THE SOUTH DEESIDE VIEW

Spring 2011

CONTENTS As we go to press, the daffodils are bravely emerging into a (so far) rather chilly spring. That said, we were blessed with 1 Plant Sale and Coffee Morning some beautiful weather in March and we can only hope this continues throughout the spring and summer. Gardens of 2 Youth activities This issue is once again packed with contributions from 3 Beavers, Cubs and Scouts individuals and organisations across our area. Together with our loyal advertisers and faithful band of „deliverers‟, this is 4 Lairhillock School what makes South Deeside View possible - a huge thanks to 5 Lairhillock School football you all.

Banchory-Devenick School Meanwhile, we are always on the lookout for new material 6 Clubs and Societies that you - the readers - would like to see. It is after all „your‟ 7 Leisure activities newsletter, so please feel free to contact Hazel or Pam at any time with your ideas (contact details on the back page). St Mary’s Chapel, Blairs 8 Community Halls All phone numbers are listed (01224) unless 9 Driving for the Disabled otherwise indicated. The back page, with its Events Calendar and list of useful contacts, is arranged for handy reference. Home deliveries Other contact information is at the end of each section. 10 Banchory-Devenick and In the meantime, we look forward to seeing you all at the now -Cookney Church legendary Annual Plant Sale and Coffee Morning on May 14 11 St Ternan’s Church (see below)... 12 Grampian Police 13 Ian Forbes - the Blairs Years! 14 Nature Notes ANNUAL PLANT SALE 15 Local councillors and MP and COFFEE MORNING 16 NKRCC + 300 Club 17 NKRCC, Planning Saturday May 14, from 10.30 till noon at Corbie Hall, Maryculter 18 NKRCC, Planning K&M Volunteering We are holding a sale of garden plants: herbaceous, rockery, herbs, salad vegetables, annuals, bushes - all David & June Gordon Trust grown by enthusiastic local amateur gardeners. There 19 Advertisements will also be a „swap shop‟ for old/unwanted gardening books. 20 Handy contacts and Events Coffee, tea, juice and home baking will also be available. Gardens of Scotland Please let us know if you can offer any donations or Blairwood House garden is open by assistance on the day - all contributions welcome! appointment from 15th June till 31st If you can help with supplies, contact Rob Winmill August this year. Admission is £3.50 (plants), Tel: 01569 730308 or Pam Robertson (coffee (for charity). morning), Tel: 863887.

Contact Ilse Elders on 868301.

YOUTH ACTIVITIES

Maryculter Babies and Toddlers Maryculter Brownies

We meet in Maryculter Church Hall, Kirkton of The Brownies have been busy this term learning about Maryculter on Thursday mornings during school term Brownies from all over the world and have been doing time from 9.30 to 11.30am. Anyone looking after their World Guiding Badge as part of World Thinking children between birth and 3 years is very welcome to Day in February. They have also completed their drop in during the session for a cuppa and a chat, whilst Stargazer Badge and managed to get out one night to the tots play with jigsaws, trikes, pretend kitchens and look at the stars. lots more! We‟re always on the lookout for new We have started on our Royal Wedding Challenge members so please tell friends, neighbours and those Badge and also our World Guiding Goes Tartan Badge new to the area. £2 per session. to celebrate the World Conference in Scotland this In addition to our group, the South Deeside Under Fives summer. run a Baby and Toddler class on Monday mornings In the coming months we will be looking to get out and during term time at Maryculter Community Hall – 9.30 about if the weather is kind to us. Also the three units to 11.30am. See below for further information. are collecting Sainsbury's Active Kids Vouchers and Contact Louise MacDonald on 874014. Tesco Vouchers for Schools and Clubs so if you have any you could share with us please do get in touch with South Deeside under 5’s any of the Unit Leaders. We are hoping to replace some of our ageing equipment. South Deeside Under Fives is a community-led charity, providing independent childcare for young children. It We meet on Thursdays from 6.30-8pm in Corbie Hall. aims to give children from birth to five a gentle and fun There is still a substantial waiting list but if you know introduction to life beyond home. anybody who would be interested in joining us please We run three classes – a Baby and Toddler Group, a do get in touch so they can be added to the list. Twos Group and a Rising Fives Group. We will also be looking for a new Young Leader in the Classes are held on weekdays during term time in Summer (aged 14 to 18) when one of ours moves out of Maryculter Community Hall. Our experienced Play the area. So if you know anybody of that age who would Leaders prepare an exciting array of activities for like to help us out, please do get in touch. youngsters, from glittery crafts, construction games and Contact Lynn Murphy on 01330 825936 imaginative play inside, to gardening, active games and or e-mail [email protected]. country walks outside. Beyond the fun for children, the group aims to be a focus for local parents to meet and Maryculter Guides make new friends – an important aspect of living in a rural area. We have just celebrated World If you would like to find out more information about our Thinking Day. Some of us went to a group, please have a look at our website www.south- fun day in Newtonhill, where the deeside-under-fives.co.uk or join us for family fun at girls were able to widen their our Spring Fair on Saturday 23rd April between knowledge of The Girl Guide 10.30am and 12.30pm. Tel: 07966 163953 or Email: Association all over the world. [email protected]. The girls have been working very hard on their interest badges. We held a ceremony where our newest Guide 1st Maryculter Rainbows made her promise and we awarded the Guides for their hard work with their badges. A total of 20 were handed Rainbows are still running at full quota although our out. waiting list is getting smaller! We have been busy After the Easter break we will be working on a Royal working on a „roundabout badge‟ this term which has Wedding Challenge, learning all about the Royal included making salt dough bees, a black and white Family and planning a wedding celebration to panda night and the ultimate „edible wormery‟. We also remember (even if we only get to watch it on TV). Once had a fundraising „Bingo, Blether and Bakes‟ afternoon the warm nights are with us we are hoping to get out with the Brownies to raise money for our annual and about into the great outdoors, playing games census. With Mothers Day, our annual Daffodil Tea and and learning new skills to take with us to our summer Easter on their way we have a lot of things going on to camp in July. keep us busy. The Rainbows are also very excited about We meet on Tuesday evenings at 7.30pm in the Corbie their move to Corbie Hall after the Easter Holidays. Hall and are always on the lookout for new members. Girls aged between 5 and 7 meet on Thursdays from Contact Morag Lister on 07849 315203 4.30pm to 5.30pm. or email [email protected] Contact Alison Stephen on 899703

