Foveran Community Newsletter
April 2018 Issue 149
Knockhall Castle
Secretary Report for Spring 2018 Newsletter
If you want to place an advert in future editions of the newsletter which is published three times a year then please contact me on 01358 789761 or e mail [email protected]
Foveran Community Council looks after the interest of the residents of Newburgh, Foveran, Udny Station and Cultercullen, and everything in between.
The newsletter can be now be accessed after publication by anyone on https://foverannews.wordpress.com/electronic-news-letter/
We act as a focal point where you can bring to our attention matters that may concern you. Elected councillors from Aberdeenshire Council normally also attend our meetings which are open to all.
Agenda’s for the meetings and minutes of the meetings are available on line at www.formartinecommunitycouncils.co.uk
A list of community councillors and scheduled meeting dates is included in the newsletter.
This newsletter would not be possible without the support of the companies who advertise in it, so please consider them when thinking of making a purchase.
To the new residents of Foveran, welcome to our community.
The Gallowshill Sports Hub in Newburgh is available to all in our community, including Foveran, Udny Station, and Cultercullen, and offers Amateur Football, Youth Football for both boys and Girls, as well as Netball, and Tennis.
Dog fouling is again on the increase across our communities, so can we appeal to dog owners to PLEASE clean up their dog mess, and don’t throw bags containing dog mess into the shrubbery.
Speeding is also a major problem in all our villages.
Aberdeenshire Council is considering whether to grant our petition for a 20 MPH speed limit in Newburgh.
W are amazed that some residents are still willing to put out their recycling bins in windy weather with the resulting rubbish being strewn over the street when the bin blows over or the lid opens, for someone else to clean up.
Elastic bin straps to keep their wheelie bin lids shut, even if the bin blows over in strong winds, are FREE and can be obtained either from the driver of the refuse collection vehicle, from the household recycling site at Ellon, and from the area office at 45 Neil Ross square (next to Willox Kitchens)
It is hoped that demolition of the old pavilion will commence shortly once the contractor has completed some work in Inverurie
The application for houses in Udny Station was refused by the Aberdeenshire Council, however the applicant then appealed to the Scottish Government, and the decision by Aberdeenshire Council was upheld.
Work will shortly commence on the Scotia development at Knockhall Road, Newburgh, and we have been advised that the heavy transport will access the site from the farm road on the B9000, and not via Main Street and Knockhall Road.
Glen Douglas
COUNCILLOR RICHARD THOMPSON WRITES
Bypass Blues
By the time you read this, Newburgh will either have been released in part from the transportation nightmare of the AWPR works, or hopefully an end will at least be in sight. I refer not to the continuing saga of road repairs which has been disruptive enough, but rather the continued closure of the B9000 west of the A90 which has disrupted travel between Newburgh, Foveran, Pitmedden and beyond for months.
Councillors and the public were advised of the road closure – necessary to construct the remainder of the junction with the new A90 – on 24 September last year, with an estimated timescale being given for completing the works. On 6 October, this was updated to say that the closure would last until 15 December.
I enquired privately of the AWPR management team on 23 October whether this was still on schedule, emphasising the impact the closure was having on east/west traffic. With various prompts, it took them until 6 December to confirm that Aberdeen Roads Limited could not give an exact timescale, but that they hoped to have this small section opened by the end of 2017.
So much for that – on 21 December, the closure was extended until 22 February, then on 22 January, it was extended once more until 11 March, which at the time of writing remains the most up to date public information there is.
I’m sure I’m not the only person who has gone down to take a sneaky look at the works underway. There is a roundabout in place as well as what looks like most of a tarred road and signposts. Really, given the amount of time that has passed since it was first closed, it’s hard to see any good reason why this section of road should not by now be completed and ready to reopen.
No-one expects a project of this scale to go without a hitch or to happen without any wider disruption. It’s worth pointing out that over the same period the Foveran link has opened which together with the diversion of traffic onto the new road, has helped transform the village. However, this saga of the B9000 has gone on long enough – time to get it sorted, Aberdeen Roads.
Cllr. Richrd Thompson.
Leader of the Opposition, Aberdeenshire Council. Ward 9 – Ellon and District (SNP)
Tel: 07876 475557
Hill of Fiddes Community Fund
The Hill of Fiddes Community Fund Committee was set up in December 2011 to distribute annual funds received by the Hill of Fiddes turbines, now owned by Ventient Energy, through project bids put forward by local Community Groups or local Projects, which benefit the local community.
The Committee met recently, at one of our quarterly meetings, to review and voted on three Community Projects put forward for funding. On this occasion, we were happy to unanimously agree to fund all three projects which had applied for financial assistance. This included applications from Cultercullen Primary’s Eco group for a Polytunnel, Udny Station Community Centre for a new front door, and Udny Station Pre-School and Playgroup for some new play equipment.
The application process is very simple. Information, including application forms and guidelines, can be found on the Hill of Fiddes Community Fund website: www.hilloffiddescommunityfund.worldpress.com
Our website will shortly be undergoing an overhaul so please watch this space for future updates.
If you would like any other information or advice on completing an application please feel free to get in touch with Susan Watt (Chairperson) on 01651 843666 or Judith McKenzie (Vice- Chair) on 01651 843327.
The dates for the 2018 Meetings as follows:
Wednesday 16 th May, Tuesday 21 st August (AGM) and Wednesday 14 th November 2018.
The deadline for receiving applications are two weeks before each meeting , Sunday 6 th May, Sunday 5 th August and Sunday 4 th November 2018.
The meetings are held in Udny Station Community Centre at 7.30pm.
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Tel: 07575 170100 LETTER TO THE EDITOR
I found the article "Life in Medieval Forvie" in the December edition of the newsletter of great interest. I was surprised that records go so far back to know that summers became warmer after 1150. They cannot blame global warming on human activity in burning fossil fuels for increased temperatures 900 years ago. Any further articles on life in bygone times in our parish would be much appreciated.
William H Grant Bank House Udny Station
Thank you everyone who contributed to this edition. The next newsletter will come out at the beginning of August so if I could have any contributions by the 7 th of July that would be very helpful. Also, does anyone have a photo that could go on the front of the August edition?
Janet Jones, South Minnes, Newburgh. Ellon. AB41 6BB. Tel. 01358 742304 [email protected]
We are looking for people willing to deliver the newsletter to households outwith Udny Station. If you feel you could help, please get in touch with Willie Grant. (01651 842791)
COMMUNITY COUNCILLORS Chairman: William Grant , Bank House, Udny Station. AB41 6QJ 01651 842791 Secretary: Glen Douglas , 23 Eider Road, Newburgh. AB41 6FD 01358 789761 Treasurer: Pauline Winslade 24 Eider Road, Newburgh. AB41 6FD 01358 788922 Katrin Präger , 1 Hardhillock Cottages, Tillycorthie, Udny. AB41 6SD 01651 842197 Ron MacDonald , 22 Mavis Bank, Newburgh. AB41 6FB 01358 789006
Pat Smith , Newburgh 01358 789821 Dave Hancock Cultercullen 01651 842813 Janet Jones South Minnes, Newbugh. Ellon. AB41 6BB 01358 742304
NEWBURGH
GALA NEWS
Newburgh Christmas Tree Lights Switch On – Sunday 10 December 2017
As per tradition, the Gala Committee organised for the community to come together for the switch on of the village tree lights. We are extremely grateful to those who came along and donated to the gala fund. The event would not have been possible without the support of:
The Community Council who arranged the tree; Ian Alexander who put the tree up; K F Watson Electrical who hung up the lights; The church for providing shelter; The choir made up of children from the uniform groups in the village; Christine Fordyce who provided the musical accompaniment; Newburgh Inn for heating the mince pies and mulled wine.
