THE SOUTH DEESIDE VIEW

September 2011

CONTENTS

1 Macmillan Coffee Morning Our Plant Sale and Coffee Morning in May, organised and largely staffed by community councillors, was a happy and 2 Youth activities well attended occasion and raised enough money to keep 3 Youth activities South Deeside View solvent. Many thanks to everyone who 4 Lairhillock School contributed plants and home baking, and to those whose gardens are now blooming with their purchases. 5 Lairhillock School football Banchory-Devenick School Could you help to produce this twice-yearly newsletter in any way? We are looking for a third person to help put it together 6 Clubs and Societies and are aware that there are many folk who would enjoy doing 7 Leisure activities so - just think of it as licensed nosiness! Blairs Museum We depend on local residents to deliver over 900 copies, so 8 Community Halls this is quite a feat of organisation and goodwill. We are short North East Open Studios of deliverers in Banchory-Devenick, so could you help, even if 9 Driving for the Disabled it is only to supply your nearest neighbours twice a year? Your community councillors will be very glad of assistance. 10 Maryculter-Cookney Church 11 St Ternan’s Church If you have some information which you would like to share with others in our area, please let us know. We have been St Mary’s Chapel asked for more local historical information, so perhaps you Grampian Police know someone who can contribute articles of this kind. 12 Home deliveries The newsletter remains free since our only costs are for Bread Maker at Aspire printing. We appreciate all the local companies who support 13 Nature Notes us with their advertising. 14 History of Banchory-Devenick All phone numbers are Aberdeen listed (01224) unless Have we lost Durris Wood? otherwise indicated. The back page, with its Events Diary and 15 Road Sense list of useful contacts, is arranged for handy reference. Other contact information is at the end of each section. 16 Community Council

17 NKRCC, 300 Club, Broadband 18 Councillors 19 Advertisements Macmillan Coffee Morning 20 Handy contacts and Events Friday September 30 Storybook Glen 10.15 - noon

There will be a wide range of stalls, crafts, bring

The Doric Festival and buy, raffle, teas, coffees and home baking. Meal an’ Ale Evening Raffle prizes and contributions to the sale should Cookney Hall Saturday October 1 at 7.30pm be handed in to Sheila Stewart, Tel: 734222 with any last minute items gladly received at the door.

Book your tickets from Joyce Murison, Tel: 01569 731236 Admission by donation

YOUTH ACTIVITIES

Maryculter Babies and Toddlers to university – we’re going to miss her loads but know she’ll We meet in Maryculter Church Hall, on Thursday mornings make a great nurse! all year from 9.30 - 11.30am. Anyone looking after children between birth and 3 years is very welcome to join us for a Remember, the South Deeside Under Fives is possibly the cuppa and chat, whilst the tots play with our stock of toys and best way for your children to meet some of their first friends games. We’re always on the look out for new members so and for you to get to know other local families. Give us a call please tell friends, neighbours and those new to the area. or drop by for a look around! Louise MacDonald, Tel: 874014 More information at M: 07966 163953 or www.south-deeside-under-fives.co.uk South Deeside Under Fives From 0 to 5 – making learning come alive! We’re feeling very proud of ourselves at the South Deeside Maryculter Rainbows Under Fives! Not only have we had a great first year as an We are enjoying the new facilities following our move to independent group but we’ve secured funding that’s going to Corbie Hall and the girls love being able to cook in the make this coming year just as good! kitchen. Last term we completed a Royal Wedding Challenge badge and made the most of the summer weather for lots of The South Deeside Under Fives is a community-led charity outdoor games. that provides childcare for children from birth to five years. Meeting at Maryculter Community Hall (next to the Old Mill Some Rainbows joined the Brownies and Guides for a trip to Inn), it runs three programmes during school terms: the Stonehaven Open Air Pool which was great fun for everyone. We have welcomed five new Rainbows and a new Baby & Toddler Group – Mondays 9.30am to 11.30am leader this term which is fantastic! We are all doing a For children from birth to four. Adults relax over a coffee challenge called ‘Together We Can’ based on the Millenium whilst children make their first friends. Playleaders are there Development Goals; we’ll be learning about people all for a chat and to ensure children are happy playing. around the world.

Two’s Group - Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 9.30am Girls aged 5-7 meet in Corbie Hall on Thursdays from 4.15- to 11.30am 5.15. We are full at the moment but are always happy to add For children aged two until they go to nursery. Tots are left in to our waiting list. the capable hands of experienced playleaders who support Contact Kate Martin at [email protected] Tel:739843 them in learning through play in a small, friendly group. Activities include crafts, stories, bugs and bubbles in the garden and walks around the local countryside. Maryculter Brownies Last term the Brownies were busy. We did our Royal Rising Fives Group - Tuesday lunchtimes, 12 noon to 2pm. Wedding Challenge Badge. One night we made dresses out For ante-pre and pre-school children. A gentle introduction to of carrier bags. We have also been doing our World Guiding spending more time away from their adults prior to school. Goes Tartan Badge. This is a Special Badge we can do this Activities include cooking, painting or sports – lunch is year as the WAGGS World Conference is in Edinburgh this provided! summer. One night we couldn’t use our hall because of the Scottish Parliament Elections so we went to Stonehaven and With nearly £10,000 of funding from Awards For All, the did our Agility Badge. We had a great time with hula hoops Scottish Community Fund and Union Square, this year we will and skipping ropes and even made up our own routines. be concentrating on two initiatives – raising the profile of our group within the local area (a big task for a small rural We would like to take the chance here of thanking Lorraine organisation) and most excitingly, a year-long healthy eating Martin, a former Rainbow Leader at Maryculter, and her project. The latter will enable us to involve the children in family for generously donating a new parachute to the three growing and preparing their own food, from planting tatties Guiding units. So far we have had great fun with it. and using locally sourced food from our nearest organic farm Lembas, to visiting a farm with our mentors at Union Square, We went to Banchory Guide Lodge for our Annual The Handmade Burger Company. The Rising Fives on Sleepover. The first night we went swimming - we think the Tuesdays will even be making their own lunches! leaders wanted to tire us out so that we slept. Once we returned to the Guide Lodge we had a bit of a disco then We couldn’t have done all of this on our own though. Thanks settled down to watch a movie. to the 50 families who came along to classes during our first year and to our fantastic play leaders who make our sessions We are currently looking to recruit a new adult leader as one so welcoming and fun. Our Chair Lynn Smith and Secretary of our Owls has had to stand down due to work commitments. Shona Grimmer also did wonderful work securing all the This also means that the waiting list of girls waiting to join is funding for the coming year. Lastly but certainly not least, a still in place. If you are aged between 18 and 65 and think huge thanks to “husbands of the year” Bill, Bob and Iain, for you could help us out - it doesn’t even have to be every week their unending patience in designing leaflets, planting fruit and job share would be considered. Our meetings are on trees and fixing yet more things. Thursdays in Maryculter Community Hall from 6.30 to 8pm. Lynn Murphy: Tel: 01330 825936 Good luck to our play leader Rachel McIntosh who is back off E-mail: [email protected]

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YOUTH ACTIVITIES

The autumn term will see us holding another camping Maryculter Guides weekend at Templars’ Park in September and we will also have a sleepover in the Scout Hut after the October break. We We had a lot of good evenings through plan to do some orienteering and another cycle tour so we the summer and camped near Fettercairn hope that the weather will be kinder to us than it was last one weekend. This gave us the chance term. As the nights draw in, the programme will involve more to learn how to use a compass and pick activities and badgework indoors but a night hike will be up some survival skills. Cooking slotted in if we get some favourable winter conditions. outdoors was good fun too.

Maryculter Cubs meet at the Maryculter Scout Hut on We meet on Tuesday evenings at 7.30pm in the Maryculter Mondays between 6.15 and 7.45pm. The pack is currently Community (Corbie) Hall close to capacity and we will give priority to boys wanting to Tel:07849 315203, E-mail: [email protected] move up from Maryculter Beavers, but if anyone wants more

information they should contact one of the following: David Friends of Guiding Kirk tel: 869006, David Burslem tel: 732819, Bill Caffyn We are having a fund-raising evening on Wednesday October tel: 734080 or Andrew Warnock tel: 739602.