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YOUTH ACTIVITIES Maryculter Beavers of sailing events at Loch of Skene planned for the summer months so we will be hoping for some suitably warm weather. Beavers meet every Cubs meet at the Scout Hut on Mondays between 6.15 Tuesday from 5.30 to and 7.45. The pack is currently close to capacity and we 7pm in the Scout Hut but will give priority to boys wanting to move up from are currently suffering Beavers. For more information, contact one of the from a lack of numbers. following: David Kirk tel.: 869006, David Burslem tel: This is perhaps fortunate, as Beavers are now operating 732819, Bill Caffyn tel: 734080, Andrew Warnock tel: with one leader and a parent rota. Hopefully next term 739602. will see a fresh infusion of boys and, more importantly, some adults coming forth to become leaders. If additional leaders are not recruited, Beavers will not be 1st Maryculter Scouts in existence next year. Scouts meet at the Scout and Guide Hut in Maryculter The winter term is by necessity an indoor term when we each Friday from 7.15 to 9.15pm. do crafts, games, cooking etc but we hope to get out and Most things this spring will be geared to preparing for about in the spring for more adventurous activities. We our summer trip to Oberkirch in the Black Forest. We have already had a fundraising hike up Bennachie, made would love to boost our current membership of 12 and any enquiries should be made to Kathleen Paterson, some holly wreaths at Christmas and planted some trees Beaver Leader, on 868676. kindly donated by Sainsbury's. Another cycle trip up Cairn-mon-earn is planned, as is a quiz in May. We 1st Maryculter Cubs hope you will support us if you can. Scouts and leaders are looking forward to the trip and hope the weather will The Cub pack continues to have an active programme in be better than we had in Lewis last summer. We have and around Maryculter with as many activities as had contact with the Oberkirch scouts since they visited possible taking advantage of what the local area has to us on Deeside in 1992. The Scouts have been camping offer. During the Autumn term we camped at Templars‟ out each month to complete their Zodiac award. The Park, had a cross country cycling tour in the Kingcausie early snows in November did not deter Neil, Paul, Estate and in December there was a night hike complete Charlie and Nick - they simply built themselves an igloo with camp fire and hot cocoa. We held a second in the Glebe park and slept in it overnight - and had to sleepover, this time in the Scout Hut, to coincide with be wakened for breakfast! the Remembrance Sunday service at the kirk and we We are expecting a busy few months ahead and with our also went for a session of „Tubing‟ at the Garthdee Ski numbers at 23 we are almost at capacity. However Centre, which went down very well with every member enquiries from any potential new Scouts are always of the pack taking part. These larger events have been welcome. interspersed with both outdoor and indoor programmes Contact Les Paterson, Scout Leader, Tel: 868676 or leading towards various badges including Naturalist, Email: [email protected], www.deesidescouts.org.uk. Cycling and Navigator. The Lent term has also been busy with a second night hike, this time in Kingcausie, and a night orienteering challenge in Templars‟ Park in which we finished with the same number of Cubs as we Mess Tent for hire Maryculter Scouts, with some financial help from had at the outset, which was no mean achievement! We NKRCC, have purchased a new Mess Tent, measuring have also held another sleepover in the hut combined 25' x 14' x 7'. with a community service event and were particularly pleased to be able to join forces with the local It is not a marquee but is quite large and it was bought Maryculter community group for a programme of tree with the intention of allowing it to be used by other planting. We derive so much enjoyment from having the groups in the community. It could be a useful shelter at woods close to the Scout Hut, and we hope that the fetes, barbecues, sales etc and would need a flat base - Cubs will be able to see the fruits of their labours as the not necessarily grass - as well as 3 or 4 people to pitch it trees take root and re-colonise some of the areas felled and take it down. in the recent past. The community service theme continued with clearing leaves from the churchyard but The Scouts would hope for a small donation for its use, by this time the Cubs were beginning to flag so we were but more importantly they would expect it to be well only able to tidy up on one side of the kirk. On the cared for and returned folded and dry. positive side, the leaders reaped the benefits later on when the whole pack settled down for the night far Any group or person wishing to use the Mess Tent quicker than on any other sleepover. should contact Scout Leader Les Paterson, Tel: Looking forward to next term we will be making the 868676. annual overnight trip to Muir Cottage near Braemar again after the Easter break and we have another couple

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PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Lairhillock P4 (pictured) have used clay to create Thor‟s hammer models as part of their work on Vikings. These have The school pantomime and been engraved and painted and the final results are most nursery nativity were both impressive – as is the Viking Longboat which has pride postponed until January. of place in the classroom. The children have also been However both were very well focusing on enterprise through „Ollie the Octopus‟ and received by everyone, with the this has helped them to develop essential team building children and staff putting in a skills. huge effort into making the performances a resounding success.

The children wore something tartan to mark Burns Day. The P1-7 children also enjoyed a whole school Scottish Country Dancing Session led by Mr Burnett, PE teacher.

The Cross Country Team took part in the McIntosh Plant Hire Primary Schools Cross Country Series at the Garioch Sports Centre, in February. Despite conditions being very wet and muddy, the children were a credit to the school and we are very proud of their efforts. Congratulations to Emily Ironside who returned with a medal for finishing 3rd in the P5 Girls‟ Race. P5-6 held a Victorian Tea Party which was an excellent way of learning about what life was like during this era. The Rights Respecting Pupil Council organised a Book They made cheese straws, jam tarts and scones, with the Exchange to mark World Book Day and this is now a help of our parent volunteers. regular event, taking place every Friday lunchtime. They also compiled the Lairhillock Joke Book which P7 pupils enjoyed a trip to and Museum went on sale on Red Nose Day to raise money. Pupils in connection with their studies on Mary Queen of and staff also wore something red on the day. Scots. They will be joining pupils from Banchory Devenick School in May for a residential trip to PGL, All classes took part in a Change Champions challenge Dalguise in Perthshire. as part of Science and Technology Week. P1-6 pupils were also involved in Shell Workshops on „The Circus P1-7 pupils have participated in street dance and hip and Flight‟. hop workshops as a result of a visit from dance company „Showcase the Street‟. P1-3 children took part Nursery children enjoyed a trip to see „The Singing in a ballet workshop led by a local Russian ballerina. Kettle‟ at The Music Hall. They also heard about recycling from Mrs K Smith from Bankhead Recycling All pupils continue to greatly enjoy food technology and Waste Management Centre and have enjoyed using sessions thanks to parent volunteers. Not only do they their imaginations to make junk models. They are also learn cooking skills, they also have to apply literacy and learning all about babies and are delighted that Mrs numeracy skills, like reading and following a recipe, as Macdonald and Harry have been able to visit them. well as weighing and measuring.

P1-2 continue to focus on a range of skills through The annual Suitcase Sale was a great success once learning nursery rhymes, and their attractive classroom again. Many thanks to Mrs Murray and the Rights displays highlight the range of curricular areas which Respecting Pupil Council who planned and organised have been covered through this topic. They recently the event, which raised £266. designed posters with important safety messages after talking about Humpty Dumpty‟s nasty fall! The whole school, including nursery, will take part in an Easter Service at Maryculter Church on 21 April. The children in P2-3 have planned and held an „Egyptian Feast‟ as part of their work on Egypt. They A lot of work needs to be done in the garden and all baked Egyptian bread for the occasion and also had classes will be busy outside during the summer term. dates, fruit and green tea! Entertainment involved Hopefully the weather will be drier and warmer by then! dancing, singing and snake charming!! Marian Youngson, Head Teacher Tel: 01569 732520 E-mail: marian.youngson@.gov.uk

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Lairhillock School Football Banchory-Devenick School I seem to remember writing pretty much the same thing this . In January the children organised a time last year. We have had precious few matches, either successful sale of toys and books to raise through snow before Christmas, or a sodden pitch after it. funds for Marvin, the school‟s sponsored However, lots of indoor training in the school hall on a child in Guatemala. Thursday evening paid off with a great performance from a very young B-team in their indoor tournament in December, A Peer Education Group on „Safety on the and then an even better one from the A-team, which ended Net‟ visited the school in March. Pupils with them winning their competition in February. The from Portlethen Academy gave a backlog of games to come in the rest of the season has been presentation about personal safety on the „Net‟. The dangers made all the more exciting by a glut of injuries including a of social network sites, such as Facebook and Twitter were broken ulna, a fractured metacarpal and even a fabled discussed, as well as how to deal with cyber bullying. metatarsal. You don‟t get much more professional than that! Here‟s hoping for a bit less practical anatomy and a bit more During May, the P6 pupils will receive a course on Cycling outdoor football in the weeks to come. Proficiency. Over the course of several weeks, they will learn The picture shows a very happy Lairhillock A-team having to check the condition of their bikes for road worthiness as just won their indoor competition at Banchory Sports Centre well as the correct signalling and manoeuvres for several in February, beating Durris 2-0 in the final. types of junction. At the end of the course they will be Stephen Davies assessed by the Road Safety Officer.

After school clubs this term include yoga, football and French. Due to the popularity of the yoga classes, it is being taught for a second term and will culminate with a performance for parents to demonstrate the moves the children have learnt, put together into a story devised by the children themselves.

Recorder lessons, kindly provided by Mrs McPherson, are ongoing for those pupils from P3 upwards who wish to learn. The children get the opportunity to play at school concerts and end of term assemblies.

The annual residential trip for the senior pupils will be to Dalguise Outdoor Activity Centre, along with the P7 pupils from Lairhillock.

Following the success of last year‟s vegetable harvest and the delicious soup made by the pupils, the school will again be growing a range of vegetables for use both within the class Kupso Martial Arts and for taking home. This encourages the children to try new things and eat healthily. Classes for primary-age children will resume during school term time, on Wednesdays in Lairhillock School, from Nick Hennigan, of P6, writes…This year Banchory- 4.30pm to 5.30pm. Devenick‟s P6/7 went curling at The Curl - Aberdeen‟s curling rink. He said: “We went on the ice and we also did Emma Lester-Smith, Tel: 07761 257965 indoor curling. We thought that curling on the ice is much more difficult than indoor curling because you had to put bags on your feet to make you slide on the ice. We all enjoyed going and having the privilege to go on the ice!” He added: “Four of our P6 pupils also took part in the Euroquiz 2011. We went to Portlethen Academy and got some brilliant questions on Europe thrown at us. Even though we didn‟t win, we loved going and representing our school.”