Race Night – Saturday 3 March 2018
Thank you Newburgh and surrounding areas! It was a real joy for the Gala Committee (and associated family members) to host those of you who attended the Race Night fundraiser. We especially appreciate you coming out to show your support in such freezing temperatures. There was a fantastic atmosphere and your enthusiasm for the races, the bar, the pies and even the coin tossing game made all the work that went into organising the event so worthwhile. As well as raising much needed funds for the gala, it really appeared that everyone enjoyed themselves. The Gala Committee is made of volunteers and we really tried our best to make it a successful evening. Feedback welcome as always. Of course we could not have run the event without support from The New Inn, Meallmore, Artisan, Michael Duncan Builders, QUENSH, The Ice Cream and Coffee Pot, MSIS, Involve HR, Costcutters, Ythan Waves, The Barn, The Newburgh Inn, Brewdog and Aromatherapy and Thyme.
Newburgh Beach Bash – Saturday 17 March 2018
At the time of writing, the committee is preparing to cater The Beach Bash. Thank you to The Newburgh Inn for supplying the soup and rolls.
Newburgh Gala – Saturday 26 May 2018
Confirmed for 2018: Castle Canter Football tournament Netball tournament Animates exotic live animals Inverurie Concert Band Grand raffle Bungee trampoline Bouncy castle Inflatable assault course Book stall Barbecue, beer tent and hot drinks tent ‘Burgh Bake Off
Enquiries are welcome from anyone considering holding a stall at this fantastic event attended by hundreds of locals and visitors. We are also seeking stage acts to perform so please get in touch if you would like to take part.
CALLING ALL BUSINESSES
The annual village gala is a hugely popular event that gets bigger and better every year – come rain or shine! Promote your business to hundreds of locals and visitors by displaying your banner at the event. Prices start at £50. Reach us in one of the following ways:
[email protected] www.newburghgala.com 07793500768
The committee extends an invitation to anyone interested in supporting the gala. Whether you would like to join the committee, volunteer on the day or simply have a suggestion, we would love to hear from you. Anybody for Table Tennis? Ping – Pong?
Would you like to play table tennis?
During the day? After school? In the Evening?
Where? – Newburgh Hall.
Before we can start looking for funds to enable us to buy a couple of Table Tennis tables, we need to gauge what interest there might be.
Interested? Please call Ian or Jackie on 01358 789333
This is a bit of an unknown to us – we do not know the rules or know how the scoring works, but we are keen to learn – please join us.
Table tennis can be as easy or as hard as you wish to make it but with a group it will certainly put a smile on our faces. Wind and rain will not stop us!
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Follow us on Facebook / Ythan Waves Nicer Newburgh Gardening Group
It is important to work through the winter, when conditions permit, in order to try and get ahead of the game before the new growing season begins. NNGG winter work includes tidying away old foliage, weeding and forking areas, pruning, moving some plants that are getting too close, or considered to be in the wrong place. Filling gaps, splitting some plants up, to retain their vigour, and making further improvements, where possible.
Cold spells during this winter have caused damage, or killed some plants, but this is often the case in our environment. (Sometimes it seems like taking one step forward and two steps back.) Even relatively mild winters can have a few days of severe cold weather, and this can be enough to cause the damage.
Different plants can stand different levels of cold. Nepeta (cat mint) which we grow on the links and at the south end with lavender flowers (much loved by the bees) are hardy, even if temperatures fall below minus 20 degrees centigrade - so they should be Newburgh proof!
The sowing of seed of the summer annuals that are produced by the group themselves, should start at the beginning of March. Last year, we produced 1,000 plants which provided the display at the south entrance to the village, and we hope to produce similar numbers again this year. Aberdeenshire Council provides the group with about 1,500 bedding plants which go into the tubs and planters, the bed by Ocean lab, the bed at the corner of School Road and School Crescent, and the beds on Main Street in front of Merlin Terrace.
It won’t be long before the mowers are out again, and it will be interesting to see how the group's new electric mower stands the rigors of the areas that we now mow. The grass at the north (estuary) end of the village appears to have grown well over the winter so we are pleased to have the power of the ride-on mower to keep this in check.
We are always grateful for any offers of help, our contact email is [email protected]
Agnes Kinloch
Jogscotland Newburgh continues to develp and grow the village and we currently have around 30 members.
We currently have three groups running – a Beginner 1, Intermediate 1 and our Social Group who all meet on a Wednesday night. If you see groups of runners with head torches on a Wednesday evening running in the village its probably a Jogscotland group!
Our next blocks will start in April 2018 – we’ll post details on Social Media and on notice boards etc
Dates for your diary
We are delighted to be able to host a number of “10 at 10” events during 2018 – these take place in the village hall and there is a 5km and a 10km route (which follows the Beach Bash route) with cake and coffee in the Village Hall.
Sunday 11 th March – a chance to practice the Beach Bash before the event takes place the following weekend. This will be hosted by the Sea Gorillaz Sunday 17 th June Sunday 28 th October Sunday 2 nd Decembe
If any local groups/fund raisers would like to “host” one of these events please get in touch – we’ll take care of the running side of things and you take care of the coffee & cake & all donations would go to your cause.
If you have any questions or for more information please contact us on [email protected] or www.jogscotland.org.uk . We also have a Facebook Group – “Jogscotland Newburgh” where we share plans for the week, provide information, share ideas, motivation etc and provides lots of support.
A little bit of information on the philisophy of Jogscotland jog scotland , which was established in 2002, now comprises a network of thousands of runners, right across the country. Members take part in friendly volunteer-led jog groups based in the community, sports centres and workplaces, doing everything from a short, gentle jog/walk to marathon training.
Nobody is “too slow” to join jog scotland. Groups are available for joggers of all levels, from complete beginners to long-distance runners. Beginner sessions include a combination of gentle jogging and walking, with a gradual increase in jogging as fitness and confidence begin to build. Within 20 weeks of starting as a complete beginner, you will probably be able to run 5K (three miles). The emphasis at every jog scotland group is on enjoying exercise and supporting one another in a friendly atmosphere.
Registered Charity # SC006790 Newburgh Preschool We are a Registered Charity
We have had a busy couple of months since the Christmas break. The sand tray has been used to encourage mathematical language, learn the difference between full and empty and which will be heavier - this promotes talking to each other and sharing resources. It’s been exciting to monitor the weather, making ice in the garden, measuring rainfall and talking about ways to keep warm. We had a great time celebrating Burns Day, where the children brought in items for our Robert Burns interest table or wore something tartan. We then spent the afternoon tasting Scottish food and watching some Highland dancing. Some of the children even had a go!
Looking forward to the Spring, we have been talking to the children about what we want to plant in our garden and started the stepping up process for our children who will be going to school after the Summer.
We are busy organising an Easter Family Fun Day to be held at Newburgh Village Hall on Saturday 24 th March 12-3pm. The event will be free for adults and children will be £6. The entry fee includes use of the bouncy castle, Easter crafts and an Easter themed hunt! There will also be glitter tattoos, a chocolate tombola and bottle stall. Bring along your Easter Bonnets as we will also be holding a competition for the best one! All proceeds go towards the running of the preschool and we hope to see you there!
We are pleased to have healthy numbers in all our groups which run as follows:
Rising 5’s Group, Monday – Friday from 8.45 am to 11.55 am. Playgroup, Mon, Wed, Thu and Friday from 12.30 pm to 4.30 pm 2’s Group, Tuesday 1pm to 3pm.
