Spring Edition 2013

LOCAL NEWS DEDICATED TO YOUR COMMUNITY

Featured in this issue...

Lads Club School update Memories Out of the darkness 2012 Review News from Riverbank Growing up in Tilly A Story of Recovery SPRING Edition 2013 Contents 3 Before Tilly 4 City Centre to Donside 5 Community Update 6 Lads’ Club 7 Power Politics 8 Upcycled Tillydrone 9 School News 10 Local News L to R - Mary Clare, Elsie, Gary, Morven, Wendy, Cat, Sonny & Margaret. 11 Police Update Questionnaire Results 12 Local Writers A few months ago the members of the Tilly Tattle editorial team 13 A Safe Place to Play put together a questionnaire. The purpose of the questionnaire 14 SHMU was to find out what the local people of Tillydrone thought of the Magazine and to see if they knew other information about 15 Memories the area. 16 Out of the Darkness Below are the collated results, We asked a group of 12 people the following questions: The first question asked was if they read the Tilly Tattle magazine? All 12 agreed that they read the magazine. When asked if they liked the content? 11 out of 12 agreed that Dates for the Diary the content was good. Then the group was asked if there was anything else they Tillydrone Network would like to see in the magazine? 3 out of the 12 suggested Meetings are held on the last Monday of more local sport updates. Someone also stated having more the month at St Georges Church from written articles from children and another one stated having a 6pm to 8pm - 25th March 2013, 29th ‘what’s on’ page. APRIL 2013, 27TH May 2013 and 24th The last question asked to the group was if they could name June 2013 any of the three councillors of Tillydrone - 6 out of the 12 said Tillydrone Community Council no, and the rest of the group could only name one or two councillors. The majority of the group mentioned Ross Grant Meetings are held every third and Jim Noble. Wednesday of the month from 6:30pm in St George’s Church - 20th The editorial team have reflected over the questionnaire and March 2013, 17th April 2013, 15th May aim to make the necessary changes in order to improve the 2013 and 19th June 2013 magazine. If anyone else has other suggestions in how to improve the Tilly Tattle then please pass them onto the editorial St George’s Church acts only as a team. The Team meet every Monday morning at 10am at the venue for these meetings. Tillydrone Community Flat.

Supported by History The Lighthouse shines on. Welcome to 2013. It’s been another fantastic start to the year at the Lighthouse BEFORE Support Centre, so much is going on but we still can’t believe it’s been nearly ten years since the centre first opened its doors in Tillydrone TILLY Shopping Centre, starting with one unit then expanding into a second and we could now Tilly means little hill in Gaelic Hayton Road. There were also benefit from having a third! and Druin means ridge. farms even up to the early For those of you who are not So Tillydrone means ‘hill on 1900’s and gradually it became already part of our growing the ridge’. as it is now. community, The Lighthouse These names came into use Originally, a small road that ran Support Centre offers one- away in the very early years from the cathedral meandered of the area with many small up to the Old Inverurie Road to-one holistic (material, villages appearing along the which is now Great Northern emotional and spiritual) estuary of the Don. Road. The road was called support and group support Tillydrone Road and is still in This is the area where the to men and women in the use today. Tillydrone Avenue Zoology Building now stands surrounding community was the area where the river along with flats and houses. used to run after it was diverted. who are socially excluded, There was also a loch just a disadvantaged and lonely; little to the south of this area Near the Tillydrone hill a chapel single parents, people who named Loch of Aberdeen. was built in the 1300’s and In the mid 1600’s a Parson dedicated to Thomas A Beckett have life controlling issues Gordon began to drain the area who was martyred. This was such as alcohol and drug and plant wheat to start with also a way to raise funds for addiction, ex-offenders and and then other crops. Then he various things as people had to families of prisoners. rented out his fields and thus pay for a candle to place at became a land owner and the altar. The projects are coordinated businessman, later owning People were mainly Roman by a small team of Gordon’s Mills. Catholics in those days. There professionals, who support His sons did not live past were several wars at that time a team of 40+ enthusiastic, childhood so his daughter’s in the cause of independence dedicated volunteers, under husband took over the running from Edward III. the responsibility of Deeside of the estate after his death. There are many more stories A few generations later one of Christian Fellowship Trust. that can be told at a later date. his descendants married Sir If you have any stories about A Support Worker provides Hay of Seton; thus the name of the history of Tillydrone, contact advocacy and support Seaton Park. The Tillydrone Community for clients and a Parish Gordon’s good fortune in Flat and they can be printed in Nurse provides information business made it that he had to future Tilly Tattles and used for build houses for his employees, the upcoming Info Pack. and support on physical, so in the late 1700’s he built mental and spiritual well- homes along what is now Margaret Mead being. The Working Group meets regularly to oversee the overall running of The Lighthouse Centre.