Samantha Fraser, of P7, writes…This term the classes are trying a novel teaching technique – using Nintendos to help them to learn more about their projects in a fun and interesting way. They are being used throughout the school with each class using different games linked to their projects. She said: “It‟s a really fun way of learning. We have to solve puzzles, mysteries and brain teasers which are based on an old village similar to a Victorian Village. It helps us with our maths, including shape, measure and algebra. As we go along we have to store the clues in our heads to solve the mystery at the end.” Pictured are Banchory-Devenick P6 pupils who took part in Joyce Hill, Head Teacher Tel: 875237 the Euroquiz 2011. E-mail: [email protected]

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CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

Maryculter WRI Exercise Pilates Meetings are at 7.30pm on the second Fiona - a qualified Fitpro trainer - runs a class in the Wednesday of each month in the Corbie Hall, Maryculter on Mondays from 6-7pm. This Corbie Hall, Maryculter between is almost full but she would consider setting up another August and May. We look forward to group if there is enough interest and would welcome monthly competitions, a variety of individuals for a trial session. People with physical speakers and a Bring and Buy sale (see problems are directed to classes run by physiotherapists our programme on the back page). New members and such as the advert on Page 12. visitors are always welcome. Contact Fiona Halliday, Tel: 01330 824679, Email: Secretary, Sheila Bisset Tel: 01569 731708 [email protected].

Netherley WRI Cookney Bowling Club 2011 started with a very interesting presentation from We meet in Cookney Hall twice a week at 7.30pm to Jamie Hutcheon at Cocoa Ooze, a local chocolate enjoy games of carpet bowls. Monday is competition company on our very own doorstep – what more could evening while Thursday is a „hat night‟. Our we want - it was much enjoyed by the ladies. Likewise membership enjoy the gentle exercise and good the talk on India by Doreen and Leonard McIntosh, company, but there is healthy competition too. Our which gave us an insight into a completely different season finishes at the end of April, starting again in mid way of life with fascinating photographs. September. New members are always welcome. Why not come along and join us on the third Monday of Arthur Durward Tel: 319701 each month at 7.30 pm – we meet (between August and May) at the Lairhillock School and on Monday 18th April we have Turid Reppe-Roversell giving us a Glendale Football Club demonstration and talk on bread making. On Monday Snow, frosts, floods – NAE 16 May, Liz Duguid is giving us a talk on „colours – the GAMES! That was Jim‟s first use of colour to enhance our appearance‟. I‟m sure it report, but he added recently... will be most interesting – why not join us and find out! It is now late March and we have Secretary: Lynda Keeler Tel:01569 764436 played only four games since the end of November. The vagaries of Friendship Club this winter‟s weather will create a massive backlog of Our winter session ends in April with a soup and sweet fixtures by the end of the season. We can only hope lunch at 12:30 on April 7th. For club funds we have our that there will be enough referees and pitches available basket whist on 22nd April at 7:30 in Corbie Hall. to cope with additional evening and weekend matches. Come along and enjoy a happy evening and help boost Due to the stop/start nature of the season, our form has our finances. Our summer programme has been made been inconsistent with little or no continuity in either up and the syllabus will be ready for our meeting in fixtures or personnel available from week to week. We April. live in hope of good weather and favourable results. Tel: Anne, 732071 or Peggy, 734888 Jim Grant Tel: 868301

Dee Vale Ladies Football Club Dingle Dell needs you! Gift and Garden Centre Dee Vale LFC's 2011 season kicked off in March and Storybook Glen, Maryculter, Aberdeen Tel: 01224 732941 will run right through to October. For details on upcoming fixtures, match locations and league OPEN ALL YEAR, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK tables times, check out www.scottishfa.co.uk/swf/. Garden equipment All home games will be played on Sundays at Corbie Good quality hardy plants Park, with a 2pm kick-off. Children’s toys and gifts, pet food Large selection of cards and candles Due to a number of players retiring at the end of Large free car park last season, we are looking for some new recruits to join the squad. If you played football at school/girls club/work 5-a-sides....then come along and give it a

go. Ladies from age 16 upwards are welcome. Training is held at Inverdee Playing Fields on a Wednesday evening. For more information, contact us at [email protected] or Tel: 07851 069176.

No entry charge for visiting the Garden Centre or restaurant

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LEISURE ACTIVITIES St Mary’s Chapel, Blairs

In January we bade farewell to Canon Bill Anderson, Reading Circle who served Blairs for many years. Initially he was a The group now meets every six weeks or so in the new member of staff at the College, teaching Latin and other community room at St Ternan‟s Church and are subjects. Following this, he served as Catholic Chaplain currently reading „Thirteen Moons‟ by Charles Frazier at Aberdeen University, Adminstrator at St Mary's and „At Her Majesty‟s Pleasure‟ by Robert Douglas. Do Cathedral, and parish priest of St Francis of Assisi in phone for further information and consider joining us at Mannofield, then was again back at Blairs as our priest our next afternoon session on April 27. in charge for several years. He has been Spiritual Tel: Muriel, 01569 730302 or Sheila, 01569 731608 Director at the , and a producer of religious programmes with the BBC. Craft Group St Ternan‟s Church is also home to this new group who Brought up in Edinburgh, he is a graduate of Edinburgh, meet on the first Monday of the month at 2pm. Jan Cambridge, Aberdeen and Thames Valley Universities. teaches quilting, but others bring along their knitting We were priviledged to have Canon Bill as our priest, and sewing too. New members will be most welcome. until 2006, when he retired at the usual age for RC For further information, Tel: Jan Horn, 01569 767797. clergy - 75! However, Canon Bill's absence from St Mary's Blairs was shortlived, and we welcomed him Dog Training back again as supply priest two years later.

Weekly class on Wednesday evenings in Cookney Hall. He celebrated his Golden Jubilee of priesthood in 2010. Yvonne Reid, Tel: 865249 He is a former „Preacher of the Year‟ (an award of the

College of Preachers sponsored by The Times), and Aberdeen Aeromodellers Club holds diplomas in speech and drama from three London The club owns a 6.5 acre grass flying field at Hare colleges, as well as the Poetry Society's gold medal for Moss, Banchory-Devenick and is permitted to fly from verse-speaking. 9am to 7pm on weekdays, and 10am to 7pm at weekends. The midweek fliers get together on Monday, In his semi-retirement, Canon Bill returned to teaching Wednesday and Friday mornings. part-time, on this occasion teaching Latin to Visitors are always welcome, but please contact a undergraduates at Aberdeen University. His recent book member on arrival and ask for an explanation of site on preaching - namely 'Words and the Word: The use of safety procedures. Literature as a Practical Aid to Preaching' was published The Scottish Model Helicopter National Championships last year by Gracewing Publishers. will be held there on June 11-12. E-mail: [email protected], www.aamfc.co.uk Now aged 80, Canon Bill has retired once more. We will miss his gentle, modest manner and erudite Drum Castle sermons. And we are now delighted to welcome Fr Piotr This is our nearest National Trust castle. The castle, Zielinski, a young Polish priest who is based at St tearoom and shop will be open from April 2 to Mary's Cathedral, Aberdeen. September 30, from Thursday to Monday between 11am and 4.45pm. The Garden of Historic Roses is open Deacon Peter Macdonald - Tel: 780351. daily between April 2 and the end of October. Special events include: May 1st - May Day celebrations, Services at St Mary’s Chapel July 9th - Rose Day, July 22nd - Twelfth Night, August 22nd - Pirates of Penzance. Sunday Mass: 9am. Children's Sacramental Tel: 01330 811204 www.nts.org.uk Preparation Classes after Mass

Storybook Glen Stations of the Cross: Thursdays of Lent, 7pm Visit a magical world of make-believe and fun for children (and adults) of all ages, set amidst 28 acres of Good Friday Service: 22 April, 7pm spectacular scenic beauty. See more than 100 of your favourite nursery rhyme and Easter Sunday: 24 April, 9am fairytale characters and eat at the self-service restaurant which offers healthy food. Sacrament of First Reconciliation: Sat 11 June Opening times are 10am-6pm daily from 1st March - 31st October (last entry 4pm in March and October Sacrament of Confirmation: Sun 19 June only), and 10am-5pm daily from 1st November - 28th February. Free parking. Sacrament of First Holy Communion: Sun 26 June Tel: 732941 www.storybookglenaberdeen.co.uk

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Corbie Park and Community Hall, Friends of Cookney Hall Maryculter Since the last issue, upgrading of the hall has continued with The weather over winter has played havoc with the car parking area on the north side cleared of trees, to enable raising and levelling. Unexpectedly, this has opened up football fixtures. This will impact on the demand for a rather grand view of the local countryside to the north and the use of the field in spring. Let's hope the field dries northeast, previously hidden from view. up, the grass starts to grow and the ground is suitable for everyone‟s use. Although football is the The purpose of this work is to extend the parking capacity to predominant user of the field, we are always happy to save drivers from parking on the road or round by the Old entertain other sports or events provided conditions Schoolhouse (now a grain-drying shed) and perhaps having to permit. walk round to the hall in the dark.

