Ballater & Crathie Eagle, Issue 68, Winter 2012

Ballater & crathie

Community

magazine

no. 68 winter 2012

1 donation

to all our readers

A merry christmas and a happy new year

The McEwan Gallery

Ballater - Royal Deeside - AB35 5UB www.mcewangallery.com Tel: 013397 55429

John Black Deeside Stags Oil

Please give us a call before planning a visit during the winter months!

Ballater Golf Shop*Open 7 Days a Week*

Ballater Golf ClubVictoria Road, Ballater AB35 5QX

Tel. 013397 55658Email: [email protected]

Bill YulePGA Golf Professional

Tuition available20 per 1/2 hour - 5 Lessons for 80

Non Members Welcome!*Gift Vouchers Available*

Stockist of:Ping / Titliest / Nike / Glenmuir / Srixon

3Inside Your Winter Eagle...

DonationsDonations are gratefully received,

and acknowledged. You can also put money into our tins in the Library

or Yules Newsagents. A big Thank You to Chrissie Morrison for her

generous donation

AdvertisingFull page: 60; Half page: 30;

Quarter page: 20; Eighth page: 10Series discount available. Copy may be changed

each issue. Contact Faye Swan [email protected]

or Tel 55345

Features UDAS Royal Visit Camilla casts a friendly eye 34

Memories of a Crathie Loon Ex-pat David Howie shares his memories 36

A Sketch of Ballater Shops and characters from c1900 38

Andra Ian Camerons one-time lodger 40

Celebrating ChristmasSheila Sedgwick decks the halls 46

The Horse an the PlooMary Munro tells an equine tale 48

Ozzy - Part 5 Wee Chiss last instalment 50

Aberdeenshire CouncilStuff thats good to know 58

Local Group NewsBallater (RD) Ltd 22Ballater Songsters 8Balmoral Estate Events 23BBA Update 17BRHS 10BRHS Floral Art Group 9CNPA 44Community Council 28Community Learning 27CLAN 18-19DDDP 20Indoor Bowling 9Residential Caravan Association 13Rotary Club 11Saturday Films 15SWRI 12Teen Authors 33V&A Halls 14Victoria Week 16Winter Festival 8

Diary 4-5Contacts 6Editors Letter 7

Crathie News 24-26Ballater School 30-31Pottering About 56

Plenty to ruffle your feathers this season, with all the latest updates from the areas groups and organisations, plus some juicy features to warm your

fireside downtime. Its cold outside. Get out there, in here.

Regulars

Cover photo: the Dee from the Invercauld Road Bridge. Thanks to Les Hamilton of Aberdeen

The Eagle Diary...so you know Whats Going On

DecemberMon 3 BRHS meeting in Mike Sheridan Room at 7.30pm. Talk by

Mark Patterson on the Eden projectWed 5 SWRI Christmas lunch at Ballater Golf Club, 1pm BBA meeting, Glen Lui Hotel, 7.30pmSun 9 Ballater Boules Challenge Monaltrie Park 10.30amSun 9 Upper Deeside Music, Cuillin Sound, St Kentigerns Church, 4.30pmMon 10 Ballater & Crathie CC meeting, Mike Sheridan Room, 7pmTue 11 V&A Halls committee meeting, Beaton Craigie Room, 7.30pmWed 12 Braemar and Crathie Parish Guild Lunch at Inver Hotel, Crathie Ballater History Group, Mike Sheridan Room, 7.30pmThu 13 Victoria Week AGM, Mike Sheridan Room, 7.30pmSat 15 Ballater Films: Ice Age 4 (U), Mike Sheridan Room, 3pmFri 21 Ballater School term endsMon 24 Santa and his Reindeer, Church Green, 11.30am Ballater Surgery open as usual Watchnight Service at Crathie Kirk, 11.30pmTue 25 Post Office CLOSED Ballater Surgery CLOSED NHS 24: 08454 242424Wed 26 Post Office CLOSED Ballater Surgery CLOSED NHS 24: 08454 242424Thu 27 Ballater Boules Challenge, Golden Boules Trophy Competition, Monaltrie

Park 10.30amSun 30 Little Masons March and Party. Boys meet Albert Hall 1pm, Girls 3pmMon 31 Ballater Surgery open as usual Hogmanay Ceilidh Crathie New Hall