3

8 City Centre to Donside

The McKenzie Family the number 19, and has become a commuter. The family moved from Seamount Court in the city to City centre or Donside? Donside Donside in June last year and was the reply. have already noticed changes in Mark Thomson the whole family’s lifestyle. Community Development What’s the best thing about living Officer Donside in Donside? Almost in unison they replied “the garden”, mum upside down! Their old flat Riverbank Primary Lyndsey and dad Alan saying had the bedrooms downstairs School Seasonal Gift before moving they stayed on and the living room upstairs. Pupils and staff from Riverbank the tenth floor so there was no The boys have made lots of new Primary School made their way their three boys - Connor, friends and enjoy how fun it is way down to Donside on an Lucas and Zak - could go out playing outside. Connor’s 7th extremely cold day to bring some and play without their parents. birthday party was held in their seasonal cheer to residents They also had noticed an own garden. Lucas (5 ½), and friends. improvement in the family’s liked that he had new friends health as a result of being able to and could play outside but would The pupils who came down to get outside - it’s been a case of like to have somewhere to use the urban village in three groups dragging the boys into the house of about 50 kids did a fantastic his skateboard. When I asked to have tea or get ready for bed! job, singing seasonal songs with Zak (2 ½) a question his reply a huge amount of enthusiasm Lyndsey stated that Donside was generally, “I’m 2” but with a and gusto! felt like a wee village. This wee bit of coaxing said that he feeling is enhanced by the fact would like to be able to play on It was a great way to spend the that they see and speak with roundabouts and slides, afternoon. I know that everyone their neighbours. like every 2 ½ year old. who saw and heard the children At this point the boys - and in were very impressed by both the particular seven-year-old Connor So the downside? Alan said that singing and the behaviour of the - said that his new house was instead of the 5 to 10 minute pupils, they really are a credit to better because it was not walk to work he now has to get the school.

4 M26

PEEP in Tillydrone Family Centre

Parents as Early Education Partners is really talking off in Tillydrone. There are new groups happening at Tillydrone Family Centre New Tillydrone now too. The idea behind the groups is Website in Pipeline that children and their parents or carers can get together Work continues on an such as gathering information with others in the community information pack which is and working out what needs to to have some fun and learn soon to be delivered to every be put into the info pack. together. It’s all about household in the Tillydrone It soon became clear that sharing really. area. It will contain basic there is so much going on details of all of the local The Family Centre on Pennan and so much history involved services within Tillydrone and Road has a group for children that the info pack will not be will also give some information aged in their 1s or 2s meeting about the history and natural big enough to give everything on Wednesdays from 1:30 - resources of the area. the space it deserves. As a result, it has been suggested 2:30. They also have a group The project has been funded that a website be created so for 0 to 5year olds who have by the Fairer Scotland Fund that people in Tillydrone can as a result of an application English as a second language. be kept up to date on what is put in jointly by Tenants First They meet every Friday going on. This will also mean and Station House Media Unit. between 10 and 11 am. that a lot more information Initially the pack was meant to can be made available for Please drop in by and get be a welcome pack for tenants anyone interested in more involved or contact the PEEP in the newly built Donside Village but it was then thought in-depth information about team on Aberdeen 486114 or that it would be better if the something specific. email peep@aberdeencity. pack went out to every house If you would like to become gov.uk in Tillydrone instead, and not involved with this project, just Donside. please contact Mark Thomson They have been busy from Tenants First who is encouraging local people and based at Donside Village on organisations to come forward 07799 591 689, or you can and get involved in the various get more information from the jobs that need to be done, Community Flat.