The beauty of the Community Hall this winter has Inquiries to find a suitable tradesman to undertake the re- been that it was kept permanently warm! If you did cladding of the hall fabric are still going on. It is hoped this will not only improve insulation and ventilation, making it less make it through the snow, there was always a costly to heat, but also ensure adequate ventilation to prevent welcoming warmth when you entered. The committee condensation. meets regularly to keep the hall well maintained and to ensure all the legislation pertaining to village halls is The hall has been well used over the winter by our usual considered. After the demise of the old Playgroup, we stalwarts; the bowling club, dog obedience class and dance are delighted that the new arrangements for pre-school class, as well as for one-off functions. We have also had a kids have been a success as this keeps the hall busy number of enquiries from people looking for a venue for each morning. With a number of groups using it in the birthday parties and the like. evenings and weekends, it continues to serve a useful function as a meeting-place for community events. Friends of Cookney Hall have also used the hall to hold a number of functions, which I‟m glad to say have all been very popular, with tickets selling out very quickly and the proceeds The latest major project to be completed was the going to further the upgrading work. sourcing of a direct water supply off the main on the Deeside road. This will enable us to abandon the The „Meal and Ale‟ concert in October was followed by a supply that previously came across the Corbie Burn. Halloween Ceilidh, and then a Burns Supper in January. All were very well attended and a great time was had by all. Very soon we hope to have our own page on the NKRCC website where booking info will be held - but Another Ceilidh is being discussed for May, though dates still in the meantime enquiries about booking the field or have to be finalised. Please see the usual suspects for details! hiring the hall should be made to our booking If you‟re looking for someplace to hold your event, please secretary. consider Cookney Hall. To find out more, contact Willie Angus, Tel: 01569 730123, Email: [email protected]. Carol Masson, booking secretary, Tel: 733583 If you would like to get involved with Friends of Cookney Hall, please contact me for further details. MARYCULTER COMMUNITY HALL AND CORBIE PLAYING FIELD Bob McKinney, Tel: 01569 730706 E-mail [email protected] by the Old Mill Inn

An ideal venue for Children’s Parties, Meetings, Ceilidhs, Coffee Mornings, Concerts, Dance and Friends of Guiding Exercise Classes Maryculter Available afternoons, evenings and weekends. Annual Daffodil Tea Facilities include Kitchen with Cooker, Microwave, Kettle/Urn, Crockery and Cutlery Saturday 7th May Tables and chairs for 80 people, Toilets 10.30am-12.30pm Corbie Hall, Maryculter Disabled entrance to Hall. The Changing Rooms and Showers are separate and Stalls include: Cake and Candy, Books and Toys, can accommodate 2 teams of 15. Chocolate Tombola/Bottle Stall, Lucky Eggs, Lucky Dip and a Raffle. For further information or to book an event Please contact Booking Secretary Carol Masson Come along for a cup of tea and a chat. Telephone : 733583 There is something there for everyone.

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Maryculter Driving for the Disabled HOME DELIVERIES

Vegetables, eggs (and fruit in season) From Neil 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 George Fairweather delivers west of the B979 road on Thursday afternoons and east of the road on Friday from Maryculter Driving for the Disabled Group is an independent 11am. Phone orders ahead and establish approximate charity, which aims to give the opportunity of driving a pony/ timing. Tel: 07974 311326 horse-pulled carriage to any disabled person who might benefit in general health and happiness. Coal J.H. Roberts of Auchenblae deliver orders in our area on th Our 2011 season starts on Wednesday 20 April for the first Monday mornings. Prices rise at the end of September, of two pre-season training days for helpers at Maryculter so they encourage early orders. Tel: 01561 320335 Community Hall, at 1pm. The second training day is on

Wednesday 27th April at Maryculter Home Farm courtesy of Jane and Ewan MacInnes, also at 1pm. We will be working The Roost Farm Shop and Tearoom with George Masson‟s horse „Corbie‟ and Anne‟s pony „Xantha‟ practising loading and unloading wheelchairs as well as checking the safety equipment. New helpers will be We have free range eggs, jams, chutneys and very welcome to attend. preserves from local producers. Aberdeen Angus beef and ready meals. Home-made Middle Eastern/ The Driving season starts on Wednesday 4th May at 1pm at Mediterranean dips and salads plus local cheeses. Maryculter Home Farm, weather permitting. These Wednesday sessions continue weekly throughout the year st Local hand-made crafts. until 21 September and are made possible by our team of volunteers consisting of Able Bodied Drivers, Helpers, Carers A range of teas, coffees and home bakes. and our team of Tea Ladies who dispense fine home baking and hot and cold drinks. Open daily except Wednesday from 9.30am-5.30pm The majority of sessions are from Home Farm apart from three that are through the Maryculter Woods where we are We are on the B979 Netherley/ road, two based at the Maryculter Scout Hut. The last day on 21st miles south of the South Deeside Road junction. September is our BBQ where we invite another driving group for a Cone Driving competition and Treasure Hunt - a fun day Tel: 739393 or Email: [email protected] for all with rosettes presented to the winners. Last year our friends from the Garioch Group joined us.

Last year‟s Stonehaven Plainstones fundraising event was a great success as always, despite the weather. A special thank Maryculter House Hotel you to everyone who supported us and helped on the day, South Deeside Road, Maryculter including donations of home baking, plants and Tombola prizes. Make a note in your diary for this year’s event, on Come and give us a try Saturday 27th August, from 9am till noon. We have 2 restaurants open to non residents

Maryculter Community Hall was the venue for our The Priory Restaurant Christmas/AGM meal and was enjoyed by all who braved the For fine dining evening and private dinners snow. Thanks to Santa and all the helpers and the generous donations of raffle prizes, also to those who helped clear the A la carte, Gourmet and set Menus car park. Restaurant open 7.15pm last orders 9.00pm

We are always looking for new helpers to walk with the The Poachers Pocket carriages and to assist disabled drivers in and out of the For Lunch and Bar Suppers vehicle and to ensure their comfort and safety. If you would open for Lunches 12 noon until 2.30pm like to volunteer or have further information about the Suppers 6.30pm last orders 9.00pm Group‟s activities, contact: For reservations, call 732124

Email: [email protected] George Masson (Chairman) Tel: 733583 Caroline McTaggart (Secretary) Tel: 734093 www.maryculterrda.org.uk

9

Banchory-Devenick & Maryculter-Cookney Parish

Minister The Guild Rev Dr Heather M Peacock We meet on the first Monday of the month from Tel: 730150 September to November and February to May, at E-mail: [email protected] 7.30pm. New members are sure of a welcome and can enjoy good company, interesting speakers and a cup of

Church Office: Tel: 735983 tea. Contact Sheila Bissett, Tel: 01569 731708 E-mail:- [email protected] Community Coffee - Enjoy a fabulous Fair Trade Website: www.bdmc-parish.org.uk coffee and fine piece every 1st, 3rd and 5th Wednesday between 10am and 12 noon in Maryculter Church Hall. Sunday worship services are at 10.30am EVERYONE WELCOME 1st, 3rd and 5th Sundays of the month at Maryculter Church and 2nd and 4th Sundays at Banchory-Devenick Youth Café Church. All welcome, Sunday School available. All Welcome! We are delighted to report that the Youth Café continues to be a popular venue. Youth Café is a club for young people in P7 to S6, held in Maryculter Church Hall on a Thursday evening from 7pm-9pm. Those in P6 are invited to attend after the Easter Break.

Youth Café gives young people a chance to play pool, table The churches of Banchory Ternan West, Glen Muick tennis, air hockey, table football and computer games as well Ballater, River Fellowship Aboyne and Banchory- as meeting friends. There is also an outdoor area which is well used. Devenick and Maryculter-Cookney have come together

to host a Christian event in Deeside this coming April. We were overwhelmed by the generosity of the Community This event is called Mini-CLAN as it is run under the Council who granted us enough money to purchase a new auspices of CLAN (Christians Linked Across the projector which will be of great benefit to everyone. We Nation) which is part of New Wine Scotland. would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their Information on the aims and ethos of CLAN can be support. found on its website: www.clangathering.org.uk. An Activity Weekend is planned at Compass Christian Friday 29 April (pm), Saturday 30 April (am & pm) Centre in Glenshee from 10th-12th June 2011. Don‟t miss out! Banchory Academy

The main speakers will be Kevin Peat and Andy Hall, If you are in P6-S6 and would like to join us, contact Dianne with worship led by a Praise Band, David Ross and Brown 734687 or come along on a Thursday during term

friends. time and see what you think.