JanuaryTue 1 Post Office CLOSED Ballater Surgery CLOSED NHS 24: 08454 242424Wed 2 Post Office CLOSED Ballater Surgery CLOSED NHS 24: 08454 242424Wed 2 Ballater Boules Challenge, New Year Quaich Competition, Monaltrie Park, 10.30amMon 7 Ballater School term startsTue 8 Indoor Bowls resumes in Victoria Hall, 2pm and 7pm

4

Are Your Dates Here?For inclusion in this FREE section of the Eagle, please contact Cat Houstonon 55243, 07805 731401 (texts welcome) or [email protected]

Ballater LibraryOpening Hours

Sun, Mon & Wed: ClosedTuesday: 10am 1pm, 6.30 8pm

Thursday: 2 4pm, 6.30 8pmFriday: 2 5pm

Saturday: 10am 12noon

Tue 8 V&A Halls committee meeting, Beaton Craigie Room, 7.30pmWed 9 BBA meeting, Glen Lui Hotel, 7.30pmSat 12 Ballater Films: Feature tbc, Mike Sheridan Room, 3pmSun 13 Ballater Boules Challenge, Monaltrie Park, 10.30amMon14 Ballater & Crathie CC meeting, Mike Sheridan Room, 7pmWed 16 SWRI - Floral Art by Mary Wright - Open Evening & Sales Table, Albert Hall, 7.30pm Sun 27 Ballater Boules Challenge, Monaltrie Park, 10.30amWed 30 Ballater History Group, Mike Sheridan Room, 7.30pm

FebruaryMon 4 BRHS Meeting, speaker Dr Andrew Scobie, Cairngorms Rare Plant Project, Mike Sheridan Room, 7.30pm Wed 6 BBA AGM, Glen Lui Hotel, 7pmSat 9 Ballater Films: Feature tbc, Mike Sheridan Room, 3pmSun 10 Ballater Boules Challenge, Monaltrie Park, 10.30amMon 11 Ballater & Crathie CC meeting, Mike Sheridan Room, 7pmTue 12 V&A Halls committee meeting, Beaton Craigie Room, 7.30pmWed 20 SWRI - Police Talk, Safety at Home by Kevin Marron, Mike Sheridan Room, 7.30pmSun 24 Ballater Boules Challenge, Monaltrie Park, 10.30am

MarchMon 4 BRHS Meeting, Speaker Emily Holmes - Deeside Forestry, Past, Present and Future, Mike Sheridan Room, 7.30pmWed 6 BBA meeting, Glen Lui Hotel, 7.30pmSat 9 Ballater Films: Feature tbc, Mike Sheridan Room, 3pm

5

If you would like a large print version of the Eagle,please contact Ballater Library on 55628.

Editor: Ian Hay 55941Treasurer: Dr. Sheila Sedgwick 55292

Secretary: Betty Wilson 55791Advertising Manager: Faye Swan 55345

Distribution: Andy and Julie BloorDiary Secretary: Cat Houston 55243

Design: Ollie Ross, Stella Potter, Cat Houston, Karen Major Email us at: [email protected]

Eagle Online: http://www.ballatercommunity.com

Eagle Whos Who & Where

Contact the Eagle

Hand in to the Library Post to Ballater Eagle, c/o Ballater

Library, Ballater, AB35 5QB

E-mail to: [email protected]

Contributions of any kind (ideally in Word format) always welcome.

Contact Your Representatives

ScottiSh ParliamentDennis Robertson MSP

e-mail:[email protected]

0791 955 7152 (mobile)

WeStminSterSir Robert Smith MP

01330 820330, Fax: 01330 820338, e-mail: [email protected]

aberdeenShire councilPeter Argyle: 013398 81180

e-mail: [email protected] Blackett: 013397 41541

e-mail: [email protected] Farquhar: 07876 475403

email: [email protected]

cairngormS national ParkKatrina Farquhar

email: [email protected] 07876 475403

Keep in Touch with an Eagle Subscription

A subscription can be a very welcome gift to farflung friends and relatives. Simply provide the name and address to whom the issues should be sent, with a cheque or postal order for Ballater Eagle for the relevant amount and drop off your request to Ballater Library. Betty, our Subscrip-tions person, will do the rest. Easy!

For the rates below, four issues will be posted.