5 2012 has been a very busy year needed to meet the need Youth work has always been for the club. We have found that of this ever growing community. at the heart of the Lads Clubs the number of families that need services and our youth work Our Community Café is running our support and community well and is attended by local provision has seen the biggest services has intensified. families and young people increase in numbers of children We have seen many new from both of the local schools. and young people attending families move into the area Our menu contains a wide range our evening youth clubs with and the knock on effect of of healthy options and gives our numbers doubling what they this is an increase in the local families a friendly and were last year. number of families enquiring welcoming place to come for We are lucky to have both about and accessing our great value meals and snacks. experienced and enthusiastic Community Learning and Our café also offers young staff who recognise their role as Development services. people an alternative place to youth workers and how youth Our Nursery and Kindergym go rather than hanging around work contributes to the young classes have run and continue local shops and residential areas people individually, as well as to run at full capacity and we during their lunch break. their communities. are operating a large waiting Our Holiday Activity Club has In the coming year we are list. We would like to be able to also seen the effect of the hoping to add new members to offer additional childcare places reduction in services available our Executive Committee who but this is not possible without to local people and we have can breathe in new ideas and the appropriate funding, not had an increase in the number possibly have new contacts that only to support the activities and of families looking for affordable may benefit our organisation to additional running costs but also holiday childcare. The Holiday enable us to continue to provide to be able to employ and train Club was fully booked and with the valuable services to the local the staff that would be required. the demand increasing this year community of Tillydrone and We have had no increase in we had to operate a waiting list families from across the city. our budget this year and are and, unfortunately, not everyone unfortunately unable to offer was offered their much needed the additional services that are childcare place.

6 TILLY TATTLE

How has oil affected your for granted that when we switch as in Nigeria and looking at the oil community? The Power Politics on the lights, we get light, but and gas industry and how it has project looks at the positive and in Nigeria power cuts are an changed the way we live. negative impacts of oil, and everyday occurrence. If you’ve got an interesting story compares life in Aberdeen with What do you think? Has oil been about how oil has affected your life in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. good for Aberdeen? Has oil been life contact the Development Aberdeen is ‘the oil capital of bad for Aberdeen? Education Co-ordinator; Claire_ Europe’, and Port Harcourt is ‘the [email protected]. Working oil capital of Nigeria’ but life in Living Earth Foundation’s Power with volunteers at ShmuFM, these two places is very different. Politics is an EC funded project we plan to make a podcast to In Aberdeen, many people that aims to raise awareness of share with schools in Scotland have benefited from higher than international development issues. and Nigeria. If you’d like to know average wages, but in Nigeria, We are working with schools more, check out our website many people live on less than $1 and community groups across www.powerpolitics.org.uk, or get per day. In Aberdeen we take it Aberdeen City and Shire as well in touch!