Tickets £30 for the whole event or £25 if you book early.

Discounts for booking online at The Alpha Course www.clangathering.org.uk Explore the Christian faith in a relaxed setting over ten thought provoking weekly sessions. Each session includes a meal, a BOOKING OF HALLS AND GROUNDS presentation and small group discussion. Maryculter Community (Corbie) Hall and Field C.Masson, Tel 733583, [email protected] Begins 16th August 2011, from 7-9pm in Maryculter Church Hall and Glebe Field Maryculter Church Hall. To enquire or to register, please Anne Massie, Tel: 732071 contact Joan Thorne on Tel: 783834. Scout and Guide Hut Les Paterson, Tel: 868676, [email protected] Cookney Hall Willie Angus, Tel 01569 730123, Easter Sunday Worship Service [email protected]

Lairhillock School Sunday 24th April, 10:30am Marian Youngson, Tel: 01569 732520 Banchory-Devenick Church St Ternan’s Church Community Room Sheila, Tel: 01569 731608 or Audrey: Tel 01569 730600 All Welcome

10

MARYCULTER CARRIAGE ST TERNAN‟S SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH DRIVING CENTRE MUCHALLS (Charity No. SC023264) Learn the art and tradition of carriage driving St Ternan‟s is the northern-most Scottish Episcopal Arrive in a horse-drawn carriage for your wedding Church in the Diocese of Brechin. We are part of the Enjoy a farm tour and riverside drive Visit our unique carriage collection world-wide Anglican communion. The Church is Bring disabled friends for a drive located in the North Kincardine Community Council Let us take you for a drive to mark a special occasion area, to the west of the A90 about a mile from Muchalls Village on the where the road branches We can do all this and much more with our off to Cookney and Netherley. experienced horses and ponies. We also have a self-contained flat overlooking the We are in the process of advertising for a new Priest in River Dee - ideal for business visits or short breaks. Charge following the departure of Rev. Michael Sabell. Rev. Maggie Jackson of St. James the Great in Jane and Ewan MacInnes, Home Farm, Maryculter Tel: 01224 732310 and 07889 340362 Stonehaven was appointed Interim Pastor to assist Email: [email protected] during the vacancy. At present we are continuing to www.marycultercarriages.co.uk operate with the Ministry team as follows:

George Masson Tel: 733583 John Usher Tel: 01569 731608

The Church is open every day from 10am until 3pm. Fruit and Vegetables You are welcome to join us in worship at the 10.30am Family Eucharist on Sundays. Weekly services are held The organic farm shop at Lorienen, Bridge of Muchalls on major Saint Days and are advertised on the Church is open on Wednesdays from 12.30 to 6pm notice boards and in the magazine. and on Saturdays from 9.30 to 5pm Paul van Midden Tel /Fax: 01569 731746 / 739137 Our new Community Meeting Room with kitchen and toilet facilities was officially opened in November. www.lembasorganics.co.uk These facilities can be used by anyone in the community for classes, dance classes, children‟s parties, craft groups, meetings etc. It can accommodate up to 30 people and is fitted with a loop system for the hard of hearing. The entrance is wheelchair friendly.

To book, contact Sheila, Tel: 01569 731608 or Audrey, Tel: 01569 730600 – a donation of £4 per hour is requested.

The following events are planned for this year: 9th April: Coffee Morning in Community Room, 10am 18th June: Garden Fete in Church Grounds, 2pm 12th November: Christmas Coffee Morning in Community Room, 10am Further details from Irene, Tel: 784080 or Sue, Tel: 01569 730972.

Please contact any of the above Ministry Team for help or information on marriages, baptisms, funerals, pastoral visiting etc.

11

GRAMPIAN POLICE

As an optimist I am always on the lookout for signs of If this is something that you have considered but have not warmer weather and indications, however small, that done, do it now. I guarantee, it is worth it!! If there is Spring is almost here. Like many others I have not anything I can do for you in the meantime, or if you would enjoyed what seems to have been an exceptionally long, like to arrange a home security survey, please contact me on dark and cold winter with the associated problems that Email: [email protected] or via has brought. Tel: 0845 600 5 700.

In comparison with the problems some others are facing Constable Neil McHattie, Portlethen Police on a global scale at the moment we do not have too much to complain about.

So what will Spring bring? In policing terms, local teams continue to work hard to ensure that they deliver the sort of robust and efficient service that is expected of us. I can't promise that we will be able to resolve every issue that is laid before us, as I said last year, we are not yet issued with magic wands! What I am able to do however is promise that we, as an organisation, will Award-winning weekly woodland classes for make every effort to listen and work with the 2 to 5 year olds and their adults to discover communities in our policing area to ensure that we nature and explore and play outdoors. provide the level of service that enables us to enhance Come and spend some time in the fresh air, and maintain your safety and lifestyle. perhaps meet up with friends and get ideas on things to do back home with your tots.

As the nights get longer and temperatures rise, we will Mondays - Countesswells Woods, Aberdeen be spending more and more time out of doors and away Tuesdays - Castle Fraser, near Inverurie from home. I would remind residents to take steps to ensure that their property is secure and that simple home Dates: 4 & 5 week courses running between April & June security measures are implemented. If you are going Times: 10 – 11.30am or 1 – 2.30pm away, make sure that your neighbours are aware and Cost: £7 per class (payable in advance by session) that somebody has details of where you are and how to get in contact with you. Grampian Police offer free Tel: 07929 465680 home security surveys to anyone who wants one. These Email: [email protected] are carried out by trained officers who will provide In partnership with the Forestry Commission Scotland, invaluable advice on how best to secure your property. the National Trust for Scotland and North East Scotland Forest Education Initiative.

Yoga classes at Blairs

There are now two places available in the Tuesday 6pm class SOLVEIG DAHLE SMITH and one in the Thursday 6.15pm session. Cert. Pilates. Inst. MAPPI Experienced physiotherapist The Tuesday class is a gentle one, meant for those who have to work carefully PILATES CLASSES SPORTS CENTRE due to a medical condition, or for those Monday & Tuesday afternoons who want to re-start their yoga practice. Tuesday & Thursday evenings CAMPHILL SCHOOL MURTLE The Thursday class is at an intermediate level. Wednesday evenings CULTS CHURCH Friday mornings Classes are small- up to 6 people - and are taught by Ilse Elders who is a registered teacher Contact details with more than 25 years of teaching experience. [email protected] www.pilatesaberdeen.com If you are interested, Tel: 868301. 01224 861421

12

Ian Forbes - the Blairs Years!