If you have a child who does not attend one of these groups at the moment and you would like to make enquiries please do not hesitate to contact the Playgroup staff on Tel: 01358 789461. There may still be places available in some of our groups, and we welcome new applicants.
Also, if you shop on-line and do not already support a group or are looking to support another one, please remember that easyfundraising.org.uk is a great way to raise funds and does not cost you anything. Lots of retailers subscribe to this service and offer a percentage donation to your chosen cause. It’s easy to use; just remember to make purchases via the easyfundraising website and enter Newburgh Preschool in the dialogue box.
Should you require any further information please telephone the playgroup (01358 789461) or contact us on e-mail ( [email protected] ).
Many thanks, as always for your continued support. Newburgh Preschool Staff and Committee
Its Springtime - Let’s go fly a Glider
Take a flight in a 2-seat Glider over Royal Deeside from Aboyne, where you will be shown how to fly, and get the opportunity to take control.
Initial cost only £90.00 and includes 3 months membership of Deeside Gliding Club. Subsequent flights typically around £28-£30.
Flight gift vouchers are also available which make ideal birthday presents.
You can fly a Glider solo at 14, but you cannot learn to drive a car till you are 17.
Buy on line at www.deesideglidingclub.co.uk
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1st Newburgh Guides continues to thrive with 20 girls and 3 Young Leaders. We have girls from Newburgh, Foveran, Collieston and surrounding areas.
We continue to offer a varied programme. This term we have been working on a “Highland” challenge badge which has had us herding sheep (balloons, not the real thing), designing a salmon run and Highland dancing amongst some of the activities we’ve done. We also celebrated Pancake Day and Chinese New Year and we’re looking forward to completing some Mother’s Day Crafts and organising a fundraising event for Fyvie Guide House as it celebrates turning 50!
We are also hoping to attend the Gordon County Camp in June at Haddo House
New Volunteers needed…..
We are, however, desperately trying to recruit new leaders or helpers to join the unit – due to recent changes there is currently only one leader in the unit and the unit is at real risk of closure if new volunteers can’t be found.
Newburgh is very fortunate to have a Rainbow, Brownie and Guide unit in the village and it would be a real shame if this was to change in the coming months.
Girlguiding is a great organisation to be involved in and there are a huge amount of opportunities available.
For any girls who are interested in joining our unit then you must register your interest on the Girlguiding website - https://enquiryym.girlguiding.org.uk/
More information can be found at https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/home.aspx or you can contact Karen on 01358 789523 Rococo
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01358 789793 FOVERAN SCHOOL
SCHOOL NEWS
We have a new teacher at Foveran School. Mrs Leask will join the team after the school holidays. Monday 16 th April will be her first day.
We have had three pupils enrol at Foveran School which means we have surpassed the pre- requisite number of pupils to justify having two classes.
SKI-TRIP 2018
On the 19 th of February, Primary 6 and 7 from Foveran School and Primary 6 from Meiklemill went to Glenshee Ski Resort for a 4-day residential skiing trip.
Owen and Rob wrote about what happened.
When the bus got to Glenshee, all the kids were very excited about skiing on the slopes but before they could do that they had to pick up all their rented ski equipment. When everyone got their gear they still had to get their boots on. Most of the kids had never gone skiing before so wearing the boots felt very weird for them. But before we could ski we had to have an early lunch. Out instructor was named Gordon. When we started to ski we had to do it with one ski. Some of the kids found this challenging and for some it just clicked for them. On the second day, the children were already learning how to get pulled by a poma lift. They also got to go one a chairlift. Most of the kids loved being so high up and being able to see the beautiful views.
By the third day, the children were able to ski on the sunny side. Sunny side is a mountain slope filled with poma lifts and chairlifts to different slopes. The children from Foveran School skied most of the slopes from sunny side.
On sunny side, the children were able to follow their instructor in a snake formation down slopes performing big turns and a snow plough to stop.
On the last day, the children went on a slope named Butcharts.
We loved the house we got to stay in. It had spiral stairs to go to the rooms and a huge TV. The boys from Foveran took a mattress from another room even though they had five rooms anyway. At night we went to the Meikelmill lodge to have tea and take part in night activities with them like watch a movie, do mega bingo, listen to ghost stories and do a quiz. Our fire alarm went off twice because of our teacher opening the fire door.
This was one of the best trips we will ever go on because of being with friends.
CULTERCULLEN SWI
On the 12 th of December members enjoyed a Christmas meal at the Linsmohr Hotel in Pitmedden. An enjoyable meal was had by all.
Competition results were as follows:
Christmas Card
1. Carol Ritchie 2. Moreen Alexander 3.Eileen Andrew
Mincemeat Pie
1. Eileen Andrew 2. Carol Ritchie 3. Moreen Alexander
Flower of the Month
Moreen Alexander
The January meeting of Cultercullen SWI was on the 9 th of January 2018.
Members discussed their upcoming quiz night and the group bulb show.
Competition results were as follows:
Two Petticoat Tails
1. Eileen Andrew 2. Carol Ritchie 3. Moreen Alexander
Item in Tartan
1. Carol Ritchie 2. Eileen Andrew 3. Liz Webster
Flower of the Month
1. Carol Ritchie 2. Eileen Andrew 3. Moreen Alexander
The ladies of the Cultercullen SWI met on Tuesday 13 th February. Unfortunately their speaker was unable to attend. Once they had dealt with the business, they had a lovely tea provided by Eileen Andrew.
The competition results were as follows:
Two plain Oven Scones
1. Carol Ritchie 2. Carol Hay 3. Eileen Andrew Floral Arrangement in a Cup
1. Liz Webster 2. Carol Hay 3. Eileen Andrew
Flower of the Month
1. Carol Ritchie 2. Moreen Alexander 3. Eileen Andrew
Newburgh House by Charles Catto
Recently I was asked by Margot Wright if I could find some history for Newburgh House. With the help of The British Newspaper Archive and other sources mentioned below, this is what I found.
Newburgh House is unique in many ways being one of the few houses on Main Street being gable end to the street and also one of the oldest in the village.
According to a sales pitch for a recent sale it was built c 1770 but according to Canmore it is as quoted below:
Newburgh House, Main Street, c.1800. Slightly box-like but grand two storey, attic in rubble with surface granite dressings. Turned to south to catch the sun, with large two-window gable to street. Key-blocked and quoined south doorway with rectangular fanlight; plain parapet and canted dormers above. Taken from "Aberdeenshire: Donside and Strathbogie - An Illustrated Architectural Guide", by Ian Shepherd, 2006. Published by the Rutland Press http://www.rias.org.uk
Shepherd, I A G. (2006) Aberdeenshire, Donside and Strathbogie: an illustrated architectural guide , in Charles McKean. Edinburgh. Page(s): 213 RCAHMS Shelf Number: Quick Shepherd, I A G. (1994a) Gordon: an illustrated architectural guide . Edinburgh. Page(s): 213 RCAHMS Shelf Number: D.5.GOR
In fact, currently it has three windows in the gable to the street, although one may be a more recent addition than the others. It also has a blanked off window. This may be a decorative feature or for reasons of window tax which was prevalent at the time.
It is a similar style to Ythan Lodge which was built c 1775 and it is likely they may have had the same architect/builder.
On the original viewing of Canmore, I discovered that the description was misplaced as 1 Main Street when in fact it is 51 Main Street. After contacting them by email and giving co-ordinates for the building a satisfactory rectification was achieved. Considering the age of the house and its historic nature to the village their description is minimalist and they had no photograph of the house either.