7 Upcycled Tillydrone

Re-thinking and reusing It was a great quality chair that waste items and furniture to just needed a bit of attention; create beautiful new things. we got it cleaned up and Cat replaced the supporting strut During October, Arts at the base. The chair is fully Development launched functioning once more while still its Creative Communities retaining its character. programme with the first project kicking off in Tillydrone. Creative Part of the stash of wood was Communities is Aberdeen City made up of abandoned pallets. Council’s Arts Development Once taken apart the wood programme of imaginative and panels were pretty good quality and sanded up really well. inspiring art projects for residents of all the city’s regeneration While working at the M26 unit, areas which is funded by the there were a few little people Fairer Scotland Fund. very interested in all that was being made. Artist Craig Up-cycling was the theme for the Barrowman took inspiration from Tillydrone workshops and were the children and came up with a lead by artists Craig Barrowman design to make a sledge from the out the back of the M26 unit at pallets. The sledge was so quick Tillydrone Shopping Arcade. to make and totally free. The day before we had been out in the van and spotted The M26 group have also some chairs by the bin area in worked on the portable TV Alexander Terrace, so they went studio for the Youth TV project into theback of the van, a circuit with everyone taking a turn at sanding, cleaning, upholstering, round Fersands and we found a painting. This project has wooden chest. encouraged everyone to be During one of our workshops very practical, resourceful and someone in the group pointed creative. So think twice before out a sofa that had been dumped you chuck stuff out and always by the side of the road, again by keep an eye out for something Meadow Court Housing the bins. It was not long before interesting in the bin areas. Residents of Meadow Court the sofa had been skinned and worked with artists Kelly and Blooming Bottles it was used to upholster the Sophie to produce the delicate Have you seen any late flowering wooden chest, now a portable flowers that are on display in blooms in Tillydrone? If so, they TV studio for the SHMU Youth the coffee bar. They have been may have been made by the TV team. made from news paper, wire, children from the lads club play beads and buttons. There was a great spirit out the scheme. The children worked back of the M26 unit. The first with Arts Development artists TYP Wednesday Youth Group day Cat nipped back home and Kelly Shankland and Sophie The Wednesday youth group appeared with a coffee table on Ormerod to transform waste have been creative with artist a re-purposed pram/transporter. bottles info beautiful coloured Craig Barrowman and Gray’s People stopped to see what we flowers that will with stand most School of Art student and were up to and to have a chat. weather conditions, even last volunteer Vicki Shennan. week’s snow. Make your own The group have created bottle One man arrived with an old flower here today to take and flowers and on Halloween chair, “What can you do place somewhere you think need made some very Scottish with this?” brightening up. neap lanterns.

8 SchoolRiverbank News Primary

Northsound Visit she was one of 8 prizewinners for the UK and was invited to Gregsy from Northsound One attend the ASE (Association of came to visit Riverbank School Science Education) conference to record ‘Topple the Class’ at Reading University at the very on Wednesday 9th January. beginning of January. Five children from the P2/3 class were chosen to answer AZSTT (AstraZeneca Science three questions. They included: Teaching Trust ) have sponsored the Primary Science Teacher What would you like to be when of the Year awards since 2003 you grow up? early morning club and traditionally there have Where would you find a been six awards per year, one treadmill? being for teaching under difficult circumstances - the Keith Bishop The third was to repeat a quote receiving benefits. We have Award. This is the award that Mrs from a well known film. lots of fun and the children have Barber won. The questions were given a great start to the school day. Aberdeen City is immensely to Northsound One callers, Contact Wendy or Linda for more proud of her achievement which the following week and they had information. is indicative of the outstanding to guess what the children had Success for Aberdeen City science that is taught at said. The children had such a Primary Teacher! Riverbank Primary. good time recording the answers and then to hear themselves A well done from: Fiona Mrs Barber will be somewhat on the radio was brilliant! Saunders, Science Curriculum embarrassed at me informing A huge thanks to Gregsy and Development Officer all the schools (a bit of an Northsound One for choosing Riverbank teacher, Mrs Barber, understatement!) as she Riverbank School! has been awarded a National is not one for lauding her Primary Science Teacher of the achievements. Early Morning Club at Year Award. On the other hand, it’s such a Riverbank School Mrs Barber was nominated by great achievement is just HAS There are still some places her Head Teacher, Maxine Jolly. to be shared so we can all enjoy available for our Early Morning She was put on a short list of 24, a bit of the pride and happiness Club. We operate from 7:45am where an assessor observed her that such success brings. Monday to Friday during term teach, then she had an interview. times. Costs for a session are Having obviously impressed the Well done Mrs Barber and £1.50 per child or £1 for families assessors, she was told Riverbank!

