played host to the Reflections at Christmas service. Joining the church in supporting the well attended event were Buckie Rotary Club,1st Buckie Boy’s Brigade and Buckie and District Community Choir. Following the service itself, South and West minister Wes Brandon invited those who wished to join him around the church’s Christmas tree at the front of the building for a time of reflection and prayer . An offering was taken on the evening the proceeds of which will go to the Friends of Seafield Hospital.

Magic man to head for Moray: Lorenzo ‘Renz’ Novani has performed his speciality close-up tricks everywhere from Brighton to Orkney. A professional magician for over eight years, his shows have been labelled ‘compelling’ by the World Magic Review . His latest show ‘Poet of the Impossible’ will see him giving a display of his skills at Portessie Public Hall on Saturday, December 28 from 2pm. He said: ‘I like playing intimate venues that have been designed with smaller audiences in mind, I’s absolutely vital for close up magic that people can see you properly’.

Dec 17th

Tories win Moray seat again, but narrowly: Moray MP Douglas Ross was back at Westminster this week after revealing his relief after hanging on to his seat. The Tory member admitted he thought he was a ‘goner’ at one stage as the SNP swept across Scotland but he clung on by just 513 votes. from the Nationalist’s Laura Mitchell.

Cluny Square carols to return: There will be carols ringing out across Cluny Square this weekend when a popular festive musical event makes a welcome return. Last year saw the inaugural Carols in the Square celebration take place and due to the huge response received from the community it is set to be in full voice on Sunday afternoon, Behind the musical celebration of the season is Buckie and District Community Choir. who will be joined by pupils of Findochty Primary School and the proceeds of the collection will go to Findochty Primary School.

Advertiser has new owner: The Banffshire Advertiser has a new owner. Parent company, Scottish Provincial Press Limited has been acquired out of administration by Highland News and Media Limited. It immediately secures 135 jobs in the north of Scotland as well as ensuring the long-term survival of 18 local newspapers and nine growing news websites

Racist abuse ‘unacceptable’: A Buckie man has been ordered to pay £2000 compensation after a racist incident which occurred in the town Jodie Cormack (28) of Wallace Avenue was sentenced at Elgin Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause fear or alarm. The incident took place on December 31 last year. His attack, on a man and woman with a young child, Cormack taking off his jacket and challenging the man to fight also telling him to return to his own country. Sheriff Gary Aitken told Cormack that his behaviour was ‘unacceptable‘. he continued ‘Behaviour of this kind is wholly unacceptable’.

High honours for brave Coastguards: Three Buckie coastguards have been awarded the highest individual honours the service has to offer. Coastguard rescue officers John Murray, Kris Herd and Rick Hemsley were all presented with the Chief Coastguard’s Commendation for Meritorious Service at a special service at Buckie Coastguard Station last Thursday evening. They had been nominated for the award for their quick thinking and selfless efforts to save the life of an old woman who fell into the Buckie harbour last August near the end of the north pier. For Mr. Murray, an offshore worker, and Mr. herd who works in a distillery the incident was all the more remarkable as they were both barely out of basic training, both now having one and a half years of service. Mr Hemsley, a former policeman who has now retired from the Coastguards after four years was working the harbour’s pilot boat and threw himself into the water, the trio then held the woman above the water in a heavy swell. Mr Murray raised the alarm and delayed a lifebuoy before rushing off to fetch him survival gear while Mr Herd donned snatch rescue kit and entered the water. Divisional Commander Susan Todd did the presentation.

Green light for new houses in Buckie: Planning permission has been granted for a residential development though not all approved. At Moray Council’s planning and regulatory services committee on Tuesday a recommendation to grant permission was approved subject to conditions. The development plans for which were submitted by Frederick Parkes, will consist of 11 new houses, including three affordable and one accessible, along with associated infrastructure to be sited behind Ewing Crescent.

Approval for the development comes in spite of 42 objections from Buckie residents, who argued the proposal conflicts with Moray Local Development Plan, will create noise pollution, a lack of privacy and destroy the view and ecosystem. (A number of trees will have to be felled.)

Councillor Gordon Cowie (Ind. Buckie) said ’My concern is the only way into the site is through a private development. There are no footpaths and my concern is to do with construction traffic. Six locals were in favour of the plans. They welcomed bigger houses in the area and highlighted an interest in moving into the new builds.

Dec 24th

Pupils’ cash boost a Christmas cracker: The best Christmas present ever was in store for the students at Buckie Community High School’s special education department when they were handed a cheque for almost £10.000. One of the visitors to the parents and friends’ recent open days was none other than Mad Hatters’s tea party fundraiser Suzanne Clark who over the last seven years has raised the incredible sum of more than £40.000 for the department. She was on hand to present yet another bumper cheque . This year’s event, held over October 4/5, collected a grand total of £9254.76 The sum smashes all previous records achieved by Mrs. Clark and her team of helpers including husband Derek, son Jodie, family members and friends beating last year’s cheque of £7207 by more than £2000.