On viewing part of the title deed a little of its history could be pieced together, although it did not give the original transaction at the first build.
However, as most of the ground in Newburgh came under the auspices of the Udny & Dudwick estate, it is likely that the ground was bought from the said estate. Feu duty was paid by the householder to the estate until March 1989 when £100 was paid as a consideration to waive and discharge the Power of Assumption vested in the superiors of the Lands and estate of Udny.
It is a house of some style compared to the rather plain looking houses in some areas of the original 19 th century village and could be compared favourably with Shanghai, also on Main Street. Obviously, a house built to make a statement about the owner’s position in the society of their time.
======
It can probably be said that the ownership of the house in the early 1800s was held by a family by the name of Black. This entrepreneurial family of Black and their extended family were merchants and ship-owners having extensive property in Foveran and Logie Buchan Parishes.
They owned several farms, had harbour facilities at the Inches, Newburgh, as well as warehousing on the same site. The farms included Linnhead and Monkshill in Foveran Parish and Watridgemuir in Logie Buchan. There may have been other farms in offshoots of the Black family. They also had interests in Aberdeen such as a wine selling business and were mill owners at Garlogie, west of Aberdeen. Several descendants of the same family immigrated to the colonies as they were at that time e.g. Canada and Australia.
One of the key ancestors was a John Black 1762-1843 who married Jane Kilgour 1770-1847. Of their eleven children two can probably be connected to Newburgh House, Thomas Black 1801 - 1840 and Robert Black 1806-1884.
John Black was a ship-owner and merchant with warehouses on the Inch at Newburgh. He, also along with his sons in law James and Thomas Adamson, was a shipbuilder. It is known that three ships built at Newburgh* sailed to Canada with emigrants. Indeed one, named Ythan sailed to Canada twice. I have no idea of the location where these ships were built. That is for a future archaeologist to find but the area around the mouth of the Foveran Burn is a likely spot, around the Inch or beyond the quay at the end on the north side of the village.
*(See “Fast sailing and copper bottomed” by Lucille H Campey) James and Thomas Adamson had married Mary and Eliza Black respectively. Both brothers returned to the south, Thomas to build ships in Dundee and James the elder brother to Grangemouth, also to build ships.
Thomas Black, son of the above John Black, was the father of Thomina Mary Black and his brother Robert, would be the father of the Misses Black of Melbourne, Australia.
In the census for 1841 the wives of Thomas and Robert were living either next door to one another or in a house split into two parts. Isabella Black - Robert’s wife is thirty years old with four children and four servants. Margaret Black a widow is termed as independent, has one daughter Thomina and two servants. Robert Black is not recorded here probably being away on business. In 1851 Robert and Isabella are still living in Newburgh with their family. Thomina is living with her maternal grandparents at Bilbo Park, near Auchmacoy, her mother having died in 1848.
In the deed the first Black mentioned is Thomina Mary Black - orphaned daughter of Thomas Black 1801-1840 and Margaret Perry 1808-1848. Thomina is mentioned in the deed at a date in 1864 regarding the conditions applied. Unfortunately, by this time Thomina had died on August 9, 1963 aged 22, having gone to Adelaide, Australia for the recovery of her health. If Thomina was an heir of her parents then it is fair to say that Thomina owned the house after her mother’s death.
However, as Thomina would have had no heirs then the heirdom may have passed to her female cousins, the daughters of Robert and Isabella Black now living in Australia, having emigrated as a family in 1853.
There was an unfortunate period where several deaths had occurred within this part of the Black family. Thomas 1840, his father John Black 1843 and his mother Jane Kilgour 1847. The final straw may have been the loss of three sisters of Robert’s wife Isabella Perry, Margaret who was Thomas’s wife, Helen Perry and Jane Mary Perry.
The cause of death of the three sister is not known but it is likely to have been something such as TB or any number of diseases which had no known cure at that time. John and Jane Black had died likely of old age having died at the ages of 81 and 77 respectively. Of John and Jane’s eleven known children eight died at young ages. Five before adulthood. Mary Black, wife of James Adamson died in 1825 a few days after childbirth.
Or maybe Robert Black and family left for Australia because of financial difficulties. There were several sequestration adverts placed in local newspapers around this time selling of various assets of Robert Black e.g. ships, buildings and farm stock.
Thomas and Robert were both listed as merchants and a study of old newspapers lists Robert as an importer of bones from countries around the Baltic Sea. These would have been crushed down to make fertiliser for the farms in a wide area of Aberdeenshire. Many adverts were placed to announce the arrival and sale of these bones.
From records on Mitchell & Rae
(This is in fact before the existence of Mitchell & Rae as a company which did have a bone mill on site but may also indicate buildings on the Inches. There were at least three owners of property on the Inch, Mitchell, Black and the Aberdeen Lime Company)
1846/47 Bone Mill, eight large well-built granaries, eight ships belonging to the port (coasting and foreign trade). {From Nairn to Newburgh 1846}
1865. In 1865 an advert in the Aberdeen Journal and Aberdeen Press intimated that Newburgh House was for sale.
On an Ordnance Survey map surveyed in 1867 and published 1870 the position of Newburgh House is marked as the Udny Arms Inn. This may not be correctly positioned as mapmakers often have name tags adjacent to rather than on the position of the site. However, the description in the advert seen fits a description of Newburgh House, so maybe Newburgh House was the Udny Arms Inn.
1868. This advert was repeated in 1868 with much the same detail, but including four cottages with stabling belonging to a Mr Burgess. There are still cottages behind Newburgh House by the name of Burgess Cottages.
The house is in the ownership of the Misses Black with the business to be conducted through their solicitor. It appears that the house may have had a tenant Mrs Christian Allan. Mrs Allan a widow of John Allan shipmaster, was a retail grocer (1851) and innkeeper (1861/1871) and hotelkeeper (1881).
Mrs Allan had been a widow since 1843 when her husband, a master mariner died at Goole, Yorkshire. John Allan being a shipmaster is likely to have had shares in the ship and cargo which his wife would have inherited. This would have left her a reasonably wealthy woman and with wise use would enhance her prospects. It is known that she had the Udny Arms Hotel built around 1868. Prior to this I suspect she may have rented Newburgh House from the Black family. It is likely she had her own accommodation in the hotel after this.
The hotel was open for business in 1869. It was noted for its good hospitality and was recommended by the visitors of the day with Mrs Allan being an attentive host.
======1876. A child by the name of Margaret Skene Gordon (Anderson) is buried in Foveran Churchyard (stone 31) daughter of Mr Forbes Anderson MA MRCS and late of the Hon. East India Co.
1879. In 1879 a retired doctor/surgeon of the East India Company was living in Newburgh House, as noted in a newspaper cutting referring to the Newburgh Games of that year.
In the 1881 census, Doctor Michie F Anderson 1808-1888 is listed in Newburgh along with his wife Isabella and four children with ages ranging from twenty-one to eight years. Isabella Taylor was his second wife whom he married in 1866. His first wife Margaret Forbes had died of cholera in Madura in the East Indies in 1843 at the age of twenty-one. She had married Dr. Forbes on July 30 th 1840 at Old Machar, Aberdeen. Michie F Anderson was the grandson of Dr George Skene, sometime professor of Natural Philosophy at Marischal College Aberdeen, later transferring to the Chair of Civil and Natural History on his father’s death. The Skene family grave is in St Nicholas Kirkyard on Union Street, Aberdeen . (Aberdeen’s “Mither” Kirk).
Doctor Anderson died at Newburgh on Jan 23 rd 1888 leaving an estate of £14,474-17-8d. The following year a public roup of the house was held, with an upset price of £525 placed on the property.