5 from 7-9pm in Corbie Hall, with a Chocolate Demonstration by Cocoa Ooze. £10 tickets, which include a 1st Maryculter Scouts glass of fruit juice or wine plus raffle are available from Guiders or from Lynn Murphy, District Commissioner, The major event of this year was our Scout trip to Oberkirch Tel:01330 825396 or E-mail: [email protected] in the Black Forest of Germany. 22 Scouts, two young leaders and six adults flew to Stuttgart from Dyce via Heathrow for a great international experience. Our hosts, the Oberkirch Maryculter Beavers Scouts were most helpful and added greatly to the variety of things we saw and did. The Beavers continue to meet in the Scout Hut on a Tuesday Memorable moments included the toboggan run, the hike to evening from 5.30 to 7.00p.m. see the largest cuckoo clock in the world and getting soaked One of the highlights from last term was the night when the in a thunderstorm then having to sprint for the train, Beavers took Corbie, George Masson’s horse, on a drive forgetting that all the shops close on a Sunday, our hike through Maryculter woods. This was followed up by a visit to through the Black Forest, getting lost on our way to a George’s ‘small-holding’ where the Beavers helped to collect barbecue on the Rhine – but the BBQ was worth the hike and eggs, feed the hens and Corbie and get another ‘wee shotie’ the boating on the Rhine was great fun too. around the field (no eggs were broken!). Kerri, a new assistant Beaver leader has joined us. We have Then there were the swimming pools, tennis and crazy golf. places for new Beavers between 6 and 8 years, but as we have There was the Festival of Light, the reception at the Rathaus, to observe a leader ratio of 1:6 we are still in need of adult being in the fruit factory freezer at -20 deg C, and finally, on help. our last day, our visit to Europapark where all sorts of bum- Any boy wishing to join us should contact: clenching rides were enjoyed. Kathleen Paterson , Beaver Leader Tel: 868676 The return trip was more eventful than we needed due to a 1st Maryculter Cubs Stuttgart buggie driver running into our aircraft’s engine cowling. This meant we could not fly until Airbus assessed Unfortunately the exceptional weather in April did not last the damage (a small scratch) and OK’d take-off. This came long enough to cover our first few activities of the summer after four stress-filled hours in the Stuttgart departure lounge term and the first sailing event at Loch of Skene had to be where it was beginning to look like we would be kipping for cancelled due to poor visibility. Our overnight trip to Muir the night! At Heathrow we met a party of 50 Mexican Scouts Cottage near Braemar followed shortly thereafter and for the on their way to the Scout Jamboree in Sweden. They were first time we had to contend with rain on both days. However full of fun and delighted to see us Scottish Scouts in our kilts. we did not let that dampen our enthusiasm and the Cubs had a Luckily the evening flight from Heathrow to Dyce was not hike up a nearby hill, ran a hash, played foot-baseball and busy that Tuesday and we all got onto the one plane to generally had a good time. As usual we stopped on the Aberdeen where anxious mums and dads welcomed home journey home for a further activity, this time near Balmoral to their Scouts. satisfy our curiosity by climbing up to inspect Albert’s Cairn, which was most impressive at close quarters. But in September we start our new term. The challenge is to In between activities in and around the Scout Hut we also maintain a varied programme of skills, personal development, went to Durris to climb Carn Mon Earn, unfortunately getting leadership and, above all, fun! soaked in the rain on the way down, and we held an overnight camp in the Glebe Field. We had high hopes for the second We meet on Fridays from 7.15 to 9.15pm in the Scout Hut sailing event on Loch of Skene at the end of the term but we behind Maryculter Church. Local lads between 10.5 and 13 could hardly believe it when we had to cancel yet again, this thinking of joining us should contact the Scout Leader, time because the loch was being drained by the estate. We Les Paterson, Tel: 868676 or E-mail: [email protected] have to admit that we did not have that eventuality on our risk Another useful contact is the District website: assessment! www.deesidescouts.org.uk 3

PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Lairhillock Health and Wellbeing is a very important part of the curriculum and a range of activities are planned for We welcomed 17 Primary 1 September. P5 is taking part in a series of rugby workshops. children to school this session. Our P6-7 will undergo Cycling Training and weekly cross country nursery roll is 12 meantime sessions for P5-7 will also continue. The whole school will although more children are due to be involved in a Skipping Fortnight organised by the Health start later in the session. The Group. school roll is 109. The whole school is currently focusing on the Practices and We were delighted to be awarded the Eco School Green Flag Traditions of Islam with a particular focus on Ramadan and Award which we are extremely proud of. You can see the flag the festival of Eid Al Fitr. Weekly cooking sessions will pictured below right. Well done to the children on the Eco involve children in making foods associated with the festival. Committee, Mrs Henderson, Mrs Blair, Dr Martin and Mrs Christian beliefs continue to be covered at assemblies through Oakey who have worked tirelessly to ensure that the whole Bible Stories linked to the articles of the United Nations school community worked towards achieving this award. We Convention on the Rights of the Child. Rev. Heather Peacock will now draw up a new Action Plan based on Energy and continues to join staff and pupils at weekly assemblies. If Sustainability. anyone in the community is keen to come in to school to talk to the children about other world religions, we would be The school is also very proud of Mrs Malone, Children’s delighted to hear from you. Supervisor. Employees from across the council were recognised at the annual Employee Achievement Awards Visitors to school include speakers from the Scottish Society ceremony which was hosted by Aberdeenshire Provost Bill for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and CLAN (Cancer Howatson and attended by Leader of the Council Anne Link Aberdeen North). Robertson, Chief Executive Colin Mackenzie and the directors of each service. Mrs Malone was nominated for A Macmillan Coffee Afternoon is being held on Friday 30 ‘The Unsung Hero Award’ which is designed to thank September and members of the community are very welcome someone who works tirelessly and undertakes tasks not to come along. necessarily expected of them to ensure the best possible service. The judges shortlisted three people for this category The Parent Council has organised a Beetle Drive on Friday 9 and Mrs Malone won. September to which everyone is welcome. The annual Christmas Fair is being held on Saturday 26 November so we The school is currently participating in the Forest School hope to see everyone there. Contact the school for more programme which is delivered by Friends of Durris Forest details. (FDF). Julia Mackay, Level 3 Forest School Leader and Aileen Salway, trainee Level 3 Forest School Leader with 15 years’ experience as a Countryside Ranger work with class teachers and children on Thursdays in Durris Forest The programme aims to develop the children’s understanding and appreciation of the environmental, social, and economic potential of trees, woodlands and forests, through ‘hands-on’ experiences. Activities have minimal impact on the environment, and good practice aims to ‘leave-no-trace’, or have positive environmental benefits. The forest education programme involves the following: • Simple investigation and exploration with minimal equipment, using natural materials as the learning resource. • Playing games, using the woodland for inspiration for art and writing projects. • Using the woodland for numeracy – counting, sorting, measuring, estimating etc. ADULT VOLUNTEERS • Using simple tools to whittle and do craft work We are always keen to hear from people in the community • Simple rope work. who are willing to be Adult Helpers in school. In particular • Temporary shelters may be made with tarpaulins or we are in need of volunteers who are interested in helping woodland brash. with our weekly gardening sessions which are held on Monday mornings. However, if anyone is able to spare a few Aberdeenshire Life Education Centre staff are in school in hours to help us maintain the garden at a time that would suit September and will be focusing on health topics with all of them, that would also be great. Volunteers who work with the the children from Nursery to P7. Sessions are also being children are required to join the Protection of Vulnerable organised to provide parents with an opportunity to see the Groups (PVG) Scheme. Forms are available from the school. mobile classroom and to find out about the programmes being delivered. Marian Youngson, Head Teacher Tel: 01569 732520 E-mail: [email protected]

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Lairhillock School Football Banchory-Devenick

Yes, the rain did finally stop and we were able to We welcome old and new faces complete all our fixtures. Though come to think of it, after the summer holidays and trust we played through an absolute monsoon in that Leanne and the Primary 1 the Hall Morrice tournament at Bervie in June. Huge children will settle in quickly. Our credit to the two mums who stood through it all and Visiting Specialists this term are: pretended that they didn't really mind, and even bigger Mrs Vardy – PE, Mrs Petrie – thanks to the boys who just missed out on the semi- Drama, Miss Reid – Science and Mrs Tullock – Art. finals so we didn't have to spend another hour getting soaked. The whole school will be attending Techfest on Tuesday 13th September. Techfest is a festival of science,

technology, engineering and mathematics, held at the Beach Ballroom. Each class will have a different, age appropriate, programme of workshops.

Class Topics P1/2/3 - My Home; P4/5 – Scotland; P6/7 - Citizens of the 21st Century (Europe and the European Union).