Recently my life seems to remarkable man‟s life will be possible and perhaps an event have gone round full to mark this anniversary. circle. I was a student at Blairs College between The great great niece of Brown (Auxiliary of 1968 and 1972, a member Southwark Diocese in London) contacted Blairs Museum of staff between 1977 and recently to see if we would be interested in having his gold its closure 25 years ago in 1986, and for the last two years, watch which is inscribed and was a gift from the Catholic having retired early from teaching at Cults Academy, I‟ve been League in London in 1902. the manager at Blairs Museum. William Brown was born in Dundee but moved to London at In the late 1970s I replaced Father Peter Moran (now Bishop of the age of 17 where he converted to Catholicism and became a priest. He describes a 1916 visit to Blairs in his Aberdeen) on the North Kincardine Rural Community Council autobiography. In 1917 he was sent as Apostolic Visitor to and founded the South Deeside View. I‟m very happy to see it Scotland by the Pope and the negotiation of The Education not only survive but become a very professional production and Act of Scotland in 1918 was largely due to him. He was even available online. Those first editions were run off in Blairs appointed a bishop in 1924 and eventually bequeathed his College after I‟d typed the text. Each copy was then collated and pectoral cross to Blairs in 1951 with his great niece donating stapled manually. Hopefully Hazel and Pam have an easier time his gold chain in 1994. but they still need your articles and support! Do you have any old photos taken at Blairs College? If you Blairs College, as many of you will know, was Scotland‟s junior do, Blairs Museum would be interested in obtaining a copy seminary – a boarding school for boys of secondary school age as they often have interesting details in the background. The who were considering the priesthood as a career. The Blairs photos that we do have are being digitised for posterity – estate was given to the in 1827 by John important as Blairs College becomes more and more part of Menzies of Pitfodels “for the education of young men for the history. Anything connected to Blairs is, of course, of interest priesthood”. After the alteration and extension of the mansion, – last year the museum was given the specifications for work overseen by Priest Gordon of Aberdeen, it received the students extending the college nearly 100 years ago by the builder‟s from Lismore and Aquhorties (Inverurie) seminaries in 1829 grand-daughter. and became the national seminary. In the same year the Catholic Emancipation Act was passed, the law catching up with what Con Anima Chamber Choir recorded a CD at Blairs in had been practice for many decades. This meant that the November which is due to be released in late summer. The „Scotch‟ colleges on the continent, set up to give boys, whose sound engineer was Philip Hobbs, chief classical producer/ parents could afford it, a Catholic education when that was engineer of Linn Records (). Philip was recently illegal in Scotland, started to close. Many of their treasured described in a Japanese Magazine as „The man with the possessions naturally found their way to Blairs, the most famous golden ears‟! and in October Linn Records was named „Label being the Memorial Portrait of Mary Queen of Scots which of the Year 2010‟ at the annual Gramophone Awards. The came from Douai College (in Northern France) where CD features some works by the renowned American choral coincidentally John Menzies had gone for his education as a 10 composer Morten Lauridsen who attended the recording. year old. Morten Lauridsen is a previous Grammy nominee and there are high hopes that this CD will attract a worldwide audience The present Blairs Museum opened in 2000 and brings together and highlight the acoustic qualities of the Blairs Chapel. many items previously belonging to Blairs College in the room that was previously the sacristy. For me the job has been Con Anima will be holding a „Come and Sing‟ day at Blairs fascinating, so full of memories and so different from teaching – on 21 May where participants will rehearse Rachmaninov‟s on any given day you don‟t know what the next phone call, Vespers with the choir during the day before performing with email or visit will bring. A phone call in the past week could see the choir in the evening. Details will be available on the Blairs appearing on BBC 2‟s Antiques Road Trip. Blairs Museum website (www.blairsmuseum.com) and the Con Anima website (www.conanima.org.uk) when finalised. The Museum has in its store a violin which is thought to have We are currently creating a virtual tour of the museum. This belonged to Bishop Hay who is known to have “excelled in would enable people around the world, who may never come music, both vocally and on the violin”. The instrument has a to Scotland never mind Blairs, to have a virtual visit to the maker‟s label inside showing that it was made in London in museum. This project is in its very early stages but raises 1715. A local expert has begun investigations and a potential exciting possibilities. sponsor has come forward with a view to restoring the violin. George Hay visited Blairs for tea with Mrs Menzies and her And lastly, Blairs Museum is your local museum! If you husband David (uncle of John Menzies) in 1763. have visitors or are part of a company or group, why not have an outing to Blairs? We are open Saturdays, Sundays and Bishop Hay died 200 years ago (on October 15, 1811). The local holiday Mondays from 2–5pm beginning on 2 April Catholic Directory reported that at the centenary, the Scottish until the end of October, and by arrangement outwith these met at Fort Augustus for three days to celebrate his hours at any time throughout the year. We also have a small life. There were other events including at Blairs and the tea room. I look forward to welcoming you! Cathedral in Edinburgh. Blairs Museum has a photo taken at the Fort Augustus gathering of 1911 and several items connected Ian Forbes with Bishop Hay. It is hoped that an exhibition to highlight this Manager, Blairs Museum

13

Nature notes – Frogs and Toads

Late one night at the beginning of March, I opened my front door to find a frog sitting on the doorstep. It was pretty lethargic but a great sign that Spring had arrived.

The amphibians were the first vertebrates to hop out onto land from fish ancestors 400 million years ago. The north east of Scotland is now home to only three amphibians, out of the over 6000 species of frogs, toads, Photo Copyright - Chris Grady newts, salamanders and tropical caecilians – the common frog, common toad and palmate newt. Depending on weather conditions, frog tadpoles hatch out from eggs two to four weeks later. They remain The common frog is the most recognisable with a vegetarian for the first 16 weeks of their lives, eating smooth skin, ability to hop impressive distances and algae and breathing through gills. They become great variation in colour – from the usual greenish carnivorous as their bodies develop, with the growth of yellow, to brown, red and even black. Frogs have no first back and then front legs and have been known to external ears but a visible eardrum: the dark circle become cannibalistic if densely populated. Frog tadpoles behind each eye. take on a brown speckled body whilst toad tadpoles remain black. Around 20 weeks, they absorb their tails The common toad is larger than the frog, with a thick, and leave the water as tiny froglets, usually in early warty skin. They crawl rather than hop and have glands summer but sometimes as late as September. The best on their back that produce toxins that make them place to find frogs throughout the summer is not in distasteful to potential predators. They can tolerate drier ponds but in long damp grass. conditions than frogs and often take up residence in gardens hunting for beasties at night. Newt tadpoles are only a few millimetres long when newly emerged and resemble tiny fish. They develop an The palmate newt is the least frequently seen amphibian impressive set of feathery gills on their heads and grow and superficially looks like a little lizard. About 9cm in front rather than back legs first. Eight weeks later length, they have a smooth brown velvety skin with internal lungs have formed allowing the young newts, camouflaging black spots. They over-winter under rocks. known as efts, to emerge onto land as air-breathers. Adult males have a thread-like filament at the end of All three species mate during the spring. Frog spawn is their tail and also webbed or hand-like (hence palmate) the first to appear in February or March, depending on hind feet during the breeding season. Young and adult the temperature and forms masses of dense, clear jelly newts are crepuscular – dawn and dusk hunters - and eggs. Toads mate a few weeks later, usually in larger love searching for any form of tadpole! ponds or lochs and release their eggs in long necklace- like strings. Both species‟ young are black which helps All children should have the opportunity to watch speed up development by absorbing heat from the sun. tadpoles grow, whether in a pond or tank. It‟s entirely legal to take a few (say 5 tadpoles) home and keep them Newt behaviour is perhaps the most interesting to watch. as pets until they emerge as froglets. Pond or rainwater is Males face females, curl the end of their tale back on best with some fresh pondweed and rocks to hide itself and sometimes for minutes at a time, very quickly amongst. Feed them cold water fish food as their legs flick their tail as if fanning the water. Females lay a grow and then release them to the pond where you took single egg on a small pond leaf, using their hind legs to them from. Happy hopping! fold the leaf over to protect the developing egg. Mandy Tulloch

14

REPRESENTATION

Sir Robert Smith MP Unfortunately they will be unable to do much of what they promise, either because they will be a minority government, The rising global price of oil is a mixed blessing for the north- or they will be in coalition with another party. If in minority east. On the plus side many jobs depend on investment in North government, their actions will be controlled by the opposition Sea oil and gas exploration. The rising price has boosted parties. If in coalition, they will have to agree their policies investment making the north-east a vital contributor to Scotland with their coalition partner, and implement some of their and the UK‟s economy. partner‟s policies. To make matters worse their coalition