9 Mind your Steps

We have been approached by 08456 number (which is not a member of the community free) to no avail. Hopefully who claims they been trying to highlighting this issue in the get the Council to repair a set Tilly Tattle may help bring it to of stairs - without success - for someone’s attention? the past 26 years! Do you have any local issues The offending steps lead from you would like to be highlighted Wavell Crescent, down behind in the magazine? We meet Donbank Place to the bus most Monday mornings in the terminus on Gordon’s Mills Community Flat from 10am. Road. We are told they are a disaster waiting to happen, Feel free to pop in by or drop especially for parents with us a note. Resident’s Letter young children or for those As with many areas of the who are not too steady on their town there is an issue with dog feet. Apparently things are I have been a resident in fouling and petty vandalism. worse in summer months when Tillydrone for more than six years overhanging foliage blocks out Don’t let anyone ever tell now since moving in around the street lights. you Tilly is not so pleasant June 2006. area to live in because it’s Our reporter claims they have I have lived in many parts of the just fantastic. tried repeatedly to get this city and indeed many parts of the sorted out by phoning the By Anon UK or from further afield are all extremely pleasant to live alongside. I accept that I have been lucky in this respect and there are pockets the community as there are in all communities where the Tillydrone community spirit is perhaps not so apparent. Isn’t this the case in all areas whether it be in social Community Centre housing or indeed within the private sector. Gordonsmill Road, Tillydrone • Tel: (01224) 493388 There are a good number of shops and all the staff within the shops get to know their We are open for Bingo Wednesday – Closed. Mondays and Thursday customers, the Nisa and the Thursday as Monday. Coop the chemist and the Post 6.30 - 9.00pm. All Welcome. Friday Night – Indoor Office and of course the take Drop off at Hayton Road Bowling – Bowls provided. away restaurants. going home. Starts 6.30 pm. I was surprised to read the other Tuesday 12.30pm – open Saturdays are available for day in the Press and Journal for Over 50s afternoon of Birthday parties - £60.00 that there is so much empty and activities till 3pm. Again lift home. unused land in the area - come Please phone 493388 for on council get on with doing Tuesday evening – 6.30pm – more details. something with this land and not Line Dancing – New members let it stand empty. and learners welcome. Anna Kidd

10 TILLY TATTLE

Police Update From Inspector Dave Forsyth

The Tillydrone Local Policing Team based at the Police Office at Coningham Gardens are responsible for policing the Woodside, Tillydrone and Old Aberdeen areas.

I am the Inspector and I have during 2013 where any residents your buildings. Aberdeen is still four Sergeants and a compliment can come along and have a chat a safe place to live and work but of 24 Constables, divided into with us. These will be locally all too often we deal with theft five teams to give 24-hour advertised and if you can please where valuable items have been coverage to the area. The pay us a visit. left insecure. Another on-going officers respond to all incidents problem is sneak-in theft - these We rely on the community telling in our area and we also strive to are often to houses which have us about their issues so we maintain a proactive approach not been secured overnight. can seek to work with partners to local issues and maintain Again we see high-value items to resolve them. I am really a high visibility on the streets. including motor vehicles being concerned about the people We also attend the various stolen following the theft of keys who are sometimes the most Neighbourhood Network and from insecure houses. Please lock vulnerable in society - who for a Community Council meetings your doors when you go to bed. number of reasons are reluctant where we provide an input on to have a bobby at their door or We would like to encourage local policing and listen to any ever contact us. Surgeries will residents to contact us with any issues or concerns that are have uniformed officers available local concerns they may have. raised. This is one way in which to meet with you, privately if You can do this by telephoning we can respond to the needs of necessary, to provide another the Grampian Police non- our communities. option for you to speak with us. emergency phone-line on 0845 We also maintain contact with There are lots of ways to contact 6005700 and simply being asked the schools in our areas with the Police and if you want to to be put through to officers at an officer allocated to each do so completely anonymously the Tillydrone Police office. If no primary and a permanent police please contact Crimestoppers on officers are available, the service presence within St Machar 0800 555 111. centre staff will leave a message Academy and we also carry out for an officer to phone you back. With the weather now improving, general patrols and visits during we traditionally see an increase We can also be contacted via school term. in theft of garden tools and the Grampian Police website In an effort to improve our bicycles. Can I ask you to check at www.grampian.police.uk or community contact we will be that all your valuables are secure you can call in at the office on holding public ‘Police Surgeries’ in locked garden sheds or within Coningham Gardens.