UK: 10.00 EU: 12.00

Overseas: 16.00

Letter from the Editor

Dear Readers,I recently checked back copies of the Eagle, and was

amazed to find that this issue will be the 42nd one in which I have been involved as Editor. It is 10 years ago that I put my head on the block, as I referred to it in my Editors letter in issue 27, Christmas/Hogmanay 2002/3, and agreed to take on the position following Ken Irvines illness. I felt at the time that the Eagle was too precious to the community to allow it to disappear, and the reactions of individuals and organisations within and around Ballater and Crathie to the Eagle today show how right that view was. However, I admit that a 10-year stint as Editor was not really something I envisaged at the time.

There have been many changes over these 10 years, not least of which is the introduc-tion of colour in photographs and advertising. This is still an expensive part of producing the Eagle, but there are few other community magazines which produce such interesting and colourful editions, and the Eagle Team feels that we have the right balance.

Some of the original members of the Eagle Team are still involved in producing the magazine, contributing articles, distributing to homes in the area and working in other ways towards ensuring that another successful edition reaches our eager readers. Of course, there have been others who have joined us since I started, and their expertise, particularly in the use of computers, has been invaluable to me, and to the magazine as a whole. I admit that without their modern technological knowledge and guidance, I would be lost. Although I use a computer, my clerical background started when there were dip and scratch pens at bank and government office counters, so their support has been what has kept the Eagle going. I merely pull the strings together. The efforts of the entire Team are greatly appreciated, and I thank them all very sincerely for their support and efforts during my time as Editor.

It only remains for me to wish all readers of the Eagle, wherever in the world they may be, a peaceful Festive Season and a Happy 2013.

Ian Hay

7P

ortrait: Eilidh G

ow

8LOCAL GROUP NEWS

The following pages provide a round-up of the activities and

future plans of just some of the numerous groups and societies around Ballater and Crathie.

Got something to say about your group? Get in touch.

[email protected]

Aboyne Physiotherapy o ers a wide range of treatments to help with

back and neck pain, sports injuries, muscular and joint pain, stroke

rehabilitati on.

A GP referral is not a requirement for private physiotherapy. Pati ents are

very welcome to self refer.

Charleston Buildings, Ballater RoadAboyne, AB34 5HN

(013398) 86874www.aboynephysiotherapy.co.uk

PhysiotherapyOsteopathy

Sports & Remedial Massage

The Songsters by Sheila Rumbles

Winter Festivalby Val Norton

By the time you read this the village will again have benefited from an ice rink on the Church Green for two days in November, with the return of Ballaters Winter Festival.

Blackpool company Wonder Ice returned to host the event again, this time providing a rink double the size of that offered last year. More adults were encouraged to give it a go and children enjoyed free sessions through a school voucher scheme. Coinciding with the annual switch-on of the villages Christmas lights on Saturday 24th, many shops stayed open late to allow for festive shopping, and locals and visitors could also de-light in Santas Grotto, a bouncy castle, tombola, roundabout and an appearance by the Ballater and District Pipe Band. There was a visit from Refined Antiques Whats In Your Attic event, photographer Amy Muir had her own Winter Wonderland Studio and a Festive Reception was held by the Deeside Inn. If you would like to be involved or help make it happen next year contact Val at [email protected]

Following our Victoria Week Concert, the Songsters are now working hard on our Christmas programme, which brings me to wish all our faithful supporters a very Happy Christmas. We hope the coming New Year may be a healthy one for all.

Indoor Bowlingby Sheila Rumbles

It was great to get started indoors again at the end of September. Also, it was lovely to have a few new members join us, and they seem to be settling in fine.

Our Christmas fun night will be on Wednes-day 19th December at 7pm when our afternoon players join the evening ones to bowl together and then finish with Christmas fare. Our New Year session commences on Tuesday 8th January 2013.

Our well attended AGM on 18th October commenced with an enjoyable and comprehensive talk by Head Gardener from Drum Castle, Diana Robertson. This garden, she says, was designed and planted for admiring and pleasure as well as for providing flowers for flower arranging. With the aid of plant material she offered hints and tips for floral arrangers based on her own experience plus ideas garnered from a host of volunteers who regularly display their creative work throughout the castle rooms. As a result many members have decided to plan a visit to Drum Castle.