partner might be the party that came fourth in the election. That is why it is important that the Scottish Government recognise the importance of supporting the Fair Share Campaign Is this the best way to govern Scotland? I wonder! for funding of north-east services. The current funding formula penalises north-east councils and health providers. The services they provide are important in ensuring companies continue to base their operations in the north-east. If we lose them it will be Councillor Ian Mollison to another oil province not to another part of the UK. Austerity measures throughout the On the negative side, the high price is hitting motorists and those country are having their effect on trying to heat their homes hard. That is why I pressed the Aberdeenshire Council, as our Chancellor to abandon the latest rise in duty. funding from the Scottish Government is being cut while costs In the long run I still support the replacement of duty with and inflation increase. The council is flexible road user pricing. Rural roads where there is no realistic the third worst funded authority in public transport alternative would be cheaper to use. the country, and will receive 12.6% below the average for Scotland per When it comes to heating homes not on the gas grid, I welcome head of population. Nonetheless we will receive some the decision of the Government to ask the OFT to investigate the £426.47m for the 2011/12 financial year so we have to spend heating fuel market. I am keen to hear from anyone who has it wisely. We have to make savings of more than £50m over concerns about keeping their home warm in the current market. the next two years. One harsh consequence will be several hundred council employees facing redundancy. Another development I welcome is the move to introduce a The new Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan - a renewable heat allowance similar to the incentives for renewable planning blueprint for the future – is moving towards an electricity. This will reward those who cut their carbon emissions examination in public by the Scottish Government. This will through devices such as biomass boilers or heat pumps. I am cost the council some £300,000. Some developers, having urging the Government to make sure the scheme benefits those failed to persuade communities and councillors of the merits who do not have access to the gas grid. of their proposals, are asking the government to over-rule local opinion. For example, there are alternatives in Councillor Carl Nelson Portlethen and Stonehaven to the Elsick settlement. The outcome is expected around the turn of the year. Politics is a „funny old game‟. The I was very disappointed when the Scottish Ministers‟ financial mess the country is in is blamed Reporter gave the go-ahead for the Meikle Carewe windfarm, on mismanagement of the economy over and also awarded costs against the council, labelling many years by the Labour Party. The councillors as “unreasonable”. As the councillor who moved painful, but necessary, remedy of putting the motion at the area committee – and was seconded by Cllr the economy right through higher Carl Nelson – I did not think we were unreasonable. Our taxation, loss of jobs, and a reduction in decision was based on policy grounds. However this counted public services is blamed on the for nothing. Further details about the decision are carried Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition elsewhere in the South Deeside View. government at Westminster. The snow made a brief return in March but no-one will forget the severe weather which delivered the coldest Then at Holyrood we have a minority government – the Scottish December since 1910. This placed a huge burden on the National Party. They can‟t get enough MSPs to rule Scotland as council in trying to keep roads clear. The cost is in excess of they would wish, and under the present voting system are never £4m. The council used more than 100 gritters/ploughs/snow likely to. For the non party-political person it must be extremely blowers, 16 private contractor ploughs, and 120 farmers‟ difficult to know who to vote for. tractors with council-supplied blades. More than 30 diggers were used to remove snow from streets into hired lorries. And Nevertheless, on Thursday 5 May 2011, the will of course, we are left with damaged roads. Please report go to the polls to elect a new government. Whatever happens, one potholes by phoning 08456 081205, texting 07624 820722, or thing is certain, the majority of the electorate will not get the emailing: [email protected]. government they voted for – that is the way of the electoral Lastly, for the second year running Aberdeenshire was top system. among the country‟s 32 local authorities in the Bank of Scotland‟s annual Quality of Life Survey, which highlighted All of the parties will set out their manifestos, striving to gain the area as having some of the healthiest and most well-off your vote by telling you all the good things they will do for you if residents. Apparently the employment rate is 80% with you vote for them. weekly average earnings of £647, high life expectancy and good school results. Aren‟t we lucky to live here! 15

A word from the Chairman Although we have to accept that we lost this battle, I still believe that without a strong local voice in the form As we go to press on the Spring 2011 edition of the of Community Councils and Elected Members we South Deeside View, no doubt we will all be coming to would lose all such battles without a fight, and that can terms with the idea that the planning application for the never be right. Meikle Carewe windfarm has been approved. Despite there being little local support for the project; despite Details of agendas, minutes and meetings can be found the application contravening planning regulations on a at our website nkrcc.org or in hard copy on the notice number of points; despite our Elected Members twice boards situated at Corbie and Cookney Halls or outside voting against the application, the Reporter has seen fit Banchory-Devenick Primary school and the former to grant the application and no doubt construction will Maryculter East and West Primaries. begin soon enough. Bob McKinney, Chairman, Tel: 01569 730706 This decision appears to have left a general feeling of surprise and disappointment in the area, mainly because 300 Club - our annual fundraiser it appears that planning regulations can be set aside so easily and such a major change can be imposed on us. Thanks to all Community Councillors, their friends and

family who braved the elements to knock on doors Now, I have sat and watched the blades of other between November and early February. 360 tickets windfarms turning and find it quite relaxing and were sold which brought in £1,800. somewhat hypnotic and though I‟ve also found the Of this £685 will be returned to participants as monthly structures rather impressive, that‟s not good enough. cash prizes of £5, £10 and £15 plus £25 in February, Even though other windfarms in other areas have very May and August, £50 in March, June and October and strong community involvement and community benefit the star prize of £100 in December. Draws take place in schemes (Ben Akitil on Skye and Drumderg at Alyth to public during each Community Council meeting then name but two), that‟s still not good enough. cheques are sent to winners.

If windfarms did what they said on the tin, i.e. plentiful, Cash prize winners since last September are: cheap „green‟ electricity I, and I‟m sure many others, A. Bayliss, Maryculter; M. Birch, Banchory-Devenick; would be more favourably disposed to them. But I don‟t B. Broomfield, Blairs; R. Brunton, Banchory-Devenick; believe they do. A Royal Academy of Engineering M. Campbell, Maryculter; K. Cowie, Maryculter; J. study in 2004 showed that the cost of generating a Haig, Netherley; L. Keeler, Netherley; R. Lumsden, kilowatt hour of electricity at an onshore windfarm, Banchory-Devenick; N. McAllan, Banchory-Devenick; including standby generation (spinning reserve) in case R. Mann, Cookney; N. Mauthner, Maryculter; G. the wind didn‟t blow, cost 5.4p, compared to coal at Murison, Netherley; G. Nicol, Netherley; I. Petrie, 2.5p, nuclear at 2.3p and gas at 2.2p. Netherley; F. Pownall, Maryculter; A-M Rapach,

Netherley; J. Roberts, Banchory-Devenick; S. Recent events in Denmark have also shown that the Robertson, Banchory; C. Spark, Netherley; J. more a country relies on wind power, the more unstable Sutherland, Maryculter; A. Turner, Netherley; K. its electricity supply becomes (see CEPOS, Wind Willox, Netherley; S Willox, Netherley. Energy – The Case of Denmark) because of the uncertainty and variability of the wind itself. This means we have around £1,100 available for local

good causes and invite local clubs, groups and societies The usual accusation which seems to come to the fore in to apply for grants. Applicants should be prepared to these situations is NIMBY-ism, but given the grounds outline their case at the next Community Council of NKRCC‟s continued opposition to this application on meeting – and most are successful. Since last the grounds of it contravening regulations relating to the September grants have been awarded to Maryculter site being on an undulating ridgeline; noise and shadow Scouts towards a replacement mess tent, the Maryculter flicker, concerns about navigation of civil aviation and Senior Citizens Christmas party, the Church Youth Café television interference and that the completed project to fund a new projector and the Friends of Cookney Hall would be visually intrusive, any such accusations would for external lighting above the extended car park. be inaccurate and unjust.

16

Planning matters

Blairs Meikle Carewe Wind farm

Outline planning permission (for 220 houses, 60 Born 1999; Died 2002. Twin brother born 2006, then affordable houses, hotel, etc) was granted in June 2008. we didn‟t hear anything until 2010 when it went to Confirmation of that permission was finally published appeal. The Reporter has allowed the appeal, which in Nov 2010, which now allows the Muir Group to go does not come as an overwhelming shock, granted that ahead with its plans and seek full, detailed planning two very large wind farms have recently been approved, permission. That detail will include proposals for road both in extremely attractive areas, and that the improvements which could affect the Corbie Hall Executive‟s policy is that „Wind Farms Are A Good playing field. The Hall committee is now on alert and Thing‟. (Regardless of their intermittent nature, councillors as well as planning officers are fully aware insignificant output and the exorbitant subsidy given to of the situation, with the latter responsible for the final them and paid for on our electricity bills, but don‟t get decision. me started). The opponents of the scheme at Meikle Carewe fought for over ten years and found support Lairhillock Housing Development from local councillors when the scheme was twice rejected. Those same councillors now find themselves The formal planning application (70 houses and a few castigated by the Reporter for “acting unreasonably”. business units) was submitted soon after the last View Pardon me while I foam at the mouth, but what are was published, but has yet to come before the Area councillors there for? Presumably, extrapolating from Committee. Many objections have been lodged, broadly that statement, merely to rubber stamp the Executive‟s on the grounds either of a) with 4,000 – 6,000 houses to and planners‟ decisions. How very Soviet Bloc! Stalin be built only two miles away, why add another suburban rules – OK? See below, under LDP, for further estate here? or b) this is only the first phase of a much evidence. bigger development, as is shown by the landscaping plan, or c) this would be a commuter or dormitory New Planning System suburb of Aberdeen, or d) let‟s keep the area rural - a combination of the first three. This also is an outline (For details, see last View or NKRCC guide at application at present. (We should note however, that www.nkrcc.org.uk). should outline permission be granted, then full planning This system has now been (not quite fully) in operation permission is virtually only a formality – a rubber stamp for 18 months and some amendments are currently job). proposed; in most cases minor and sensible ones. In other instances we see a regrettable tendency to swing Elsick New Town Development the balance ever further in favour of the developer. That tendency toward centralisation and diktat stands in The „Charette‟ (where do they get these titles? – it was a contrast to the Edinburgh administration‟s stated public exhibition / consultation) has been held and the commitment to... “consultation, involvement..” and all plan resulting from it has recently been published and the rest. The proposed changes giving householders the distributed locally. Initial examination shows clearly right to carry out certain alterations without planning that the 4,045 houses to be built by 2023 will indeed permission (Permitted Development Rights) have yet to only be the first, but the major phase of a bigger be implemented. development, presumably bringing the numbers up to the 6,000 originally quoted as the maximum envisaged. New Local Development Plan (LDP) We also note that there will be further opportunities for public consultation and involvement and for further This replacement for ALP (the current Plan) is now questions to be asked through the website. As ever, we going forward to Edinburgh for examination at Inquiry urge everyone to read the document carefully and by a Reporter. Any thoughts or hopes on the part of our involve themselves in the consultation and design readers that this may be the same as previous Local Plan process. There will be an exhibition at Cookney Hall on Public Inquiries are misplaced. Then, objectors could 30th March from 2-9pm and 10am to 8pm on the 31st. opt to turn up and have their say, perhaps effecting changes, perhaps not, but at least the opportunity was there.