11 Reiki Inspiration Niver Forget Whaar er ye gan tae ! mae lovely? yer Childhood Astral travellin aa by yersel Weel kent faces fae the 50s/60s fae Kilgour an Hayton Road! Ground yersel saafly Noo kent as Alexander Terrace or jist the Terrace by maist whaar yer sittin. nooadays. Jist a puckle o’ names fae an auld timer wha bade there as a loon. Dinna tak a’ traivel tae hell. Div ye mind o’ the Hutchies faa bade in No5 wi there flashy cars an their rug store up it Woodside. They went on tae get twa Mynd an I’wiz proteck bungalows built on Hayton Road een aside Nisa for the mither. yersel saaf. An the ither at the post office for the son they ca’d the “Pot” An ither’s att ar Georgie Robertson bade in No7 wi his bonny gairden. Tootie sittin aroon. Stewart bade above, a’ harmless crook at best. At No9 bade Beldie Park she hid 1 loon an 5 good quines. Ayeways made me Traivel wye, high in e sky. pee on her floors, jist tae mak em growe she wid say. Doon at No13 wis Joey Stewart every Saiterday morning withoot An twice circle e; moon. fail her an Bella Masson. Were awa tae aa the Jumble sales. Sonny Ogg No14 wis far Mary Ann Smith bade, an affa wifie tae clek aboot aathing an aabody. A’ rare wee sowl wi a hairt o’ gold tho.! In the chipper worked Susan and her da, aul Joe. Next door wis far Mr Thompson a richt fine Grocer man bade. Across the road Sandy at the time Licensee o’ the Broadsword, wi his silver hair and fine mowser a’ real patter merchant. Gan back tae Kilgour Avenue a’ bade in No8 wi a lovely Ma and my auntie Peggy too. Wee Ruthie wi her docker man John also bade in No8. An afa wifie tae bawl an sweer. But an afa guid neebour. At the corner hoose on Hayton Road wis far the McNolty’s bade aa the loon’s went poaching. The finest at there game. A gran place tae bide wi memories too many.

Fae a’ Kilgourer born ‘n’ bred

“Enjoy”

Peter Forbes

12 TILLY TATTLE

Niver Forget yer Childhood! A Safe Place to Play Carrie-ann Holland

When you think of your childhood, what do you remember? Going to the park? Playing on the swings? Aren’t these memories we would like our own children to have?

My local play park is on Gordon’s Their committed team of What fund raising activities did Mill Road and my little one is volunteers works with several you hold? almost at the stage where I organisations in Aberdeen City So far, most funds raised have want to take him to the swings, to ensure that Article 31 of the been by applications found on but they are no longer there. UN Convention on the Rights of the internet or ACVO website. Aberdeen City Council have the Child is met in Seaton. This removed nearly all the play ruling states that local authorities Do you have any words of equipment and laid turf in its have an obligation to provide encouragement for the people place. We all know about council access to suitable play spaces of Tillydrone who are looking cutbacks, so I’m sure it will and opportunities. to regenerate their play areas? come as no surprise that there Elsie Macrae of Seaton Backies It’s not as daunting as it are no plans to replace the play Project was kind enough to looks, the most difficult part equipment at present. answer a few questions for us. is getting started and having Councillor Ross Grant recently What experience has a communicative committee. told us that he is “heavily Seaton Backies Project with ACVO are a great help and involved in the quest to regenerating play areas? Seaton Backies can be reinstate new play equipment approached for help if need be. We have worked with different in our community in [his] role people to help us achieve The committee needs to work as chairman of the Tillydrone projects. We very much work closely with the community to community development trust.” hand in hand with Aberdeen ensure needs are communicated As it would seem that it is down Green Space to manage all throughout and also involve to our community to reinstate projects and Aberdeen City the council and local MP in our park, I thought we could Council to ensure the work we everything you are doing take inspiration from The Seaton are doing meets their approval. please feel free to contact us at seatonbackiesproject@ Backies Project. What obstacles have you faced? gmail.com The Seaton Backies Project is a Initially, lack of support from the What are we waiting for? If the community action group which community, people used to be aims to increase the outdoor play sceptical at the beginning but people of Seaton can do it, so opportunities for local children, slowly we are building a trust, can we! through the improvement of our support group is growing and green spaces surrounding we have noticed a great change the housing within Seaton. in our residents.