The programme this year has been a success thanks to outgoing committee members who have worked extremely hard organizing demonstra-tors and outings to local places. Praise then to Rosemary OShea (Treasurer), Anne Wisely (Secretary), Mildred Coull (Publicity), Joy Har-vey and Winifred Hepburn. Greatly appreciated too are the hard working volunteers: Sheila Skene (hospital flowers), Ruth Burrows (First Aid), Ivy Duncan (timely refreshments) and all the mem-bers who give a helping hand during events such as Walking Week and the Horticultural Show.

The following members have formed the new committee:Chairwoman Jenny HoustonTreasurer Diana CookSecretary Sheila Skene Publicity Maria FranklinProgramme Secretary Kathleen McCullochMembers Aileen Barbour and Margaret CameronRefreshments Ivy Duncan

Chairwoman Kathleen McCulloch has served brilliantly on committees over a span of 10 years and has been a member of the Floral Art Group for 17 years. Her last spell of five years has been as Chairwoman and in this period she has vital-ised the group, evoked an atmosphere of joy and friendship and produced flower arrangements of delightful colour harmony and texture. She thank-

fully remains on the committee and will assuredly pass on her dedication and commitment to Jenny Houston to whom we offer our very best wishes.

Our latest event in November 2012 featured the creation of exciting arrangements by John McDonald of Gleneagles Hotel in the Christmas Charity demonstration, proceeds of which are to go to Crathie Opportunity Holidays.

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PPPPPainterainterainterainterainter&&&&&

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TTTTTelelelelel.55816.55816.55816.55816.55816

9Floral Art Group by Maria Franklin

ROY MITCHELLJOINER

76 Golf RoadBallater

TELEPHONE:(013397) 55378MOBILE: 07792 117963

10

Marie Chapman

Soft Furnishings, Tarland

Hand and machine work

available for curtains,

pelmets, tie backs, cushions

and Roman blinds.

Also curtain alterations and

home visits available.

Free estimates with a large

collection of fabric samples.

Complete job catered for from

measuring to fitting.

Tel. 07833 175470

[email protected]

Entries at the Flower Show held in August were sadly down on previous years. The inclem-ent weather, frosts and relentless wind and rain, played a big part in this. On a positive note though, entries were up in the Childrens Chal-lenge, including some splendid mini-scarecrows and paintings. The youngsters are the future of the society and must be encouraged and praised for their efforts. Thanks to all who helped over the weekend and congratulations to the prize winners and Malcolm Jarvis, winner of the best garden competition. The schedule for next years show is currently being prepared and should be available at the February meeting.

New SeasonOur new season started with our AGM on 5th

November, followed by an illustrated talk by Mike Rattray, Head Gardener at Tillypronie. Many

of you will know the gardens well, and also the lovely refreshments provided on the open days, which adds to making a visit to these beautiful gardens very worthwhile. Mikes passion for and dedication to his work shone through.

New CommitteeOffice Bearers for the year are as follows:President: Alec Copland, Chairman: Jim

Clark, Vice Chairman: Michael Rattray, Treas-urer: Brian Gibson, Secretary: Elizabeth Wilson.

Future talks will include Mark Pattersons work at The Eden Project on 3rd December. Mark is the new curator at the Cruickshank Bo-tanical Gardens in Aberdeen. Andy Scobie works on rare plants on the Cairngorms and will give a presentation on 4th February. On 4th March, Emily Holmes will tell us about Deeside Forestry, Past, Present and Future. On 1st April, Alan Beedie, Head Gardener at Balmoral, will talk about Green Tourism at Glamis Castle Gardens where he previously worked. There will be a mini bulb show that evening and entries are welcome. Information about what to enter is available from the Library or at the meetings. Please show your support by submitting some entries. All events are published in the Eagle diary and on posters throughout the village.

The society welcomes new members whatever their age. Why not bring along a friend to the next meeting? Refreshments are always available at the end of the meetings where members can catch up with friends, meet new members and chat to the guest speaker. We look forward to seeing you.

Ballater RHS by Elizabeth Wilson

Ladies, if a man says he will fix it, he will. Theres no need to remind him

every six months about it.Anon

The members of The Rotary Club of Aboyne and Upper Deeside wish the residents of Bal-later and all the other readers of the Eagle a very merry Christmas and a healthy and happy 2013. We look forward to working with the community during the coming year.

The Club will be celebrating its thirtieth birth-day in 2013. For the last nine years Ron Drever has been the Club member providing information for the people of Ballater, via the pages of this excellent magazine. The Club is grateful to Ron for all his articles over the years.