Although the advert indicated a sale of Newburgh House in 1888, Mrs Anderson was still living in Newburgh in 1891 when the census was taken (5/6 April) with two of her sons all living on private means. Mrs Anderson died at 6 Beaconsfield Place, Aberdeen on March 5 th 1897.
The valuation rolls for Foveran Parish were a little help but unfortunately the early editions did not mention houses by specific names, each house being identified only as “house, Newburgh”.
In 1891/1892 the clue was given that James Gordon Stewart was in a house per John R Black, so it is likely, but not conclusive that it was Newburgh House. Moving on within the valuation rolls it became apparent that J G Stewart had bought Newburgh House being termed owner in the 1897 edition.
James Gordon Stewart was a retired tea planter having made a fortune as an East India merchant. His life story is chequered with indiscretions and he had sullied his reputation in the village although born and having spent his childhood there. His indiscretions with a servant girl led to two illegitimate daughters. This led to divorce of course and also separation from the servant girl. Apparently, he advertised for a housekeeper but the lady who came forward for the job would only take it if he married her, which occurred on June 13, 1906. J G Stewart was 62 and his new wife Elspet Leith Sharp was 35. James died a short time afterwards in 1909, leaving Elspet to bring up his two illegitimate daughters. She also inherited the house and his fortune on probate as £10,226 -13s - 0d equating in today’s terms to about £580,000. It should be noted that illegitimacy was scandalous at that time and each registration document was marked to indicate this. Not so long before this that unmarried parents may have had to sit on the church repentance stool to confess their sin in front of the congregation.
Holyrood Chapel now the village church was formerly the village school. Converted into a chapel on the instance of the Reverend John Loutit the parish minister. The clock within the tower was financed by John G Stewart (see A Portrait of the Parish of Foveran by Janet Jones p88). He also had a steam yacht “White Queen” built at Duthie’s shipyard in Aberdeen in 1897, but two years later it was converted for fishing use for a Thomas Walker of Aberdeen.
Elspet Gordon Stewart is recorded living in Newburgh House in the 1911 census with her stepdaughters Ethel (10) Isobel (7) and her mother Catherine Sharp (74) and sister Isabel (32).
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In the 1912/1913 valuation roll the house is now owned by Thomas Fiddes Spalding. Thomas F Spalding was born in Foveran Parish to Thomas Spalding (shipmaster) and Jane Fiddes on 31/12/1852. He went to sea at the age of fourteen as an apprentice seaman in 1867 sailing to Sydney, Australia on the “Queen of Nations” captained by Thomas Mitchell also a Newburgh born man. The Queen of Nations was a clipper ship, burthen 846 tons rigged as a barque, built by the Walter Hood yard in Aberdeen in 1861 for the Aberdeen White Star Line. Thomas was apprenticed under various captains of the line before becoming second mate on the “Ascalon” 1872, first mate on the “Smyrna” 1878 and finally master on the “Smyrna” in 1884. All of his sailing days and eventually steam days were spent between the ports of London, Sydney and Melbourne, Australia and when on steam ships via Cape Town, a refuelling stop. As well as commanding his various ships Thomas ran a stevedoring business in Melbourne, Australia. His entire sailing career was with The Aberdeen White Star Line. The White star line had its base in Aberdeen and its owner was a George Thompson. The ships of the line were of the best of their day, were well maintained and in most cases sold to other shipping lines as they grew older and required more maintenance.
Ref: Basil Lubbock – various books on sailing ships.
Thomas married late in life aged fifty-two, Ann Barbara Smith a farmer’s daughter of Pitscaff Farm, Foveran on January 5 th , 1907. They had no family that I am aware of. Ann or Annie as she was recorded on shipping manifests, accompanied her husband on his trips as many shipmaster’s wives did.
And they are recorded sailing home together in the SS Marathon from Australia via Cape Town to London arriving on 1 st October, 1911. They retired to Newburgh House where they lived out their remaining years. The Spaldings were kindly disposed to the village of Newburgh, the Captain having financed the Spalding Bridge possibly to access the golf course more readily. The first tee of the original golf course layout being close to the end of the bridge. Sadly, this bridge which had been repaired several times in its lifetime was demolished in 2016. Captain Spalding took an active part in various committees particularly one of the council committees dedicated to bringing fresh clean water to the village and surrounding area.
Captain and Mrs Spalding lived in the house until their deaths Captain Spalding in 1934 and Mrs Spalding in 1935. In her will Mrs Spalding left the sum of £1 to each child, not over the age of fourteen, residing within the “special water district of Newburgh”.
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In the valuation roll for 1935/1936 the house is now owned by John Thomas Smith, a retired farmer. John Thomas Smith was the twin sister of Ann Barbara Spalding ms Smith. The Smith family had farmed at Frogmore farm before moving to Pitscaff farm where the twins were born in 1869. John had farmed there after taking over, as generations passed on. Pitscaff at that time may well have included other farming units close to hand.
In 1919 at the age of fifty John T Smith married Helen McLean, daughter of Robert McLean and Helen McLeod. Robert McLean was a farmer at Auchnacant farm just west of Newburgh, and also a schoolmaster at Lumphanan. On his death in 1905 his son, also Robert took on the farm at the age of about twenty-one. The rest of the family moved to Auchnacant after Robert McLean’s (snr) death.
His daughter Helen (Nell) was a student teacher on the 1911 census although her marriage extract does not give any occupation, but her address is given as Auchnacant Farm. She married John T Smith at the Imperial Hotel, Aberdeen. At some point in time Helen’s mother lived in Newburgh at St Helens a bungalow to the north of Newburgh House.
Mrs Smith took and active part in the Women’s Rural Institute in Foveran and was president for some time. After retirement from the farm the Smiths moved to Newburgh living in Newburgh House until their deaths, firstly John Thomas Smith in 1956 and his wife Helen in 1966.
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After Helen Smith’s death the house passed to her brother James Mclean and his wife Mary Morrison McLean ms Cook. They married also in the Imperial Hotel, Aberdeen in 10 August 1921. James managed the Broome Rubber Estate, Bangi, Malaya. During World War Two he was interned by the Japanese at Singapore. The McLean’s had property in Aberdeen and lived at 11 Mayfield Gardens for a time when in Scotland and at other properties as time moved on. Shipping manifests indicate several sailings between the United Kingdom and Malaya with Mr and Mrs McLean travelling individually, never together (on the manifests found). They had at least six of a family two of whom were of an age to serve in World War Two. Their eldest son Flying Officer A. G. McLean was lost over Germany in 1944. A second son, Ian Cook McLean graduated at Aberdeen University in 1952 at the age of 27, with a degree in medicine MB ChB.
In 1976 Mr and Mrs McLean were visited at Newburgh by a Malayan diplomat, High Commissioner Mr Datuk Abdullah and his wife. Mr Abdullah had been a district officer of the area where the rubber plantation was when James McLean was in Malaya and they had kept in touch since. A Picture of the group standing on the steps at the front of Newburgh House was published in the Press & Journal of May 26, 1976.
The Mcleans lived long lives with James dying at the age of 94 in 1987 and Mrs Mclean dying in 1997 at the age of 97 years.
If only walls could talk I have no doubt some interesting stories could be told from this house.
Charles M Catto
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Thanks to Gayna Thompson who kindly lent me part of the house deed to pursue my investigations.
Also, to Jane Bradbury for allowing me to peruse the deeds for Sydney House, Cranleigh or Cranley i.e. 49 Main Street.