Hog Roast Barbecue

A Hog Roast BBQ will be held in the school grounds on The other theme of the year, injuries, also Saturday 17th September from continued into the second half of the season, so much so 3 – 6pm. Tickets are priced £7 that we inaugurated an injury-of-the-season award, for adults and £3 for children which went to Nick Caffyn for managing to break both and provide a pig roll and pudding. Please contact the arms at different times. Great effort Nick! school office by Monday 5th Sept if you would like to And finally to the football. The A-team did well to win buy tickets. their section of the Mid-Deeside Small Schools League and the Invercrynoch Cup, but the highlight of the Aberdeen Life Education Centre (ALEC) is part of season was when it all came good for the B-team in the Coram Life Education, a charity which provides a last competition of the season and they won unique drug education programme which teaches the Crynoch Shield. If they carry on that performance children about the wonder of their bodies, how to take into next year they will have a great time. As usual, care of themselves and how drugs can affect them. All thanks to all the Mums and Dads for their the children attended the mobile classroom and unflinching stoic support throughout the cold and wet thoroughly enjoyed this learning experience. times, and to the players for giving us all a heap of fun. The picture shows some typical footballing weather. In the recent past, Banchory-Devenick, Crathes and Stephen Davies Kincardine O'Neil have all taken part in the Mid Deeside Small Schools Football League and it would be

brilliant if they could do so again. One Dad has said he is willing to help but we would need another person. The format of the league is designed to cater for almost everyone, so we have a C-league (notionally P2-3), B- league (notionally P4-5) and an A-league (notionally P6-7). The larger schools like Drumoak and Lairhillock will normally enter a team in each league, but the Award-winning weekly nature classes for 2 to 5 smaller schools may only manage one or two teams. year olds to discover nature and play outdoors. Matches are usually played on a Sunday afternoon and Monday and Friday sessions. there is a three-goal rule so that if two teams are obviously unmatched, the coaches do something about NEW it. The whole thing is very flexible, so there is room to Woodland birthday parties for 2 to 10 year olds just play friendly games and see how it goes from there. All it needs is a couple of parents to organise the team. www.mudpieadventures.co.uk If you are even slightly curious, please contact Stephen Davies at E-mail: s. [email protected] Call Mandy Tulloch on 07929 465680 for more information. Joyce Hill, Head Teacher , Tel: 875237 E-mail: [email protected] 5

CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

Maryculter WRI Cookney Bowling Club Meetings are at 7.30pm on the second The Carpet Bowls club restarts after the summer break Wednesday of each month in the on September 15, and meets in Cookney Hall twice a Corbie Hall, Maryculter between week at 7.30pm. Monday is competition evening while August and May. We have an Thursday is a ‘hat night’. The three carpets are well interesting programme of talks, used by a thriving membership, and new members are demonstrations and slide shows planned. always welcome. Arthur Durward Tel: 319701 New members and visitors are always welcome. See our programme on the back page. Glendale Football Club Secretary, Sheila Bisset Tel: 01569 731708 Well, after a horrendous winter and a

late spring, we managed to finish our Netherley WRI league programme, just before the We meet at 7.30pm in Lairhillock School on the third official league deadline of the 31st Monday of each month between September and May. May, with many a mid-week game You will find our programme on the back page, so if thrown in to boot. you would like to come along and join in any session, The net result of this was a lot of please phone our secretary: Janet Ross, Tel: 732101 tired legs and tired performances resulting in poor New members will be made most welcome. league results. However the team did put together a 7 game undefeated run at the very end of the season, with Friendship Club the last game being a real ‘6 pointer’ which secures our Our winter session begins with a Basket Whist on division 1 status for the coming season. Friday October 28 at 7.30pm in Maryculter Community All players from last season have re-signed, with a Hall. If you are a whist player do join us for a relaxed smattering of both youth and a couple of ‘old faces’ evening. If you are younger and play only occasionally, returning to boost our player pool for season 2011/2012. come along to brush up your skills and help maintain a We hope and trust this winter will be slightly more kind local tradition - it’s more fun than watching the ‘box’. to us this year both on and off the park, and a piece of June, who plans our entertainments, has a varied silverware comes our way come the end of the season. programme lined up for our monthly meetings on the Home games will continue at Corbie Park, with Cults first Thursday of the month in Maryculter Church Hall Academy astro turf pitch providing outdoor training from 2 to 4pm, starting with ‘A Fishy Tale’ on facilities this winter. Jim Grant Tel: 867512 November 3. Contacts: Anne, Tel: 732071 and Peggy, Tel: 734888 Dee Vale Ladies Football Club Maryculter Senior Citizens Association Dee Vale Ladies took a mid season trip to the This long established charity provides a Christmas party International Keele Cup near Manchester this for eligible folk living within the parish of Maryculter. summer. Playing 6 x 40 minute matches in two days Please contact one of the committee below if you know was very tough and although we didn't return with any of any single or widowed ladies aged 60 or over, and silverware it was an excellent fitness and team building married couples where the man is at least 65, who may experience. not be known to us. They can then join our highly Since the Division Two North re-start Dee Vale have enjoyable annual event. had mixed results, most recently a resounding 9-2 Fiona Tel: 733324 Geordie Tel: 734469 victory against Kemnay Ladies at Corbie Park. This Richard Tel: 867580 Caroline Tel: 734093 leaves us mid table and, with 7 games to play, we hope Debbie Tel: 730018 to climb a few more places. We have recently purchased a new away strip thanks to sponsorship from The fundraising 100+ Club is in its third year so thanks Optima Solutions, and also are grateful for the to all who supported it. Winners of cash prizes to date continued support from the Holburn Bar who sponsor are: (all from Maryculter unless otherwise indicated) the home kit and provide post match hospitality. A. Arandia, Stonehaven; W. Blackhall; L. Carter; H. If you are interested in joining Dee Vale Ladies FC, Duncan, Ellon; N. Gordon; J. Leven; R.. Main, we welcome women over the age of 16 to come along to Milltimber; C. Middleton, Blairs; K. Milne, Blairs; N. training at Inverdee on a Wednesday evening. Munro, Aberdeen; R. McTaggart; P. Paterson; T. E-mail: [email protected] for more Stewart, Drumoak; J. Tuddenham, Blairs; G. Wallace, information. Spectators/supporters are also very Banchory; M. Wallace, Peterculter; S. Williams, Blairs; welcome. For fixtures, results and league tables see and W. Wilson. www.scottishfa.co.uk/swf and go to Division 2 North. Rhoda Paterson 6

LEISURE ACTIVITIES The Big Draw, Saturday October 8, 11am to 4pm

Yoga classes at Blairs The Big Draw encourages There are 2 places available in the Tuesday evening 6 p.m people of all ages to discover class. This is a small, gentle, class for intermediate students of how drawing can connect them with their surroundings and hatha yoga who have an interest in exploring the asanas in the wider community. We will be running various activities more detail and link them to their breathing. Please phone if co-ordinated by Mike Samson. you want to find out more. Ilse Elders ( registered teacher with Yoga Scotland since Bishop Hay, a Celebration of His Life 1988) Tel: 868301 Undergraduate, medical orderly, chemist, ship’s surgeon, horseman, swimmer, hiker, violinist, teacher, scripture scholar, theologian, scripture writer – all these are Exercise Pilates descriptions of George Hay, Scottish priest and Bishop, who The class runs in the Corbie Hall, Maryculter on Mondays died 200 years ago on October 15. Blairs Museum will have from 6 to 7pm. People with physical problems will be a small exhibition of items connected with Bishop Hay and directed to classes run by Physiotherapists, such as the advert there will be a Mass with a choir singing music from that on page 15. Individuals are welcome to attend for a trial period. Details still to be finalised. session, and should contact: Fiona Halliday Tel: 01330 824679 Dr Garden’s Nordic Notebook Saturday November 12 at 3pm as part of the Sound Festival. Reading Circle Sally Garden, mezzo-soprano and Donald Hawksworth, Our group continues to thrive - meeting every six to eight piano. Viewpoints and voices on northern identity, with weeks in each other’s homes once again, usually on Tuesdays songs, writings and new discoveries gathered in Norway and at 2pm. We choose books, from classics to recent Scotland. Music by Grieg, Irgens-Jensen, Kvandal, Sally publications, from a list provided by Aberdeenshire Council’s Garden and more. Ticket Price: £6, £4 concessions. Library service (currently ‘Life Class’ by Pat Barker), then discuss our individual interpretations over afternoon tea. Blairs Museum, South Deeside Road, Blairs, Aberdeen If you would like to join us please contact:Muriel, Manager/Curator: Ian Forbes: Tel: 863767 Tel: 01569 730302 or Sheila Tel: 01569 731608 E-mail: [email protected] www.blairsmuseum.com Craft Group We have taken a break over the summer months but resume Drum Castle monthly meetings on Monday October 3rd in the Community This is our nearest National Trust property. Our open-air Room at St Ternan's Church, Muchalls. Jan Horn is helping Shakespearean performances and other summer events were some of the members to learn the art of patchwork and highly enjoyable and well attended. We have a new property quilting ,but others bring along their own crafts - knitting, manager and have discovered that the oldest volunteer in the card making or even darning. It is a chance to relax and enjoy NTS works here in the gardens. We are re-launching the convivial company and see if any of the crafts take your Holly Fest in December and will be busy with conservation fancy. work during the winter. If you want to find out more please phone Jan on The grounds and woodland walks are open all year from Tel: 01569 767797 or come ,along to the Community Room 9.30am until sunset. The Garden of Historic Roses opens at the Church at 2pm on Monday 3rd October. until the end of October from 11am to 5pm. The castle, tearoom and shop are open between 11am and 4.45pm until the end of September. Dog Training Tel: 01330 811204 www.nts.org.uk Weekly class on Wednesday evenings in Cookney Hall. Yvonne Reid, Tel: 865249 Dingle Dell Aberdeen Aeromodellers Club Gift and Garden Centre The club owns a 6.5 acre grass flying field at Hare Moss, Storybook Glen, Maryculter, Aberdeen Banchory-Devenick and is permitted to fly from 9am to 7pm Tel: 01224 732941 on weekdays, and 10am to 7pm at weekends. The midweek fliers get together on Monday, Wednesday and Friday OPEN ALL YEAR, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK mornings. Garden equipment Good quality hardy plants E-mail: [email protected] Children’s toys and gifts, pet food Website best accessed using Google: aamfc.org Large selection of cards and candles Large free car park Storybook Glen