Your Local Rotary ClubThe Club currently (at time of going to press)

has twenty nine members, mostly from Aboyne, Ballater and Tarland. New members are always welcome. The Club meets on a Monday evening, alternating between the Glen Lui Hotel in Bal-later and the Boat Inn in Aboyne. We have a light meal followed by a speaker and/or discussion on how the club activities are being planned and pro-gressing. Guests are welcome, so if you would like to come along please contact me; Mike Powell on 013398 86369 or [email protected]

The Purpose of RotaryThose of you whove read Rons articles will

know a great deal about the things we do; support-ing community groups and helping them with fund raising, helping development of young people and fundraising for international aid and educational charities. The essence of this is our aim to serve our communities, locally and internationally, while having fun and making friends. Log onto the Rotary in Britain and Ireland (RIBI) website for more information. http://www.ribi.org .

The World of Rotary Rotary InternationalRotary is a worldwide network of men and

women. Over 1.2 million members in 34,000 Clubs in 200 countries and geographical areas around the world. Rotary International forms

a global network of business, professional and community volunteers who devote their time and energy to serving their communities, locally and around the world.

Rotary was started in Chicago in 1905 and has grown to become the largest non-governmental service organisation in the world.

What Your Rotary Club Has Been Doing

We try to respond to all requests for help, as well as seeking out deserving causes. This year, since Rons last report, the following are a sample of things weve done or supported recently:

Raised funds by rolling dice for whisky, at Ballater, Braemar, Aboyne and Lonach Games and Tarland Show raising nearly 3,000 due to generosity of local people and visitors... Un-dertook a car park collection at Aboyne Games raising 1,200... Sold tickets for the CLAN raffle to win a Mini!!... Sponsored a primary school wildlife garden... Managed a race night in Tarland for the Curling Club for them to raise funds... Supported the group seeking to develop a skate park in Aboyne... Donated to a fund-raiser for the Stroke Association... Sponsored the Deeside Under-19s football team... Sponsored a local junior Scottish champion athlete... Ran the barbeque for the Aboyne bonfire and fireworks display... How can we help you?

Aboyne & Upper Deeside Rotary by Mike Powell

11

SWRI by Aileen Barbour

President Anne Richardson welcomed members, seven new members and visitors to our first meeting after the summer break. Our guest speaker was Douglas Watt from Raemoir Garden Centre who gave a demonstration of planting bulbs, plants and small shrubs in a container. He also gave us tips on how to get the best results when planting bulbs for inside display to get a good show. Douglas answered a lot of questions from members and kindly donated items for the raffle. The competition was A Favourite Vase: 1) Mary Munro, 2) Liz Emslie, 3) Frances Thompson, 4) Anne Moffat.

Willow WeavingOur October meeting was opened by Presi-

dent Anne Richardson when our guest speaker was Helen Jackson from Portach who gave a talk and demonstration on Willow Weaving. It was very interesting to see a traditional skill and she informed us of the different types of willow she used and brought a selection of items she has made. The competition was Autumn Photo: 1) Diane Wright, 2) Frances Johnstone, 3) Frances Coull, 4) Margaret Cameron. Our next meeting was on the 21st November and our guest speaker was Davinia Bissett from Rock Salt and Snails.

2013 ScheduleWed 16th January: Floral Art by Mary

Wright Open Evening and Sales Table, The Albert Hall at 7.30pm

Wed 20th February: Police Talk, Safety at Home by Kevin Marron, Michael Sheridan Room at 7.30pm

Wed 20th March: Rescue Dogs by Gary Carroll, Michael Sheridan Room at 7.30pm

Wed 17th April: Business Meeting, Michael Sheridan Room at 7.30pm

Carnelian

Feel Good Factor

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Invercauld Lodges

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13

Vegetables, Herbs & Fruit

Fresh DailyWholefoods & SpicesPickles & Chutneys

Homemade Jams & Marmalade

Sauces Cakes

Smoked SalmonMonday - Saturday

47 Bridge Street, Ballater. 013397 55741

Homemade in store:Quiches, Tarts, Salads,

Soups, Sandwiches

Fabulous Fresh Flowers

Bunches to Bouquets Handcooked CrispsCheeses & Biscuits

Olives Antipasto

CharcuteriePicnic Hampers

Buffets catered for

Try our veg boxes - Free weekly delivery

Residential Caravan Associationby Alex Handley

The Ballater Residential Caravan Associa-tion was set up several years ago and its sole pur-pose was to act on behalf of the owners of static caravans on the Ballater Caravan Site in liaising with the then owners of the site (Aberdeenshire Council) for the maintenance and improvement of the facility for the benefit of the members.