13 SHMU is currently running Journalism courses to • What is a style guide and how do you anyone who lives within our seven target areas. apply it to your writing? The course runs for six weeks and is held once a • Interview technique week at SHMU. The six-session course will take • Research skills participants through all the essential basics of • Writing workshop – how to get the most journalism, looking at the following areas: from your story and create engaging, lively copy. • What makes a good story: news values and feature writing If you are interested in signing up for the next • Differences between news and features session please contact [email protected] or • Sourcing: How to find a great story call on 515013.

The shmuTRAIN team is back working with St terms the shmuTRAIN Torry TV coming to a Machar Academy for the second half of our Early employability Interventions programme working with 11 young development worker, computer near you soon... people who plan to leave school in the summer. Michelle, has been shmuTRAIN take pupils along to Tillydrone Youth delivering sessions Project for two double periods a week to deliver geared towards ‘employability’ and ‘digital media’ modules. helping young In the winter term the young people worked with people get ready for Adele on a radio module and for this term they entering into either are doing music and sound production with Iain. employment or As part of the radio module the group planned, college. Michelle researched, scripted and recorded pieces which will be supporting were played out as part of shmuFM’s Tuesday pupils to apply for College early in this term Youth Radio Project programme. Topics included and will cover everything from putting together TV, music and Christmas films. This term they will CV’s all the way to preparing for interviews and create their own music tracks, record sounds and everything in between, including job search learn how to edit and customise them. An exciting skills, application forms and cover letters. part of this module is that the shmuSOUND team Michelle also delivers sessions focused on how are working on bringing in a band; the group will to sustain employment helping pupils develop then get training in how to record and produce their communication and team work skills as well a number of tracks in a live situation. Over both as personal responsibility.

Station House Media Unit (shmu) is situated just off Great Northern Road in the old Station House Community Centre, Woodside. We offer free access to, and training in video and radio production, and magazine and online publications to residents of all ages living in Seaton, Woodside, Middlefield, Tillydrone, Torry, Northfield and Cummings Park.

14 t 01224 515013 e [email protected] www.shmu.org.uk TILLY TATTLE

I have been to Disneyland, Swingees were the main dummy casualty with his MEMORIESCodonas etc, but the best entertainment and the first place gas mask still on and being theme park for me was the one to look for your friends. Made convinced by the older boys that around the part of the River from old rope and tied round it was a real dead person. My Don we called the Dooker. a thick branch high up in the mother was not amused when large trees they were surprising my little sisters told her some At the Dooker there was a large safe until the rope snapped and time later that I had shown them corrugated fence with spikes someone was to hospital and a real dead body. and barbed wire where the the rest of us would feel sorry current fence is now, beside the for ourselves as we sometimes Raft or boat building was another Community Centre. had to go hours before another of my great passions especially bit of rope was found and a new when the prefabs were being In the late 1950’s and early swingee made. cleared and there was plenty 1960’s the Second World War of material. Some efforts were The civil defence buildings were and the after-effects were still successful others not. Of the also a great place to play - the very much in evidence. Rationing bombed buildings and the ones nine ships my father was on was still in effect got quite a while which were still intact were during the war two were sunk, after the war ended and toys dangerous but great fun with perhaps we should have been were things handed down or secret passages and tunnels. submariners. self-made. I still remember seeing my first By Steven Clyne (Cat)

Community Flat Tillydrone Community Flat

If you are interested in learning need. So, please get in touch up. He has also created a border something new or would like to and give us some ideas of what around the garden and plans to offer some time to help benefit you would like to take part in and get the children to help decorate the area, please get in touch with we’ll see if we can get things off some boards along the fence to us at the Community Flat at 3b the ground. brighten things up and help keep Alexander Terrace. Flat Garden dogs and rubbish out. We have various classes and Over the past couple of months groups and can offer crèche Billy has a lot of good ideas you will hopefully have noticed spaces for some of them too if which we hope to put into action that the garden in front of the needed. We also offer support Community Flat has been tidied over the next few months. with benefits and other basic up and some signs of life are We are hoping to get some advice. If we can’t help you, starting to appear in it. This is funding to do a lot more we will put you in touch with gardening work out front but someone else who can. largely down to the hard work of a local resident called Billy who also in the disused space Our big news is that we have has been inspirational in getting between Alexander Terrace and now been registered with the things moving there. Formartine Road. If you are Care Inspectorate, which means interested in helping or have that we can technically open up It was his idea to collect some ideas that you think would our childcare to more than two discarded tyres from the benefit the community, please hours per day. This will mean riverbank and paint them up to come along to the Community that we can have more classes make flowerbeds for the children and more crèches - if there is a at the crèche nursery to plant Flat and let us know.