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News from Forvie National Nature Reserve
Janet asked for a wee follow up from the last newsletter article supplied from Forvie by our assistant, Elaine, who led a walk back to medieval Forvie and the conditions the people were living in. So on the subject of reconstructing past climates we can offer the following further information!
Much of the work carried out to investigate the climate of Scotland since the last ice age has used evidence preserved in peat bogs. Granted, there is not much peat at Forvie, but across Buchan there used to be much more. Pickled within the deep dark layers, microscopic pollen grains can be detected and these tell us which grasses, trees or other plants were growing at a particular time when the peat was formed. The Burn O’Vat visitor centre at Muir of Dinnet NNR is the place to go to see an example of a peat core and the timescale of peat formation. Once you know which plants favour wetter or warmer climates, you can broadly deduce the climate when you see more pollen of one kind or another in the peat samples at different layers.
To help improve the picture, the next step is to look at tree rings in preserved bog wood. Trees grow more when there is a lot of rain than during periods of drought, so the spaces between the rings are greater when the climate is wetter. Carbon dating is also useful to work out roughly when these trees were living, while looking at air bubbles from the past can also tell you something! Oxygen in the air can actually change form depending on the climate (these are called different isotopes) so measuring which ones you have in a sample gives another clue. So just like archaeology or forensic detective work, similar techniques have been used to work out what Scotland’s climate was like for Bronze Age, Iron Age and Medieval people. I would still like to know what they talked about and what their accent was!
Moving into 2018 and it is Year of Young People! We really hope to work with Newburgh Scouts this year on a project of their choosing but I will be happy to hear from other budding environmentalists under 25 who would like to mark the year in some way. A litter pick, some citizen science recording, artwork or photography? The classroom and visitor centre at Collieston are available for groups to work on their idea or present an exhibition. Would you like a particular event, guided walk or activity? Let me know!
Getting people out and enjoying Forvie, even in less favourable weather, is still a goal of ours! We have tried to fix the muddiest part of the Beach Bash route along the estuary path with the help of our fantastic Forvie volunteers recently, so I hope it is drier there and that doesn’t spoil anyone’s fun!
You may also have seen Obama the amazing pony providing trips along the beach for wheelchair users, everyone enjoyed themselves thoroughly and I am very grateful to Glen for permission the Gallows Hill car park and Audrey to get to the beach. Take a look at the website for more information: https://ponyaxes.com/
Please like us on Instagram (forvie.nnr) and Scotland’s National Nature Reserves on Facebook and I promise to try to post sunny photos! Hopefully by the time you read this, signs of spring will be all around! Look out for the Black-headed Gulls returning to the estuary, jackdaws with nesting material and the move north of Pink-footed geese once again.
Annabel Drysdale, Reserve Manager [email protected] www.nature.scot 01358 751330
COLLIESTON’S CHRISTMAS CALL-OUT First to arrive the famous five Soon on the hull were drumming. Do you have a babe aboard? Is this the second coming?
If you expected three wise men So sorry they’re not they Just simple coastguards come to save Ye that have gone astray.
On Christmas Eve December in 1987, the I see ye’re high but no sae dry coastal steamer “Christian” beached in the Piped up another wag. estuary at Newburgh. It became clear that Good job we’re nae the polis the crew’s navigational skills had become Wi’ a breathhalyzer bag. impaired after imbibing a wee bit too much of the Christmas spirit. John Robertson, The shame-faced captain, not amused, who wrote this poem, was a member of the Declined their helping hand Collieston Coastguard called out to give So they were left to kick their heels assistance - which the Captain declined. Our would-be gallant band. Cecil Craig, also a Coastguard member, remembers having to put his Christmas Later that day the stranded crew dinner on hold until everyone was sure the Tried at the full high-tide crew was safe. To ease their ship from off the beach
But struck the other side. When seamen beached their ship that night
Upon the Forvie sands Now on the beach C.G.H.Q. Per tele-com fae Gloria To pack up did decide Come all ye faithful hands. Only to hear old J. R. say
We’re cut off by the tide. Now Collieston’s own company
No way a heavenly host The moral for all Christians But on that still dark Christmas morn On land or on the foam Set off along the coast. Be it at Briggies of The Udny Arms
Leave cars and ships at home. Through clinging sand and foaming surf
With stars to guide them south John Robertson They battled on until at last December 1987 They neared the Ythan’s mouth.
The casualty loomed through the mirk A ghostly apparition Too bad the “Christian” is her name Not SS Politician. (This is the third article in what I hope will become a regular series in the newsletter. If you know someone you think should feature, please let me know. Ed.)
A Day in the Life of Cllr. Isobel Davidson
It’s Tuesday, Formartine Area Committee day, it is the committee I Chair and where we consider planning and local issues for the Formartine Area which traditionally stretches from the River Don to the River Ythan, from Collieston to Turriff, Blackdog to Udny Station. When I arrive at the hall in Ellon I am confronted by a group with a 30,000 signature petition in opposition to a second golf course at Menie. I talk to the group for a wee while and accept their petition.
Next is an informal session with the Police, covering any questions we have about crime and Police related matters in our Council Wards and the perpetual issue of speeding drivers in Aberdeenshire. We have a new Police Inspector, Nick Thom covering Formartine now and we heard about his priorities.
The formal Committee meeting then starts at 10am. Today we have a petition from the residents of Newburgh who are demanding a 20mph Zone on Main Street. We have a wide ranging discussion including parking problems, enforcement of speed limits and what area any reduction in speed should cover. We agreed to contact the Police and the Council Transportation and Roads Service to give us details of different options for a way forward. We also had a report from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, some planning related issues, distribution of our local grant scheme and the 3 Formartine Secondary Head Teachers attended to tell us about exam results and wider school achievement programmes. It was good to hear about success in our local schools.
Following this meeting we had an informal session on the next local development plan. The last one just came into force early last year but preparation for the next one for 2022 is underway. The team attended Foveran Community Council a few weeks ago to gather views and there will be more chances to have your say as the plan is put together.
In the evening I went along to the meeting of Ellon Community Council. This Community Council has reformed recently and they are finding their feet. It is great to see enthusiastic members with plans for the town.
However, the day is still not finished as I had then to take part in a conference call with other members of my political party. That took 1.5hours. It is certainly not my favoured way of communicating but it does let those of us from across Scotland plan meetings without the time or cost of travelling.
This is a fairly busy day, but they are not unusual. I am privileged to be one of the local Councillors and enjoy the opportunity to listen to constituents and be involved in matters so close to home.
Cllr. Isobel Davidson Chair, Formartine Area Committee Ellon and District Ward
01358 723926 07884080206
@isobeldavidson
A Walk on the Wildside
Fit like all, I hope that you are all genuinely fit and have already been out and about now that there is much more daylight. We have passed the Spring equinox (when the period of daylight is equal to the period of night light), therefore it must be spring. and that should be sufficient to put a ‘spring’ in your step! Couldn’t resist that one. But there is so much to see, and of course hear, in the great outdoors at this time of the year, that you should only be reading the Fav News before you snuggle down beneath the quilt, having tired yourselves out, being out.
Snowdrops will be on the wane by now but as per normal with one species dying off there is another, or loads more to replace it in an endless succession. Dandelions will be out and in full flower as will a similar species but one that is often much earlier, the coltsfoot. Both species are excellent for early insects as they provide lots of nectar. So dig up all of those nasty daffodils and plant dandelions!