One of those joining the event was Principal Teacher Special Education Mrs. Sharon Aitken, who brought with her a stand explaining how money previously raised from the event had been spent. She was keen to underline just how much the money meant to the youngsters. She said ‘These donations have a huge impact on the lives of the young people here as it allows us to enhance their learning in ways we otherwise couldn’t afford to do. It makes their learning exciting and interesting and helps them focus, which leads to better results. Thanks to Suzanne, her team and the people who support them we can buy equipment and go on trips, including our residential course, which is a huge thing for us’.

RNLI gets festive boost from church : There was a four figure present in store for Buckie RNLI thanks to a Christmas tree festival held in the town. Members of Buckie South and West Church made their way to the lifeboat station last Wednesday lunchtime to hand over a cheque for £1300 to the maritime search and rescue charity. The cash represented half the proceeds from the second Christmas tree festival held in the church over November 22nd and 23rd, an event which was very well supported. Alma Blackhall, from the church’s event committee, said ‘We’re absolutely delighted to have been able to raise this amount of money. Receiving the cheque from Gordon Pirie of the event’s committees was Buckie RNLI lifeboat coxswain Alan Robertson. Said Mr. Robertson ‘ We’re very grateful to the South and West Church for thinking of us and presenting Buckie RNLI with this very generous donation’ he continued., “there’s been a lot going on for us over the last year or so, not least the fact that it was our busiest in terms of shouts for a long time. “ He went on to explain why Buckie RNLI lifeboat were so grateful to receive financial help saying :” there are always expenses and we rely on the generosity of the public to keep our 24/7 search and rescue service going.”

Dec 31st

Firefighters on their annual street collection break records: Festive generosity has seen the records tumble for Buckie’s retained firefighters after totting up the final totals for their festive street collection campaign. This year thanks to the generosity of the public saw them raise an astonishing £6275, smashing through the previous record of a highly creditable £5400. This year it has to be admitted a new feature was introduced in the shape of a second collecting week, necessary to cover new street areas. A further boost was handed to their efforts by Buckie Tesco who allowed the firefighters to collect at the store over December 15th and 22nd . One of those delighted with the record-busting total was Buckie fire- station’s watch manager. Colin Forbes, He told the Advertiser ‘We’re absolutely delighted to have raised this amount and broken our record, as well. On behalf of the team I can’t thank the public enough for their support, their generosity has been amazing’. The funds will be split between the Firefighters Charity and a wide variety of local charities and good causes

Fochabers Firefighters festive funds: Local charities serving the Fochabers area are set for a Christmas cash boost thanks to the village’s retained firefighters. Members of the team were out and about during the week of December 2nd collecting not just in the streets of Fochabers but also Mosstodloch, Garmouth, Kingston and Speybay. Thanks to their efforts and the generosity of householders a total of £1038 was raised. This will be split between local good causes and the Firefighter’s Charity. Special thanks from the team go to McGregors of Elgin for the use of a generator, Fochabers Co-op for donating sweets to hand out, Lizzie and Bob Sharp for a donation and to everyone who donated.

New bracelet a dram fine idea: Two local brothers have designed a unique , Moray orientated product that is selling well. Kirk and Arran Smith from Deskford, created a ‘whisky bracelet, an idea born out of the pair’s love for distilleries. So far the bracelet has received excellent reviews world-wide.

Having experience of whisky tours and their gift shops it was felt that there was no item that encompassed the experience. It was this that gave the brothers the idea for Whisky Wear, an unique bracelet inspired by the whisky-making process bottling Scotland’s rarest whiskies in a vial that glows like amber and then encased in a hand-forged copper case which resembles a distillery still. Said Kirk Smith: ’We are currently making these bracelets for whisky connoisseur and ambassadors worldwide and have received outstanding feedback’. A range of whiskies is available to be included in the bracelets, which come in a range of sizes from extra small to extra large. At present, the brothers’ firm Dotdotdash Design which is based in Bristol offers eight single malts, ranging age from 10 to 15 years and seven blends. There are also three vintage whiskies which can be used in the bracelet, aged 21 year. For those across the pond who prefer bourbon to Scotch, there is currently a limited offer on Jack Daniels.

Each bracelet goes through 53 stages of craftsmanship and takes in the order of four days to make by hand. The bracelet itself is made from supreme full grain kappa leather in a barley-inspired braid weave. For more details, visit their website at www/dotdotdashdesign.com.