15 Out ofout the Darkness of the A story of darknessrecovery by Keith murray Sixteen. Sixteen. Don’t want it. service. I like to think that some chip away at this. But no amount Don’t want it. Yes you do. good came from my unpaid work, of OCD can possibly be as The dark, mad, bad voice inside where I used my skills and talents. disastrous as the consumption of my head again. Get it down you. I believe that in every negative alcohol at such a dangerous level That’s my boy. Every last drop. aspect of human life and I experienced for so long a time. Beddy-byes now. Sleep it off. Up experience that there is a Human life is scarred from the bright and early for your next fill. solution...that some good can moment we enter the world to Sixteen. Sixteen. come from it. the moment we leave. Open to Then up in the morning ... off to When I finally gave up alcohol, so many clashes, collisions, the corner shop --- before it’s more than seven years ago now, differences of opinion, open. First in the queue, sun or it was a life-changing decision misunderstandings... we are still rain, or snow. Must get the supply for me. In fact, I believe to this very much a primitive being, in. Sixteen. Something about day, that it was much more than because we fail to understand sixteen. Obsessive compulsive a personal decision. I cried on the beauty and brevity of this disorder into the bargain. the morning of the day I ditched wonderful gift called life. Our I could never stop drinking. the booze. I pleaded for help to folks before us experienced war Towards the end it was always someone...something... and I first hand, and I grew up in a time sixteen. Sixteen cans of strong cannot help but wonder that where society was not simply lager obsessively drowning all some intervention was at work adjusting to a kind of peace; on my bad memories. I was bullied here. It was probably the very last the contrary, it was still living with at school you see. Not just by remaining glimmer of common effects of war, which resulted in kids but teachers too. Every day sense and self-respect within me fear, anguish, mistrust not only for years. Stuck with me like that altered my whole course of in strangers, but within families, uncried tears. Alcohol I thought life...that, and some guiding force schools, workplaces. I grew up was the solution. Made up for all that led me out of 24/7 drinking within a very much damaged the bad times with good drink. existence and back on the rails. environment, within a typical But it too turned on me. I liked I have, for the past seven years, working class drinking culture, the calming effect it had on me. regained and retained my or tradition, and I falsely believed But the more I drank the more I self-respect and equally as that alcohol soothed it all for me wanted ... needed. The calming, important, respect for others. too. Now with my understanding soothing, forgiving effect it My writing is improving all the of what happened makes me all had on me gradually fermented time and I am now very prolific the more determined to succeed into resentment, anger, rage, and have gained the respect, and whatever life is ahead of me retaliation. As the old saying goes, good renown, and friendship of I shall make every second count. alcohol is ‘powerful, mysterious, fellow poets in Aberdeen and The world is a dangerous place, baffling’, and much as I fell in love beyond. Some of whom are now but in my experience, it is far with beer, and sometimes spirits, close friends. My physical health better a place if you remain sober, it became my enemy. Twice in is back to normal, where at one level headed, without alcohol. my life I have experienced the point during my drinking, Forget about the booze. Be as cold harsh reality of a police cell. I nearly died, and was hospitalised good as you can be, with your One nine month long agonising for five weeks. What a terrible own vision, and things will work wait for my one and only court abyss I slipped down, filled with well for you. The world suddenly appearance. Breaches of the darkness, despair, verging on brighter. More liveable. Life is peace. The sheriff was so very madness. But what a remarkable becoming exciting again. understanding of the mental pain recovery I have made. that had disabled me. Carried out Though OCD still causes me hundreds of hours of community problems, I am beginning too to Keith Murray

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