Umm, I doubt that I will persuade those of you that suffer from ‘green desert syndrome’ and cut your lawns twice a day with nail clippers, and have beds of manicured neatness, but even you can enjoy old favourites such as the primrose. They can provide a lovely show in a neat and tidy bed, displaying their lemon-yellow blooms early in the spring. Like many of our native wildflowers, the early to flower species are technically shade lovers, or more correctly shade ‘tolleraters’. They have evolved to flower early, below a hedge, in a woodland clearing or a similar situation, before the new leaves come on the trees. They get their reproduction done and dusted while there is plenty of light, then once the shade deepens, they go back to sleep until the following year, clever eh? But there is another clever trick that the primrose performs and one that most folk know nothing about. Primrose flowers are hermaphrodite, with each wee bloom having both male and female parts. Some plants have completely separate male and female flowers, but not the primrose. So why bother, one way or the other? Ahhh, yes good question. Cross pollination is the buzz word. It is best if a female plant or part thereof, can get pollen from a different flower, that way the plant produces seed that is stronger and healthier, and we also get genetic variation that can throw up new species. All very complicated but that is the natural world. So, if a primrose flower has a female part – the ovary, and also has a male part – the anthers that produce pollen, how can it avoid its own pollen fertilising its own ovary? Well, have you ever looked very closely at primrose flowers? Umm I suspect not, but hopefully you will in future. There are two types of flower, strangely named pin-eyed, and thrum-eyed. At first glance they may appear identical but peer into the tube of the flower: the centre bit. The pin-eyed has only a tiny green coloured disk (the stigma) on top of a thin filament (the style), and using a magnifying glass you will see that it also has anthers with pollen, but these are half-way down the tube. Search out a flower that looks a wee bit different and you will probably have a thrum eyed plant. This type has anthers with pollen at the top of the tube, and half way down that tube is the green stigma on top of a much shorter style. Weird, yes, but clever, oh yes. In both types of flower there is a supply of nectar right at the bottom of the tube, this attract insects for a sugary drink. Now along comes a long tongued insect (they have to be long-tongued insects in order to reach down to the nectar) onto a pin-eyed flower. It sticks its tongue in to suck up the nectar and gets pollen from the anthers on it at the same time, but about half way up the tongue. Then it goes to another pin-eyed flower and the same happens, but then it visits a thrum eyed flower and the pollen stuck half way along its tongue, brushes off onto the stigma that is half way down the tube. Hey presto, the pollen enters the stigma and thence to the ovary – and seed is produced. If you want to see massed primrose, then take a walk along the grassy cliffs north or south of Collieston. Somehow primrose has settled there in their zillions and they make a stunning show. BUT, look and do not pick or dig up, leave for all to enjoy as nature intended.
Take care of yourselves and our wildlife until the next edition. Byeee. Bob Davis - 013 January 2019
MUSICAL MAPLES I have been playing ‘musical plants’ again, or should I say ‘Musical Maples’. My younger son came to help me with some of the heavier jobs the other day, and as asked, I had written a list of ‘to do’s’. Task 1, was to cut back the rampant ivy and clematis covering the church wall at the back of the house, we, or should I say he, does it every couple of years, as it gets a bit out of hand otherwise. It needs to be tackled in the spring before the birds start to nest in it, and it always looks a bit severe when done, but I know in a couple of months’ time it will have grown again, and will look better. If left, it will continue to grow out from the wall and the plants in the bed underneath end up leaning towards the light. Task 2, was to dig out a large Japanese Maple and bag it up for my cousin to pick up. I am sad to say goodbye to that ‘friend’ as it has travelled from Deeside with me, having lived in a pot for several years. It is an unknown variety having lost its label at the garden centre, but has stunning coloured foliage and even more stunning autumn colour. Having finally gone in the ground when I moved here, it has spread its roots and in the last two years has doubled in size. It is going to a good home and will have masses of space to do its thing. Too big for here though!! In the newly acquired space I wanted to put a smaller variety of Maple, one I bought as a dwarf a few years ago. Again it has stunning foliage and autumn colour and is a much slower growing specimen, so hopefully better suited to the vacant space. It has been moved from in front of the summer house as, eventually even it will start to block out some light. In the now vacated space outside the summer house another Maple has been moved in. This one I bought at the same time as the other and is a low growing mushroom space with beautiful red colouring. So, having played ‘musical Maples’ I now have a space!!! My only slight concern is, the weather forecast for the next week is a bit severe. We probably won’t get it as bad as predicted, but it’s not really a good idea to be moving plants around in frosty weather – especially large established ones. Anyway, it’s done so I will have to give a lot of TLC and masses of water for the first year. Now is the time to be moving Snowdrops though. Maybe not in the frost, but whilst they are ‘in the green’ with flowers and leaves. It is a wonderful way to extend their spread, they do seed themselves, but to speed up coverage, clumps can be lifted and split into smaller clumps. They don’t seem to be set back at all, in fact they benefit as sometimes they don’t flower so well if the clump is too overcrowded. They certainly shouldn’t be bought in bags from the garden centre, as they hate to dry out – there are companies that sell them ‘in the green’ at this time of year. Aconites and Snowflakes can also be treated this way. I hosted the gardening club here last week and we did some winter pruning, again I rather hope the severe weather doesn’t come and damage the freshly cut ends on the Roses, Buddlia, Cornus, Spirea and Sambucus. I did leave them a little longer than usual in case they get frosted, I can then recut when it’s a little milder. We also potted up some Dahlia to put in the greenhouse, hopefully this will give them a head start, and they can be planted out with a head of growth for earlier flowers. I am longing to get out in the garden and DO something, but I think I will have to content myself with deciding what to plant in my SPACE, and looking out at my snowdrops!! Lesley Barnett. Happy Gardening!
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New Police Inspector for Formartine intends to build on community engagement and partnership working.
New Police Inspector for Formartine, Nick Thom, has highlighted that he wants to further build on community engagement and partnership working in his role and continue to provide an excellent policing service.
Inspector Thom, who has responsibility for Ellon, Oldmeldrum, Methlick and Turriff, has been a Police Officer for 27 years and started the position this month.
He joined legacy Grampian Police in November 1990 and worked predominantly in the Tillydrone and Northfield areas. After four years in uniform, he joined the CID, working as a Detective within the Crime Squad.
In 1997, he became the Torry Community Officer before returning to Aberdeen CID in 1999. In 2000, he joined the Drug Squad for 3 years, where he worked on a number of high profile cases.
In 2003, he was promoted to uniform Sergeant in Huntly, covering a large rural area down to and including the Lecht. After another short spell in the CID in Inverurie, Nick was transferred to Professional Standards as the Force Vetting Officer. In 2007, he returned to uniform duties in Banff, before another spell as Detective Sergeant in the Proactive and CID in Peterhead and Fraserburgh.
In 2008, Nick was promoted to Detective Inspector within the Force Intelligence Section and was later temporarily promoted to DCI there.
Between 2012 and 2013, Inspector Thom took on the role as Kittybrewster Community Policing Team Inspector and worked closely with Partners in the communities to resolve a number of local issues.
For the last four years, Inspector Thom was the Intelligence Manager for North East Division, gathering, developing, analysing and disseminating intelligence around Serious and Organised Crime and criminals living and committing crime in local communities. During this time, PI Thom led a number of high profile investigations, supporting operational colleagues and ultimately continuing to ensure that NE Division remains an extremely safe place to live. This role also provided PI Thom with an overview of some of the local issues which affect the Formartine area, and this has been particularly helpful during his transition back to frontline policing.
PI Thom said: "I'm very proud of my new position as Formartine Community Policing Team Inspector and I look forward to getting out into the community with my team, to provide an excellent policing service. Almost half of my career has been within specialist roles within the CID and I hope to bring some of the experience gleaned in other areas of policing, into the Formartine area to reduce crime and positively impact on local issues.