With over 100 nursery rhyme and fairytale characters in 28 acres of rolling parkland, self-service restaurant, garden centre and gift shop, this is an interesting and attractive venue for a family outing. Opening times are from 10am to 6pm daily until the end of October then 10am to 5pm between November and February. No entry charge for visiting the Garden Centre Tel: 732941 www.storybookglenaberdeen.co.uk or restaurant

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Corbie Park and Community Hall, Due to the increased use of the hall, its ongoing upgrade Maryculter and popularity, consideration is currently being given to producing a Facebook page and simple website, giving details of a history of the Hall, forthcoming events and Our hall continues to be well used by a variety of contact details, but it’s early days yet. groups. We look forward to hosting parties, meetings, Further details can be obtained from Willie Angus, classes and youth groups over the winter period and Tel: 01569 730123 or [email protected] providing a warm and welcoming meeting-place for them. If you would like to join the Friends of Cookney Hall and / or assist with the further upgrading, please contact Our Spring report on the Corbie Park warned of poor me for further details. grass coverage. Since then re-seeding and a monsoon Bob McKinney, Tel: 01569 730706, summer have resulted in a very lush growth – so much E-mail: [email protected] so that the mower is struggling to keep it in check! We must thank our volunteer groundsmen for all the time they give to keep the field in good order. North East Open Studios We were pleased to have Peterhead FC train on the pitch over the Summer, boosting our income over an More than 140 artists throughout the North East, both otherwise quiet spell for football. amateur and professional, open their studios to visitors from September 10-18. And finally: spotted scrambling and shrieking up the The two venues in our area are: riverbank this August, two MINK. One black, one lighter, a male and female, oblivious to all around Blairs Museum, which shows the work of Michael them and apparently in mating mode! Samson’s art classes which are held here weekly. Weekends from noon to 5pm, weekdays 11am -3pm. Carol continues to give sterling service as our Booking Secretary to whom any enquiry to book the hall or Shadow + Lights Studio, Hill Cottage, Banchory- field should be made. Tel 733583. Devenick where Carole Gray and Joanna Howarth create inventive, sculptural lights and 3D works.

Friends of Cookney Hall Coming from the Bridge of Dee roundabout, take the

South Deeside Road and turn left at the Banchory

Work on the hall has continued over the summer. The Devenick sign. The studio is the first house on the right. considerably enlarged car park is now nearly complete Open Saturdays, 10am - 5pm, Sundays 2 - 5pm, and we’ll be marking out disabled spaces soon. New weekdays 11am - 4pm. www.shadowandlights.org trees have been planted to shield it from the worst of the northerly winds, once they have grown big enough. www.northeastopenstudios.co.uk

We plan to re-clad the hall and hopefully we’ll see some progress over the next few months.

MARYCULTER COMMUNITY HALL The hall continues to be well used by the regular AND CORBIE PLAYING FIELD groups; dog obedience classes, bowlers and ballroom by the Old Mill Inn dancers, but not all at the same time! There have been several private functions too and we hope that this will An ideal venue for Children’s Parties, Meetings, continue. Ceilidhs, Coffee Mornings, Concerts, Dance and

Exercise Classes Planned events include: Available afternoons, evenings and weekends. October 1 A Meal n’ Ale Evening as part of the Doric Festival with Geordie Murison and Facilities include Kitchen with Cooker, Microwave, John Valentine as comperes. Kettle/Urn, Crockery and Cutlery October 22 Tractor pulling race night, with the £7.50 Tables and chairs for 80 people, Toilets admission price including our much appreciated stovies. Disabled entrance to Hall. January 2 New Year dance The Changing Rooms and Showers are separate and January 21 Burns Supper can accommodate 2 teams of 15.

Tickets for all events can be booked through any of the For further information or to book an event committee and Joyce Murison, Tel: 01569 731236 Please contact Booking Secretary Carol Masson Telephone 733583

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Maryculter Driving for the Disabled

Maryculter Driving for the Disabled Group is an independent charity. Our aim is to give the opportunity of driving a pony/horse-pulled carriage to any disabled person, to aid their balance, co-ordination and self confidence as well as having fun. NORTH BURNSIDE KENNELS

The 2011 driving season began on May 4 at Maryculter AND CATTERY Home Farm, and goes on until September 21, when we end with a cone driving competition, treasure hunt and barbecue. ‘Corbie’ and ‘Xantha’ are well trained to pull the carriages, and the team of drivers, helpers, carers and tea ladies (wonderful bakers) make this service possible.

George Masson has been working hard this season schooling ‘Casse’, daughter of ‘Corbie’ in preparation for the Driving for the Disabled assessment. She has “where part of your family been driven on average twice a week, completing road becomes part of ours” work and dressage and also introduced to Home Farm during our Wednesday sessions. Tel 01224 733474 Netherley Road, Burnside, Maryculter We are always looking for new helpers to walk with the carriages, to assist disabled drivers in and out of the vehicle and to ensure their comfort and safety, so if you have a few hours to spare each week (or even at odd times throughout the month), do consider coming along to see what we do. You don't have to be 'horsey', you just need to have plenty of enthusiasm and a willingness to help. Training will be given and you will become part of a friendly and supportive team. Each session is overseen by a qualified RDA instructor and some helpers go on to become instructors themselves. MARYCULTER CARRIAGE DRIVING CENTRE Thanks to everyone who helped at our annual fundraising event at the Plainstones, Stonehaven on Learn the art and tradition of carriage driving August 27 with donations of home baking, books and Arrive in a horse-drawn carriage for your wedding tombola prizes. Enjoy a farm tour and riverside drive Visit our unique carriage collection If you would like to volunteer or have further Bring disabled friends for a drive Let us take you for a drive to mark a special occasion information about the Group’s activities please contact:

George Masson (Chairman) Tel: 733583 We can do all this and much more with our Caroline McTaggart (Secretary) Tel: 734093 experienced horses and ponies. We also have a self-contained flat overlooking the River Dee - ideal for business visits or short breaks.

Jane and Ewan MacInnes, Home Farm, Maryculter Tel: 01224 732710 and 07889 340362 Email: [email protected]

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Banchory-Devenick and Maryculter/Cookney Parish Church of Scotland

Welcoming: Everyone is welcome to Maryculter Church Worship Services worship with us. Services will continue at Maryculter Church on 1st, 3rd th th Worshipping: We are a Reformed and 5 Sundays until 13 November 2011. th Presbyterian Church and the basis of From 13 November there will be a worship service our faith is the word of God as at Maryculter Church every Sunday morning at contained in the Bible. 10:30am.

Witnessing: We believe in one God – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We believe that God is present The Meeting Place in the world and is seeking to enrich our lives through New 25th September 2011 knowing Jesus Christ, his Son. Maryculter Church Hall For full details of all that is going on in our Church from 4:30pm Community please look at our website: A chance to meet with one another, meet new friends www.bdmc-parish.org.uk and meet with God. Worship led by our praise band from 5pm. Families will be welcome. Minister: Rev Dr Heather M Peacock Continuing on last Sunday evening each month. Tel: 730150 E-mail: [email protected] Back to Church Sunday September 18, Maryculter Church Church Office: Tel: 735983 New In 2009, Back to Church Sunday E-mail: [email protected] mobilised around 6,000 churches across the world (4,650 in the UK) to invite their friends to Youth Cafe church. As a result over 80,000 extra people attended Every Thursday 7-9pm church on Back to Church Sunday in the UK alone, with for primary 7 to senior 6 pupils in Maryculter Church a long-term result of around 10,000 people added to the Hall; Food, fun and friendship. Youth Alpha will be church in one day. You are invited to bring a friend available again during 2012. By popular demand an along on this special day. Or just come along and find Activity Weekend Away to Compass Christian Centre out all the exciting things we’re doing. in Glenshee is planned for June 2012. Don’t miss out! Contact Dianne Brown, Tel:734687 You do not need to be a member of the Church

to join in our services and activities, and you Community Coffee can be sure of a warm welcome to all of them. Enjoy a fabulous Fair Trade Coffee and fine piece. Every 1st, 3rd and 5th Wednesday 10-12 noon in Maryculter Church Hall. Banchory Devenick and Maryculter-Cookney Parish Church of Scotland, Scottish Charity number: SCO 13648 CCL 573608 The Guild We meet on the first Monday of the month from September through to November and from February to May, at 7:30pm. New members are sure of a warm welcome, good company, interesting speakers and a light supper. Contact Sheila Bissett, Tel: 01569 731708

Booking of Halls and grounds Contact Anne Massie Tel: 732071

Banchory-Devenick Church Given the bad weather conditions we have experienced over the last couple of years and the difficult access into Banchory-Devenick Church building, we have decided not to hold worship services there over the winter months. Services will continue at Banchory- Devenick Church on 2nd and 4th Sunday until Sunday 13th November 2011.