Now that the caravan site has changed hands and has come under the ownership of Ballater Community Enterprise Limited, the members of the Association, and in particular the committee which was formed to liaise with the new owners, are pleased that the partnership is continuing to have positive dialogue with a view to making improvements for the benefit of all who use the site. The new owners have intimated that there will be changes, but that these will take time to be implemented and therefore patience will be required by the members of the Association.

The committee of the Ballater Residential Caravan Association is pleased to be given the opportunity of working alongside the new owners and would take this opportunity to wish them well in this new venture, and will work in partnership to see the hoped for changes come to fruition.

14 V&A Memorial Hallsby Bell Macaulay

ASBESTOS ROOF REPLACEMENT ROOFING REPAIRS

GARAGE ROOF CONVERSIONS

ASBESTOS REMOVAL AND DISPOSAL

SEPA REGISTERED

Free competitive quotations at all times

Call Bill Stephen on 0800 707 6223 or 07778 776883

or email [email protected]

11 Monaltrie Close Ballater, Aberdeenshire, AB35 5PT

Telephone (0800) 7076223Mobile (07778) 776883

Email [email protected]

Council GrantRefurbishment of the Victoria and Albert

Halls has taken a major step forward with an award of 50,000 from Aberdeenshire Council.

We are now well placed to get work started on the improvements to the Albert Hall kitchen, toilets and entrance hall. The Project Team has examined in considerable depth four separate quotes for an improved kitchen and is very close to agreeing which quote is, in our opinion, the most appropriate for the requirements of future users of the kitchen. Meanwhile, arrangements are also in hand to obtain quotes to undertake the other contracting work required to complete the vision of a modern, community function suite. It is hoped that the work can start by the beginning of 2013.

Future PlansIsla Imrie is busy working up an application to

the Big Lottery Fund to cover the costs of roof re-

pairs, roof insulation, double glazing in the Albert Hall, renewed heating equipment and improved toilet arrangements for the Victoria Hall.

These two stages would give the community two areas with distinct uses the Albert Hall refurbished to a very high standard for weddings and celebrations, providing a potential revenue stream from outwith the village and the Victoria Hall for club activities, sales and events requiring more floor space. In due course, we would hope to develop the lower ground floor as a learning centre.

New WebsiteAll these plans will be publicised, managed

and marketed through our new website:www.victoriaalberthalls.co.uk

with new bookings being taken by Faye Swan through Ballater Library. There will also be a monthly duty member dealing with day-to-day

issues who can be contacted via mobile phone number 07598 808018.

All these arrangements will take time to bed in, and I hope that Halls users will be patient and help us to work through any problems which will undoubtedly arise.

We would be delighted to welcome everyone to our monthly meetings. The ambitious pro-gramme of refurbishment will only be achieved with the support of the community, but we believe that the end result will be a suite of halls which will cater comfortably to the needs of all ages and abilities, and provide a sustainable income which will keep our costs competitive and manageable in these difficult times.

The Victoria and Albert Halls Development Association would like to wish all halls users a very happy Christmas, and a healthy and prosper-ous New Year.

Saturday Filmsby Adrian Scripps

Organisers of Ballater Films were delighted by the turnout for the October afternoon showing of Aardman Animations The Pirates, An Adventure With Scientists. The new autumn seasons 3pm time, availability of tickets at Yules Newsagents and the one-off grandparents get in free pro-motion all added up to nearly 40 bums on seats.

War Horse on November 10th was a fitting cinematic tribute for Remembrance weekend and represented a deviation from the animated capers presented so far. Ballater Films was very pleased to welcome a different audience and will look to build on this success in 2013.

Decembers film is Ice Age 4 (U) on Saturday 15th at 3pm. Tickets are again available from Yules and all ages are welcome to come and enjoy this popular festive animated adventure.

Ballater Panto?The idea of a locally-produced Pantomime in

Ballaters Victoria Hall in January 2014 has been mooted. Oh yes it has! Look out for more details in the local press, village notices and the Spring edition of the Eagle. Its behind you!