"The Formartine area is a safe place to live and I am committed to working with the local communities to target the minority who choose to break the law. I particularly want to tackle violence, drugs and acquisitive crimes, concentrating on those who commit these crimes and ensure they are dealt with robustly. I will also seek to address anti-social behaviour issues and will be working closely with communities and the local Roads Policing team to promote road safety. I want to send out a clear message to offenders that behaviour that impacts negatively on our communities will not be tolerated.
"I will be continuing to work closely with our partners as well as the community to build on the already strong relations that are in place, and appeal to anyone with information regarding individuals in our communities who are committing such crimes to share that information with us so that we can take action against them. We need the help of our communities to tackle local concerns."
101 is the number to contact the police when it’s less urgent than 999. Use 101, for example, when You need to speak to your local police officer Report a crime that has already happened such as theft or damage to property Get crime prevention advice Make the police aware of any policing issues in your area
In an emergency always dial 999 – when life is in danger, a crime is in progress or a suspect is nearby.
DAVID TOULMIN
David Toulmin was the pseudonym for John Reid, author of 10 books, short stories, plays, poems and articles, who lived and worked in the parish of Foveran from 1950-1970. Such was his feeling for the parish which inspired some of his best writing, he requested his ashes be interred in Foveran Churchyard.
Born at Rathen in 1913, he worked on farms around the Fraserburgh area before moving south to work as cattleman for Eric Buchan Snr. at Rashierieve. He lived with his wife and three sons in one of the cottar houses close to the B9000 turn- off to Newburgh. Eric Buchan Snr. was heard to observe that there was something different about David Toulmin. He often appeared distracted – perhaps planning his next story.
In those days, Toulmin had no car and relied on his bicycle to get around locally. He often made use of public transport for trips into Aberdeen to the library or to the cinema.
In the late 1950s, the family moved round the corner to Aikenshill where Toulmin became orraman then tractorman to Norman Davidson Snr.
His first collection of short stories, “Hard Shining Corn” published in 1972, established him as a Scottish writer in the tradition of Lewis Grassic Gibbon, Charles Murray and Jessie Kesson. Other works include “The Tillycorthie Story”, “Travels with a Donkey” and “The Clyack Sheaf” in which he documents the origins of Foveran House.
In recognition of his contribution to the literature of the North East, Toulmin was awarded the honorary degee of Master of Letters by Aberden University in 1986 at the age of 73.
He died in 1998 at the age of 84. ‘happiness or Happiness’
We have just returned from visiting our youngest son in Australia. It is a fabulous country. The fancy flowers we see in the shops here grow in the wild there, and the fruit and veg! Huge, juicy, ripe peaches which explode with flavor when you bite in, juice running down your chin – lovely.
Sunshine, warmth, clean, vast, vibrant. Swimming, cycling, sailing, surfing, fishing, fitness mad, good incomes, the locals have it all going for them. The city of Perth is in many ways a paradise. However, sitting outside drinking coffee, and watching people, the looks on the faces of the people are very reminiscent of those we see in Union Street on a cold Monday morning!
Like us, the Australians are looking for quality of life, happiness, fulfillment and security. I heard several people tell me that life is short, so go and experience all you can, all the things that bring happiness into life.
That is good, but when asked if these happiness’s were lasting or passing, most had to admit that they were not guaranteed to last. These are happiness’s with a small ‘h.’
Lasting happiness’s, eternal happiness which cannot be taken from us or fail are capital ‘H’ happiness’s. These only come from God who is eternal, everything else will pass away. I think most folk in Perth and most folk here are the same. We spend most of our lives seeking happiness but neglect Happiness, which is the love, peace and friendship with comes from a relationship with God.
Ricky Reid.
Foveran Parish Church: Foveran Parish Church is the known name of Foveran Church of Scotland, Registered Charity No.SC011701
SOCIAL COMMITTEE REPORT On Saturday 18 November we held a Silent Auction with teas and a baking stall in the Public Hall, Newburgh. Overall it was well supported by many of our members and friends and raised approximately £812 for church funds. Thanks to all who helped with this event in any way, including Watson Family Butcher, the Newburgh Inn and Newburgh-on-Ythan Golf Club for their generous donations of vouchers. More recently on Saturday 27 January there was excellent food and wonderful entertainment at our annual BURNS SUPPER, again held jointly with Newburgh-on-Ythan Golf Club in the Clubhouse. Robert Burns was celebrated in word, song and music; the food was excellent and well served and the entertainment was much enjoyed by all. Peter Morrison ably chaired proceedings, Don Hawthorn said one grace and then invited everyone to say the Selkirk Grace along with him. He then piped in the haggis carried by Chef Martin Bühler followed by George Adams bearing the Quaich. Neil McEwan addressed the haggis in fine style and later Simon Mills gave an interesting and well-researched toast to the Bard. Excellent entertainment followed with Alistair Cruickshank word perfect when reciting Burns poems in his usual flamboyant style. The Hawthorn family with Frances and Peter Morrison and Ruth Mills played and sang some wonderful Burns songs with Alistair joining in to add some humour - the finale was a brilliant rendition of ‘Soldier’s Joy’ with Alistair and Peter suitably attired for their parts. Peter eloquently proposed the vote of thanks and Mary added a final word to thank the chairman and all who had helped to organise the event. Ticket sales for the very friendly and sociable evening together with further generous donations raised just over £200 each for the New Life Home Trust and Nkhoma Hospital in Malawi. Our thanks to everyone who helped to make this possible. Mary Smith and Christine Fordyce
Church News
We are starting a couple of new things this year, hopefully this will make church more accessible and less intimidating for those who are not used to church life. We have started by opening the church for three days a week – Mondays, Tuesday and Wednesdays between 10am and 3pm. This is so that people can take some time out to just sit in peace for as long as they want to. Admittedly at the moment, they may not want to stay too long as the church is not that warm, but it is open!
On 25th March we are planning to have an open and informal ‘church’ in the church hall between 6pm and 8pm. Hot cross buns and tea, coffee or squash will be served, and although we are yet to finalise the programme, there will be Christian music and/or hymns, a short talk and opportunity for prayer and speaking to people who already do attend church. The idea of being there for two hours may be a little off-putting, but those are the times we will be there – you can come and go as you please within that time frame. We would love to see you, so please do feel free to drop in past. This is something that we are hoping to do on a regular basis but will be advertising the dates and times as they occur. We will be calling it ‘Soul Food Café’, as hopefully we will be supplying not just physical food but also some nurture for the soul as well.
Dates
25th March Soul Food Café Church Hall 6-8pm
26th – 30th March Holy Week – activities and services to be advised See notices outside church nearer the time.
30th March Good Friday Service Holyrood Chapel 7.30pm
1st April Easter Sunday Gallows Hill Service 9.15am (Breakfast in church Hall) Family Service Holyrood Chapel 11am (Decorated egg competition)
29th April Holy Communion Holyrood Chapel 11am
13th May Christian Aid BIG Breakfast in Church Hall 9.30-10.45am
13th – 19th May Christian Aid week.
There are many other regular activities going on throughout the week. See the Notice Board by the Church Door at Holyrood Chapel for details. Foveran CC meeting dates for your diaries. All meetings start at 7.30 pm on the 4 th Wednesday of the month. There are no meetings in July or December.
2018 28 March Newburgh Mathers 25 April Udny Station Community Hall 23 May Foveran School 27 June Newburgh Inn AGM then meeting at 20.15 22 August Udny Station Community Hall
Everyone is welcome to attend. If you have a specific issue you would like to bring to the attention of the councillors, you can do so at the beginning of the meeting.