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St Mary’s Chapel, Blairs

Mass is held every Sunday morning at 9am to which all are invited. November 15 The Diocesan choir will perform in the chapel from 7pm December 24 Christmas Vigil Mass with Carols at 6.45 pm and Mass at 7pm. Deacon Peter Macdonald Tel: 780351 ST TERNAN’S SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH MUCHALLS Grampian Police

St. Ternan’s is the northern-most Scottish Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Brechin, located to the west of In Policing terms the summer months have involved the the A90 about a mile from Muchalls village on the mandatory assortment of events and youth ‘issues’, Causey Mounth, where the road branches off to none of which resulted in anything too serious. Cookney and Netherley. As reported this time last year Operation Zenith is well We are unable to advertise for a new Priest in Charge underway. Some of you will have noticed the large following the departure of Rev. Michael Sabell until yellow signs fixed to posts and road signs highlighting our new Bishop is in post. This will not happen until the dangers of excessive speed and encouraging the use November 2011. Rev. Maggie Jackson of St. James the of good road sense, primarily aimed at motor bikers. Great in Stonehaven is our Interim Pastor assisting We have increased the number of speed checks in the during the vacancy. At present we are continuing to area, especially with the lower limit in Drumoak and operate with the Ministry team as follows: Park.....it pays to be vigilant, not only in the level of George Masson Tel. 733583 your observations but also to your speed! John Usher Tel. 01569 731608 Given the winter we experienced last year, it is time to The Church is open every day from 10am until 3pm. think about your vehicle’s readiness for the months You are welcome to join us in worship at the 10.30am ahead. Does your car require anything before the snow Family Eucharist on Sundays. Weekly services are held starts? Is it due a service? How much anti-freeze does on major Saint Days and are advertised on the Church it need? Do I need to change to winter tyres? What notice boards and in the magazine. should I be carrying in the car throughout the winter? Do I need any advice on how to drive in the snow and Our new Community Meeting Room with kitchen and ice? toilet facilities is available for use by anyone in the Community for classes, dance classes, children’s If I can assist with any of these queries or any other parties, craft groups, meetings etc. It can accommodate Police-related matter, please contact me: up to 30 people and is fitted with a loop system for the E-mail: [email protected] hard of hearing and the entrance is wheelchair friendly. or via Tel: 0845 600 5700. To book the facility contact Sheila on 01569 731608 or Audrey on 01569 730600 – donation of £4 per hour is suggested. The Muchalls Bistro The annual garden fete was held in June and the weather was very unkind to us. However we successfully raised Great food and relaxed dining almost £1,500 for Church funds serving lunches and dinners

Our Harvest Festival is on 2nd October at 10.30am in the st Tel: 01569 730393 Church and there will be a Musical Concert on 21 October at 7.30pm. Tickets are £8.00 and can be Only 200 metres off the A90 purchased from Irene Tel: 784080. This will feature Follow the road sign to Muchalls among others, Sue Muir, well known local violinist. Also we are holding a Bonfire Coffee Morning on 5th Closed Monday and Tuesday November at 10am.

Please contact any of the above Ministry Team for help See sample menus on the website or information on marriages, baptisms, funerals, www.themuchallsbistro.co.uk pastoral visiting etc. Chef / proprietor Hermann Schmid Scottish Charity No: SC023264

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Home Deliveries Bread maker Vegetables, eggs (and fruit in season) from Neil ‘Aspires’ for growth Gammie, Fernieflatt Farm, Kinneff on Tuesdays and Fridays. Orders must be in the day before delivery. Tel: 01569 750374 or 07790 558880 E-mail: [email protected] Fish Local Aberdeen charity, the Bread Maker, is to expand George Fairweather delivers west of the B979 road on its catering services by taking over the eatery at Aspire Thursday afternoons and east of the road on Friday Golf Centre on South Deeside Road. The move comes from 11am. Phone orders ahead and establish after a two-year search by the charity for a new outlet to approximate timing. Tel: 07974 311326 operate from within the city.

Coal The charity has been running an award-winning coffee J.H. Roberts of Auchenblae deliver orders in our area house and artisan bakery in Rosemount Viaduct, on Monday mornings. Tel: 01561 320335 Aberdeen, since 2006. As well as offering freshly made bread and produce, it provides training and employment opportunities to adults with learning disabilities. Over the last few years it has benefited from a steady growth in NEW DELIVERY SERVICE! sales from its bespoke ‘Cakes for Occasions’ and its Outside Catering Services. The new venture at Aspire will allow for this continued growth and give the charity a second base to offer its produce across the south side of the city and Deeside, as well as giving more opportunities A new delivery service has begun in our area. Masson to adults with learning disabilities. Distribution Ltd delivers milk, supplied by Mitchells of Inverurie, three days a week – Monday, Wednesday The Bread Maker will run the catering independently at and Friday – as well as a range of fruit juice. They the golf centre, which boasts a nine-hole course, state-of- also deliver the Press and Journal, Monday to the-art driving range and golf shop. Donald Anderson, Saturday. Other services include leaflet and parcel Chief Executive of the charity welcomed the move, distribution service across the area. Plans are in place saying: “Aspire is an excellent golf centre that we are to deliver eggs and fruit/vegetable boxes in future, if looking forward to working with. We will provide first there is sufficient demand. class catering services to all its customers, as well as to corporate groups and individuals. The move will also, Based in Aboyne, Masson Distribution is a family-run more importantly, allow us to provide further business, dedicated to sourcing and delivering local opportunities for adults with learning disabilities, which products to customers. They pride themselves on their we can then build on. It’s a very exciting time for us.” friendly nature and reliability. The company was founded in May 2011 by Martyn Masson (Managing The charity currently employs 17 staff and provides some Director), Albert Masson (Transport Manager) and 24 placements for adults with learning disabilities. Over Nicola Fraser (Customer Service Manager). the coming year, it is hoped that the move to Aspire will create real job opportunities for adults with learning For more information or to place an order, call 01339 disabilities who have developed worker skills through 885747 (home), 07837 861957 (Martyn) or 07967 training at the Bread Maker. Support is also given to help them fully participate in the life of the city and engage in 178991 (Nicola). You can also E-mail them at a range of social activities and learning opportunities [email protected] or meet the team on outwith their job requirements. A continuous personal Facebook! development programme ensures that everyone has the opportunity to maximise their own potential to become a fully active member of society, valued for their abilities, skills and experience.

The Coffee Shop at Aspire is open between 10am and Fruit and Vegetables 4pm Tuesday to Sunday, serving homemade soups, sandwiches and rolls, as well as their freshly baked pastries and cakes. The organic farm shop at Lorienen, Bridge of

Muchalls is open on Wednesdays from 12.30 to 6pm For more information on the work of the Bread Maker, and on Saturdays from 9.30 to 5pm contact Donald Anderson, Tel: 641520. Paul van Midden Tel /Fax: 01569 731746 / 739137

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Nature Notes

Bountiful Berries Bramble sorbet 1kg brambles Seeds grow into plants, plants flower and the flowers turn Juice from half a lemon into seeds…and so it goes on again and again. Seeds like 250g caster sugar a little room to grow so their plants have come up with a little water cunning ways to give them some space. Scots pine trees use the wind to twirl their tiny seeds to new places, whilst Heat all the ingredients in a pan until the juices start alder trees grow near rivers, letting the water carry their to run – don’t overcook. Strain through a sieve and miniscule seeds downstream in winter. Others are more add sugar or lemon to taste. Cool then freeze, vigorous – gorse seeds explode from their pea-like seed whisking it again to a slush a few times to improve pods on dry summer days, whilst cucumber seeds jet its texture. propel themselves to new places under hydrostatic pressure. Plants have even come up with ways to use animals to help them spread their genes either by Sloe liqueur attaching their seeds to animals’ coats (the seed head of 750g sloes burdock inspired the invention of Velcro) or by 400g sugar encouraging animals to eat the seeds, releasing them on 1 bottle of vodka or gin their travels. It’s these last species that are bountiful at this time of year – the delicious berries. Prick the fruit, or put it in the freezer overnight to rupture the skins, and put into a large glass container Top of the list and easiest to find is the bramble. A with a tight-fitting lid. Add the sugar and alcohol. member of the rose family, bramble plants can grow up Seal and leave in a cool, dark place. Turn the to 10 cm a day. By September the delicious fruits have container upside down to mix the contents every day formed and make great jam, crumbles, sorbets and if for the next few weeks. It should be ready by squashed, make a fun natural paint for children. The fruit Christmas but will mellow further over the next year. at the end of the shoot ripens first and is apparently the If you haven’t drunk it all by March, remove the juiciest! sloes as they tend to become bitter.