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Volunteering in Kincardine and Mearns

Every day there are thousands of people across Aberdeenshire making a Now, in the desperate desire to rush things along and cut difference in all sorts of short the previous rather long-winded process, we, the ways but they don‟t get paid. They are benefiting their public, seem to be viewed as an irritant and a spanner in communities and also themselves. They are the works to be removed. The centralisation referred to volunteers! above applies particularly in the case of Local Plans. Independent scrutiny and the possibility of amending Volunteering is all about giving up some of your time plans through public involvement (either before or during and using your energy, ideas and enthusiasm to make a an Inquiry) are, sadly, gradually disappearing. positive change. The benefits can be to individuals, organisations, your community, the environment, What is not clear to this writer is whether our elected society as a whole and also to you. tribunes – be they local councillors or MSPs – are aware of and approve this apparent denial of the local Volunteer Centre Aberdeenshire exists to promote, democratic process. If they (MSPs in particular), are support and develop volunteering opportunities aware of it, did they knowingly endorse it or was this throughout the region. another piece of legislation which slipped in „under the radar‟ without adequate scrutiny or debate? For more information, contact the local office for our area (Banchory) on Tel: 01330 825794, email The Inquiry should deliver its verdict on the LDP by [email protected]. November. (NKRCC‟s representation on the LDP, of Sept 2010, can be seen on the website – www.nkrcc.org.uk.). David & June Gordon Memorial Trust GLOSSARY – REMINDER Scottish Charity No: SC002664 Public Local Inquiries (PLI), into Local Plans for example, are now called Examinations In Public (EIP). Outline Planning Permission is now called Planning

Permission in Principle. Policies in the LDP (there are only 14 of them) are now merely broad brush statements of intent or aspiration; the specifics of policy detail are in the accompanying Supplementary Guidance (SG). The SG not only has the detail, but also the legal force, of the Policy. Section 75 Planning Agreements (S75s) are, in future, to be called Planning Obligations (and will be open to modification or removal, unlike S75s). Supporting the arts, community and youth Rob Winmill, Vice Chairman organisations in the north-east of Scotland, the David and June Gordon Memorial Trust was set up in Community Council Secretary: memory of David Gordon (4th Marquess of Aberdeen Toby Lenehan, Millbank Lodge, Kirkton of Maryculter, and Temair) and his wife June. AB12 5FS Tel: 739843 Email: [email protected] Since 1975 the Trust has given financial assistance to a Website: www.nkrcc.org.uk wide range of groups and projects, encouraging and supporting in particular, smaller groups who might otherwise struggle for funding. It also awards an Rosin up the bow! annual prize to a local art student at the RSA student Kincardine and Deeside Arts Forum is to hold a Fiddle exhibition, a drawing prize and has funded an organ Competition in November, to help raise the profile of scholarship at Aberdeen University. young musical talent. It is open to both classical and tra- ditional players. Eligible applicants must have a connec- The Trust is currently seeking to double the capital tion with the area and be under 20 years of age on 31st fund to enable even more groups to benefit. If you December 2011. The winner will receive a violin, hand- would like to make a donation or have more made by Ian Greig of Banchory, worth in the region of information about the work of the Trust, contact Miss £7,000. The closing date for applications is 30th May. Barbara McFarlane, Tel: 642848. Gift Aid forms are Visit www.kdaf.org or www.iangreigviolins.com for more available. information.

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The Lairhillock Inn and Crynoch Restaurant

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REPRESENTATION EVENTS CALENDAR

MP Sir Robert Smith April Tel: 01330 820330 Fax: 01330 820338 Monday 4 Church Guild business meeting [email protected] Saturday 9 St Ternan‟s Church coffee morning MSP Mike Rumbles Wed. 13 Maryculter WRI: Talk from Diana Tel: 01330 820268 Fax: 01330 820106 Robertson, Head Gardener, Drum Castle [email protected] Monday 18 School term begins Monday 18 Community Council COUNCILLORS Monday 18 Netherley WRI: Talk/demo on bread- Alastair Bews Tel: 01224 784594 making (Turid Reppe Roversell) 33 Bruntland Court, Portlethen Friday 22 Friendship Club Basket Whist E-mail: [email protected] Corbie Hall 7.30pm Saturday 23 South Deeside Under 5s „Spring Fair‟ Paul Melling Tel: 01224 784534 10.30-12.30 Corbie Hall 51 Broomfield Road, Portlethen May E-mail: [email protected] Saturday 7 Friends of Guiding „Daffodil Tea‟ 10.30-12.30 Corbie Hall Ian Mollison Tel: 01569 739087 Wed. 11 Maryculter WRI: Business Meeting and 11 Greystone Place, Newtonhill, Stonehaven AB39 3UL „Bring and Buy‟ E-mail:[email protected] Saturday 14 SDV Plant Sale and Coffee Morning 10.30am-12 noon Corbie Hall Carl Nelson Tel: 01569 730733 Monday 16 Community Council 21 Dunnyfell Road, Muchalls, Stonehaven AB39 3RP Monday 16 Netherley WRI: AGM + talk by Liz E-mail: [email protected] Duguid on „Colours to suit us‟ Saturday 21 „Come and Sing‟ day at Blairs Museum Aberdeenshire Council June Viewmount, Saturday 11 Scottish Model Helicopter Championships Arduthie Road, Hare Moss, Banchory-Devenick Stonehaven. www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk Sunday 12 “ “ AB39 2DQ Saturday 18 St Ternan‟s Church Fete Monday 20 Community Council AGM POLICE July Emergencies Tel: 999 Friday 1 School term ends All non-emergencies Tel: 0845 600 5700 August Crimestoppers Tel: 0800 555 111 Wed. 10 Maryculter WRI Drugs Information Line Tel: 0800 371553 Monday 15 Community Council Monday 15 Netherley WRI Saturday 27 Driving for the Disabled sale SERVICES Plainstones, Stonehaven 9am-12 noon Bluebird buses September No. 103 Aberdeen to Laurencekirk via Banchory- Wed. 14 Maryculter WRI Devenick and Netherley Monday 19 Community Council No. 204 Aberdeen to Strachan via Maryculter and Monday 19 Netherley WRI Blairs Tel: 212266 or 591381 E-mail:[email protected] Dial a Trip Bus service with tail lift for concession card and taxi card holders. Tel: 01569 765765 Editors: Pam Robertson Tel: 863887 2 Little Banchory Mews, Library Banchory-Devenick AB12 5XS The mobile van visits fortnightly on Thursdays: [email protected] Kirkton of Maryculter at 9am By former Maryculter East School at 9.20am Hazel Witte Tel: 732738 Bolleuchars Croft at 9.40am Monearn, Maryculter AB12 5GT Banchory-Devenick crossroads at 10.10am [email protected] Library Service Tel: 01651 872707 Please send copy for the Autumn issue of Window cleaning YOUR NEWSLETTER by August 19 Martin Pilley Tel: 01261 815411 20