Rowans, with their jewel-like red berries are also very easy to spot. Another member of the rose family, the Scottish Mink Initiative rowan, grows at the highest altitude of all our native The Scottish Wildlife Trust run monthly evening trees. It’s also the best hedgerow species to collect if meetings, and on Thursday October 20 at 7.30pm, you’re short of time – 10 minutes of gathering gives you have an illustrated talk by Sarah Atkinson on the more than enough berries to make a year’s supply of Scottish Mink Initiative in the North East. This is rowan jelly. Be quick though as arriving migrant particularly relevant to us since American mink are blackbirds, red wings, fieldfares and even the exotic- rife in our area, having escaped from local mink looking waxwings can strip a tree in minutes. farms some years ago. The location is the Lecture Theatre of the University’s Zoology Building on Sloes are the fruits of blackthorn. There aren’t a huge Tillydrone Avenue, and non-members will be asked number of these bushes in this area, but they’re worth for a small admission fee. searching out as sloes make a great festive drink. Blackthorn bushes are most easily spotted in early spring, when their bare branches are in flower and their spines The Lairhillock Inn are visible. Bushes at this time of year are still in leaf and and the fruits are deep purple and 1cm in size when ripe in October. They are too bitter to eat raw but make a Crynoch Restaurant delicious liqueur. Netherley Not edible, but holly berries are worth searching out Nr. Stonehaven, AB39 3QS before the mistle thrushes and blackbirds devour them. Tel: (01569) 730001 Cut a few branches now and keep in water in a cool place Fax: (01569) 731175 for Christmas. It’s only the female trees that produce Email: [email protected] berries from their tiny cream flowers that provide insects Web: www.lairhillock.co.uk with a great nectar source in spring. THE LAIRHILLOCK INN IS OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Mandy Tulloch FOR TEA/COFFEE, LUNCHES AND EVENING MEALS

LOOK ON OUR WEBSITE FOR MENUS & OPENING TIMES

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History of Banchory-Devenick Have we lost Durris Wood?

If you are interested in the history of Banchory-Devenick and If you’ve been down to the woods lately, particularly the surrounding area, you will want to read ‘History of the Durris Wood behind Kirkton of Maryculter, you would Parish of Banchory-Devenick’, which was written by John A be forgiven for wondering where all the trees had gone! Henderson in 1890. Mr Henderson, who lived in Cults, wrote It seems that, following the very strong winds we had a number of books regarding the history of Aberdeen and earlier this year, the Forestry Commission was forced to Scotland and was a member of the Society of Antiquaries of carry out an emergency felling operation in the area. Scotland. The book contains a number of maps and illustrations of notable people and features in the area, Mark Reeve is the Planning Forester for Moray and including the Bridge of Dee, archaeological sites and several local churches, as well as Banchory House, now home to Aberdeenshire District. He explained: “Some of the Beannachar, a Camphill Community. trees along our boundary started to lean out over neighbouring properties. We decided to remove the I first came across this book in the reference section of whole coupe rather than just fell the edge trees and Stonehaven library several years ago but in 2007 it was leave another unstable edge. The area will be replanted digitised by the University of California. It can be accessed in four years, our usual period to leave an area before through their web site at www.archive.org/details/ planting. This allows the numbers of weevils to rise and historyofparisho00hendiala and is incredibly also available in fall back again before putting in the young trees. The paperback from Amazon! weevils can do a lot of damage to the young trees. We used to control them with insecticides but have stopped The book recounts the history of the Estate from its founding in 1244 when King Alexander II granted a Charter this now as part of our chemical reduction policy. When “conveying the lands of Banchory-Devenick to the Abbot and we do replant, it will be with a mix of native Convent of Arbroath” through to the end of the 19th century. broadleaves, Scots pine and larch.” In its time, it was one of the most important estates in this part of Scotland, extending well beyond its current boundaries The Forestry Commission is also consulting on its ten including to the north over the river Dee into what is now year management plan for woodlands in the Durris area Pitfodels. and would like to hear the views of local groups and individuals. One of the most influential owners of the Banchory-Devenick estate was Alexander Thomson who inherited the estate in Mark said: “We are hoping to gather views relating to a 1806 at the age of eight when his father died. Alexander was educated at the Grammar School and then Marischal College wide range of topics, which can include anything from before studying for the bar in Edinburgh, becoming an wildlife, recreation or landscape improvements. The advocate in 1820. He married Jessy Fraser who was the main priority for these woodlands is the production of a daughter of the ex-Provost of Aberdeen in 1823 and built sustainable timber crop while at the same time Banchory House in 1840’s, replacing an earlier building on maximising their biodiversity potential, maintaining the same site. He was prominent in scientific and antiquarian their existing recreational facilities and continuing their studies which led to him entertaining the Prince Consort who positive contribution to the local landscape. The ten visited Aberdeen in 1859 as President of the British year plan will include the Forestry Commission’s Association. The visit was commemorated with the erection proposals for felling and planting operations, as well as of a granite obelisk, which still can be found in Tollohill landscape and biodiversity improvements. We hope woods. When he died in 1868 aged 70, the estate was placed in trust before it was sold in 1872 to John Stewart for people will tell us what they think of our proposals for £76,000. managing the woodland for the next ten years. All suggestions will be taken on board and we will consider You can also learn about the life of the ordinary residents of them before finalising the plan.” the area, for most of whom it was a very harsh existence with many children dying at an early age. There were clearly Once prepared, the draft plan and maps of the woodland exceptions however, with the book recording a number of area will be available online on the Forestry people in the district who had lived to over 100, including Commission Scotland website at www.forestry.gov.uk/ George Forbes, a farmer from the adjoining parish of consultations. It is hoped that this new format of Maryculter who died on February 1761 aged 106! consultation online will be successful, with the aim of

The area was also not without crime. There are a number of reaching as many people as possible. reports of drunken and lewd behaviour (nothing changes!) but perhaps most shocking was the account in 1831 of the So, Durris Wood has almost gone, but will rise again vandalism of the parish boat in which “an evil disposed and we can assist in its planning. having pierced the bottom of the Church boat in several places with a gimlet” resulted in reward of two guineas being For more information, contact Mark Reeve Tel: 07990 offered for the conviction of the offender. 802879 or E-mail [email protected] Mike Birch Note: A copy of ‘History of the Parish of Banchory- Devenick’ is available to borrow, by contacting Pam Robertson (details on the back page).

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RoadSense Update some difficulty in excusing some of the decisions taken by Scottish Ministers. RoadSense has therefore decided The construction of the to support William Walton in appealing against the Aberdeen Western judgement by now referring the issues to three judges in Peripheral Route will the Inner Court of Session. affect everyone living in the South Deeside area. It This decision to appeal will not be popular with local or will cause immense environmental damage, change a national politicians, or with the army of developers who quiet largely rural area into a noisy adjunct to the city, see the Aberdeen bypass as the key to Aberdeen’s future and affect the well being of many people living in the development and their own financial benefit. They countryside around Aberdeen. Following the decision want the road to open up great tracts of green land by Scottish Ministers to proceed with building the around the City to housing and industrial building. AWPR, RoadSense decided to challenge the way the They ignore the very high cost of this route, which has route had been decided. RoadSense sought a judicial been deliberately underestimated by those promoting review by the Court of Session, in the name of its the bypass. As the £395million estimate is based on chairman, William Walton. costs back in 2003, it is conceivable that the final cost could be at least £800 million or even one billion RoadSense’s position was that the procedure for pounds, of which Aberdeenshire council would have to selecting the route, including the addition of a new Fast pay 9.5%. They ignore the poor design, which will not Link to Stonehaven, was flawed. In addition, the reduce traffic congestion within the City but will make Public Inquiry into the AWPR had been limited to traffic worse on the radial routes into the City. looking at technical aspects of the route. RoadSense had been unable to question the need for the route, or RoadSense has hundreds of supporters within the local the actual choice of route by the then Minister, Tavish community and is grateful to the many people who are Scott. Road Sense argued that the restricted remit of the continuing to contribute to its work. It is receiving Public Inquiry was unfair and inept. It also argued that sound advice and help from Friends of the Earth there had been a breach of European Directives with Scotland, Transform Scotland, the Woodland Trust and respect to protected habitats and species. other national environmental groups. RoadSense is committed to taking its legal challenge as far as is RoadSense was granted a protective costs order, which necessary. Sooner or later the government will have to limited the cost of the legal challenge, only the second look again at other ways of resolving Aberdeen’s such order to be granted in Scotland. The order brought congestion problems. The AWPR cannot go ahead in Scotland into conformity with European law with its current form. respect to the rights of individuals and groups to Tony Hawkins challenge environmental decisions without incurring heavy expenses.

Lord Tyre issued his judgement on the challenge in mid August. His judgement was long but not especially clear. He concluded that there had been sufficient consultation on the route, and that the restricted remit of the Public Inquiry had not been unreasonable. He also concluded that Scottish Ministers had done enough to meet the requirements of European legislation on SOLVEIG DAHLE SMITH habitats and species. Cert. Pilates. Inst. MAPPI Experienced physiotherapist This judgement was a disappointment to RoadSense, many of whose supporters still feel a deep sense of PILATES CLASSES grievance over the way the route was chosen. However, PETERCULTER SPORTS CENTRE it has always been difficult to challenge political Monday & Tuesday afternoons decisions under Scottish law, no matter how unfair or Tuesday & Thursday evenings muddled they might be. In particular, the provisions of CAMPHILL SCHOOL MURTLE European law have still to have a significant impact Wednesday evenings upon the way planning is carried out in Scotland. CULTS CHURCH Friday mornings RoadSense has sought legal guidance on the judgement and has discussed its future steps with its many Contact details supporters. In several respects the judgement was [email protected] confused. It did not take account of all the available www.pilatesaberdeen.com 01224 861421 facts. It was also clear that Lord Tyre had encountered

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Words from the Chairman setting. We cannot however escape the proximity to Aberdeen City and the need for change! It is with us.

We can and must affect the change and play a role in After a wet and windy summer we now head into the how it will affect our lives and the lives of people living autumn season and hopefully a less severe winter than here in the future. the last two! The NKRCC continues to try to represent the interests of the community on the issues within the These are the big issues of change for our community community. The current issues present significant but there will be many smaller ones like the condition of change for a rural community in the near to medium our minor roads, the speed of our broadband, the ability term and many are apprehensive about the way their of our schools to attract the right teachers and so on. lives and the lives of their families will be affected by The Community Council is non political and must the magnitude of that change. A great deal of new simply reflect the views of the community. In this time development is happening over a short period of time! of substantial change the Committee would strongly

urge all interested people to play a role and express their The ‘Ring Road’ is moving closer to certainty and its views so that we have a strong community which impact on the community during construction cannot be represents the interests of all. Check out website for underestimated. Appeals seem to have almost run their meetings. We need you there! We need your energy, course and we await a better understanding of when the your views, your support and we need your help! work will be bid, contracts placed and work actually commenced. On the one hand it has the potential to Robin Baxter, chairman E-mail:[email protected] bring jobs but realistically many of these will come from outside our community, and normal life will be impacted through increased noise, traffic and diversions News from the Planning Front and intensification of infrastructure usage until the job is finished. Having watched with dismay the tram situation The War of the Winds. Sorry to return to this subject in Edinburgh, people need to be convinced that the work yet again, but the allowing of RES’s appeal still rankles. will be executed on time and to budget. There remains After 11 long years of this battle to the death (in the red uncertainty as to whether the traffic flow within our area corner, ladies and gentlemen, McWag and the will actually be improved and congestion decreased Community Council and in the blue corner RES, when the work is completed! lawyers, consultants and Uncle Tom Cobbleigh...), to have to report that the opponents of the Meikle Carewe In addition to this there is the Leggart Housing wind turbines have finally been forced to concede Development (in Aberdeen but on a principal artery for defeat, can only be done through gritted teeth . So yes - South Deeside), the Blairs Housing Development, the the Metal Monsters of Meikle are coming soon, to a hill Elsick New Town Development and the Meikle Carewe near you, (but will only occasionally produce piddling Wind Farm, all of which are major workscopes amounts of insanely expensive electricity to the involving substantial change in their own right. advantage of none but the landowner...... crack a Lairhillock Housing Development, although refused by bottle or twain and I’ll tell you all about it....). Our case the Council is likely to remain an issue for our seemed sound and elected members agreed with us, but community. The new planning system, involving a new the refusal of the Reporter to agree to a hearing at which Local Development Plan, is intended to provide greater we could state our case and represent our residents – certainty as to what types of development should be merely relying on written submissions, including papers permitted in different parts of our area and what should not given in evidence to local councillors – was, in our remain rural and greenfield farming land. We also await opinion, disappointing (to put it at its lowest) and very its finalisation and understanding how the Council, its unfair, putting the opponents of the scheme at a distinct officers and politicians will choose to interpret it! disadvantage.

North Kincardine is a rural community and many of us The New Local Plan (LDP). This has now been sent to live here because it is so and part of the countryside Edinburgh for the Examination in Public (formerly the rather than an extension of the town. Our logo includes Public Inquiry). That should take place during the wild animals and farming symbols and not industrial autumn and the Plan should, in theory, be finalised and plant and intensive housing. Many have earned their adopted by next April (-ish). As we have previously livelihood on the land for many years and many just warned, do not expect this to be an Examination where wish the greater solitude and tranquility of a country the individual Joe Public objector (or Community Council or other representative body for that matter),

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will have the opportunity to say his or her piece, as one did in Broadband the past. Such a democratic right has no place in the New Many of us in the NKRCC area have very low broadband Order envisaged by the Great Leader under the new Scottish speed, making computer communication annoyingly limited planning system. It seems that what I have called that while some have no broadband connection at all. Rural ‘democratic right’ appears to be considered by Edinburgh as businesses are particularly affected. The further we are from ‘opportunity for troublemakers’. Rather like the position the BT exchange the lower the speed and the archaic cabling outlined above, the Reporter is king and will examine, not does not have the capacity we now need. individual objections, but only those broad ‘Issues’ presented to him by the local authority planners, who are themselves Preliminary enquiries have shown that some parts of responsible for writing the Plan in the first place. Is that Aberdeenshire have received a Leader grant to upgrade their reasonable, equitable, democratic and transparent consultation almost non-existent connection to about 2MB. This was and scrutiny ? I leave you to decide. achieved by BT putting some boosting equipment (BET) in the exchanges. BT are willing to do this for the exchanges So we are now in that strange period during which the old around us as long as there are 15 BT subscribers interested Local Plan (ALP) is still extant and remains the law, but the for each exchange. In Arbuthnott the cost of the upgrade new one (LDP) is so close to being adopted that it also carries came to £1,300 pounds per subscriber and the weight when planners and councillors make recommendations Aberdeenshire Leader fund covered this amount for 35 and decisions, and has to be considered as well. subscribers. In Kinmuck (near Inverurie) a sophisticated WiFi system will be installed for about the same price. 70 Houses beside Lairhillock School Clearly contrary to the However, there is no more money available through the Local Plan (both the new and the old one), this application was Leader project in the meantime. recommended for refusal by planners, agreed by the Area Committee then the full Shire Council endorsed the decision There was an announcement on August 17 that the Scottish nem con . So, farewell then, Lairhillock? Don’t bank on it; Government had received £68 million from London to what did Arnie say ?.... “I’ll be back”. Watch this space...... improve broadband in Scotland. We do not know yet how this money is to be allocated, so need to be ready to put Robin Winmill, Planning Officer forward a case for our patch. We should lobby our MSPs to claim our share. Our new local MSP Maureen Watt will be attending the monthly NKRCC meeting to answer questions on September 16 at 7.30pm in the Maryculter Community The 300 Club Hall, so this will be raised. Community councillors will be knocking on doors again between November and January, inviting residents to take part I am willing, in conjunction with NKRCC, to take this in the annual local lottery. Each £5 ticket is entered into a forward. We must first ascertain the need for improved draw at Community Council meetings, and around 40% of the broadband, so please contact me with answers to these money taken in is returned as monthly cash prizes ranging from questions: £5 to £100. The remainder, around £1,100 this year, is then 1 What average broadband speed do you have through available for local good causes. This means that all the money the working day? taken in is re-circulated, either as cash prizes, or more 2 To which exchange are you connected? importantly, to enhance community initiatives. 3 Who is your broadband provider? 4 Are you willing to contribute to an upgrade if no Cash prize winners since March are: grants become available? L. Birch, Banchory-Devenick; J Bisset, Cookney; J. Booth, Please respond by E-mail to: [email protected] Bridge of Muchalls; I. Brown, Bridge of Muchalls; J. Chang, or call Kees Witte, Tel: 732738 Maryculter; P. Chang, Maryculter; J. Cowan, Blairs; J. Clark, Maryculter; S. Graham, Maryculter; R. McKinney, Rattray; K Park, Maryculter; M. Marr, Newtonhill; E. Paterson, Maryculter; G. Thomson, Maryculter and K. Wong, NKRCC Maryculter.

www.nkrcc.org.uk Since April the Community Council have given grants to Website: Maryculter Scouts towards their annual summer camp in Secretary: Bob McKinney, Lakhipara, South Cookney, Stonehaven AB39 3RX Germany, and to Portlethen Community Ambulance Tel: 01569 730706 Association which serves our area. Local groups seeking funds E-mail: [email protected] to improve their facilities, equipment etc. are welcome to apply Notice boards: by Banchory-Devenick School, East to the secretary: [email protected] . Applicants are and West Maryculter, Cookney Hall and Maryculter encouraged to present their case at the next NKRCC meeting to Community Hall, where you will find agendas, minutes outline how the money would be used. and how to contact your local community councillors.

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REPRESENTATION Councillor Ian Mollison Councillor Carl Nelson

At long last a decision has been Since I became a councillor made about the Aberdeen by-pass nearly 20 years ago, I have never and the fastlink north from known such a difficult time Stonehaven. Setting aside the financially as we have rights and wrongs of the case, I experienced in recent years. As am pleased that the matter has a council, Aberdeenshire has finally been settled by the Court always received a revenue grant of Session – though at the time of from the Scottish Government writing a further appeal could be well below the Scottish average. lodged. (It was, editor) The whole process takes far too Consequently it is extremely difficult to come up with a long and leaves too many people in limbo, uncertain balanced budget when you are required to make tens of about what will happen. millions of pounds of savings. However that is what is required of us as councillors and that is what we have I have written to Transport Minister Keith Brown MSP done. to ask him for the timetable for building the roads. What would really be good is the introduction of a suburban Every budget line has had to be considered, staffing commuter rail service as well, which was part of the levels have had to be reduced, new work practices have transport plan for Aberdeen. Is that a dream too far at had to be introduced, or even withdrawn, and services to the moment? the residents of Aberdeenshire cut. It hasn’t been a pleasant task but we are duty bound to produce a * Did you know Aberdeenshire is the second largest balanced budget. roads authority in Scotland? The council’s road network is some 3400 miles, 10.1% of the country’s total. The The two largest budgets in the council are education and council has routinely been within the top five councils social work. The work of both these important in terms of the annual Scottish Road Condition Survey departments impact on children, families, the elderly, since its inception in 2004. The council’s expenditure and those with learning difficulties. Managing change on road maintenance increased by 35% from 2004/05 to hasn’t been easy but careful consideration was given to 2009/10, well above the national average of 12%. But all the options. Many staff opted for early retirement even so potholes can appear. Report them at: which is a great loss in experience to the council. They E-mail: [email protected] will be missed.

* Aberdeenshire Council is trying to cut the amount of As councillors we have contributed to the savings. The waste sent to landfill. As part of that plan, sale of home numbers attending conferences have been greatly composters to residents and businesses is being reduced as have the frequency of some meetings. Car- subsidised again. They will cost £20 for the 320 litre sharing is the order of the day when possible. I know as unit and £35 for the 800 litre unit. The council buys a councillor it is not possible to achieve as much as I them for £31.86 and £63.48 excluding VAT. All would like for my constituents and communities. Sadly composters will be delivered direct within 28 days of that is the way things are at the moment. ordering at no extra cost. More details online at www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/waste It is my belief that Scottish ministers think we are the or call the Wasteline on 0845 600 3 900. oil-rich northeast without the needs that exist elsewhere in Scotland. They are wrong. All Aberdeenshire * If you are planning an environmental activity using Council asks for is a fair share of the funding available. volunteers or you have a good project that improves Surely that isn’t too much to ask for. biodiversity, then you could be eligible for a CSV Action Earth grant. The campaign, supported by BOOKING OF HALLS AND GROUNDS Scottish Natural Heritage, offers three easy-to-access grants ranging from £50 to £500 to cover materials, Maryculter Community (Corbie) Hall and Field tools and expenses. Grants will be allocated on a first- C.Masson, Tel: 733583 [email protected] come, first-served basis, so register quickly. You can Maryculter Church Hall and Glebe Field apply online, download forms or get more information Anne Massie’ Tel: 732071 at www.actionearth.org.uk. To discuss ideas or any Cookney Hall Willie Angus, Tel:01569 730123 issues, contact Robert Henderson on 0131 222 9083 or [email protected] Lairhillock School E-mail: [email protected] Marian Youngson, Tel: 01569 732520 St Ternan’s Church Community Room Each of the four councillors for North Kincardine Ward, our Sheila, Tel: 01569 731608 or Audrey, Tel: 01569 730600 MP and MSP were invited to contribute up to 300 words.

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REPRESENTATION EVENTS CALENDAR

MP Sir Robert Smith September 2011 Tel: 01330 820330 Fax: 01330 820338 Wed. 14 Maryculter WRI: ‘Horizon Projects’ E-mail: [email protected] Saturday 17 Banchory-Devenick School Hog Roast MSP Maureen Watt Monday 19 Community Council Netherley WRI ‘Prehistoric Deeside’ Tel: 01224 697182 Fax: 01224 695397 Sunday 25 The Meeting Place begins, Maryculter Church E-mail: [email protected] Friday 20 Macmillan Coffee Morning October COUNCILLORS Saturday 1 Meal an’Ale concert in Cookney Hall Alastair Bews Tel: 01224 784594 Sunday 2 Harvest Thanksgiving, Maryculter Church 33 Bruntland Court, Portlethen Wed. 5 Friends of Guiding Chocolate Demonstration E-mail: [email protected] Thursday 6 Friendship Club lunch Saturday 8 The Big Draw, Blairs Museum Paul Melling Tel: 01224 784534 Wed. 12 Maryculter WRI: ‘Puddings from MacPhies’ 51 Broomfield Road, Portlethen Monday 17 Community Council Netherley WRI: visit to J. Ross, baker. E-mail: [email protected] Friday 21 St Ternan’s Church concert Saturday 22 Cookney Hall: Race Night Ian Mollison Tel: 01569 739087 Friday 28 Friendship Club basket whist 11 Greystone Place, Newtonhill, Stonehaven AB39 3UL November E-mail:[email protected] Thursday 3 Friendship Club Wed. 9 Maryculter WRI: Whist Drive and raffle Carl Nelson Tel: 01569 730733 Saturday 12 Concert in St Mary’s Chapel, Blairs 21 Dunnyfell Road, Muchalls, Stonehaven AB39 3RP Wed. 15 Diocesan choir, St Mary’s Chapel E-mail: [email protected] Monday 21 Community Council Netherley WRI: ‘A holiday in Peru’ Saturday 26 Lairhillock School Christmas Fair Aberdeenshire Council December Viewmount, Thursday 1 Friendship Club Arduthie Road, Monday 12 Community Council Stonehaven. www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk Wed. 14 Maryculter WRI: Stonehaven pantomime AB39 2DQ Saturday 24 Watchnight Service, 11pm, Maryculter Church

POLICE January 2012 Emergencies Tel: 999 or 112 Monday 2 New Year dance in Cookney Hall All non-emergencies Tel: 0845 600 5700 Thursday 5 Friendship Club Wed. 11 Maryculter WRI: ‘Life at Sea’ Crimestoppers Tel: 0800 555 111 Monday 16 Community Council Drugs Information Line Tel: 0800 371553 Netherley WRI: ‘The Horizon Project’ Saturday 21 Burns Supper in Cookney Hall February SERVICES Thursday 2 Friendship Club Bluebird buses Wed. 8 Maryculter WRI ‘Cycling adventures’ No. 103 Aberdeen to Laurencekirk via Banchory- Monday 20 Community Council Devenick and Netherley Netherley WRI: ‘The Forties Field March No. 204 Aberdeen to Strachan via Maryculter and Thursday 1 Friendship Club Blairs Wed. 14 Maryculter WRI: Birthday party meal Tel: 212266 or 591381 Monday 19 Community Council E-mail:[email protected] Netherley WRI: Birthday party Dial a Trip Bus service with tail lift for concession card and taxi card holders. Tel: 01569 765765 Editors: Hazel Witte Tel: 732738 Monearn, Maryculter AB12 5GT Library [email protected] The mobile van visits fortnightly on Thursdays: Kirkton of Maryculter at 9am Pam Robertson Tel: 863887 By former Maryculter East School at 9.20am 2 Little Banchory Mews, Banchory-Devenick crossroads at 10.10am Banchory-Devenick AB12 5XS Library Service Tel: 01651 872707 [email protected]

Window cleaning Please send copy for the Spring issue of Martin Pilley Tel: 01261 815411 YOUR NEWSLETTER by March 19

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