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Showing at the Mike Sheridan Room, V&A Halls,

Saturday December 15th, 3pm

Victoria Weekby Cat Houston

all stylists

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Sarah,

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Ballater Hairstyling

The Hair Loft

Open Tues - Sat

Please call for an appointment

Merry Christmas

to all our

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Firewood

Tel: 013397 55997Mobile: 07821 746756email: [email protected]

web: www.weejim.webs.com

The Victoria and Albert HallsBallater and District Pipe BandBlack Watchs chosen charity, ErskineDrumoak SSPCABallater School Parent CouncilThe Winter FestivalCLAN Cancer Support

The Firefighters CharityBallater FilmsBallater Toddlers & Homestart BallaterThe History GroupGlenmuick ChurchSt Kentigerns ChurchThe Castleton Dancers charities

More than a dozen local groups and organisa-tions and some selected national charities are set to benefit from monies raised during this years fes-tival of fun, Ballater Victoria Week. The present committee met in November to decide how to allocate the surplus funds, and a wide range of groups representing all ages and causes will get a share of the profits, totalling around 3,500.

2012 was a year of celebration for VW as it commemorated both the Queens Diamond Jubilee year and its own Silver Jubilee. Special events this year included a premiere of the Disney blockerbuster Brave, a Sideburn Festival and Victorian Photo Studio, alongside all the usual favourites like the Ghost Tours and 4x4 Safaris.

Coordinator Adrian Scripps said: Its great to see that all the hard work put in by lots of people leading up to and during Victoria Week to enable people to have so much fun was also so worthwhile. As well as donating to a wide range of groups, Victoria Week has also purchased numerous items for the community use this year, such as some new marquees. We look forward to building on all our efforts into 2013.

Cheques will be distributed at the AGM on Thursday December 13 in the Mike Sheridan Room at 7.30pm. Wine, drams and nibbles will be served, along with a short resume of how things went and a slideshow of highlights. All are welcome to attend, especially if you have any new ideas for VW 2013, or would like to volunteer to help. More details at www.ballatervictoriaweek.co.uk or call 013397 55243 or 55018.

VW Beneficiaries 2012

16

17

Glen Lui

Restaurant open all year round

Comfortable and Relaxing with Excellent Food and Wine

Family groups and companies welcome

Book for our Festive Menu available throughout December

Closed December 24, 25 and 26.

Lunch daily from 12 to 2 p.m. / Dinner daily from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Invercauld Road, Ballater, Royal Deeside AB35 5PP

Tel.013397 55402

www.glen-lui-hotel.co.uk Email: [email protected]

Private Function & Conference Facilities

* Licensed for Weddings *

H O T E L

RESTAURANT & bISTRO BAR

BBAby Faye Swan

Santa and his reindeer will again visit Bal-later on the morning of Christmas Eve, thanks to the generosity of the Hilton Craigendarroch.

They will be on the Church Green at 11.30am to welcome the festive season in style.

The Ballater Business Association will have bags of sweets ready for the children.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all Eagle readers from the Ballater Business Association! Were looking forward to 2013 and thank everyone for the support shown to local businesses. Our websites will have a new look some time in the next few weeks and we would be glad to have your feedback. Contributions for the websites Notice Boards and Events pages are most welcome and may be delivered to Ballater Library or emailed to the contact addresses for www.visitballater.com and www.ballatercom-munity.com.

Check the Eagle diary for the date, time and location of the AGM as well as all our meetings. Information about clubs, local events, activities and special events like Ballaters Christmas celebrations (like Santa!) will be posted on the websites and the Facebook pages: Visit Ballater, Ballater Community and Ballater Business Association.

Photo: A

my M

uir

dog groomingS H O R T , B A R K & S I D E S

18 CLAN Cancer Supportby Gemma Powell and Joan Cowie

FundraisingOur local CLAN fundraising committee held

a Quiz Night in the Huntly Arms Hotel, Aboyne on September 25th, which was well attended despite the terrible weather that evening! The quiz night and raffle altogether raised 129.80 for CLAN Cancer Support and all members of the CLAN fundraising committee would like to thank all those brave souls who took part for com-ing out despite the stormy weather to help raise money for CLAN Cancer Support.

Members of the CLAN fundraising group did bag packing at the Co-op in Aboyne on Saturday 20th October and raised 400.

New Therapy BedSoldiers from the Royal Guard joined the

army of volunteers supporting Clan Cancer Sup-port when the charity found itself in a tricky situa-tion. The introduction of a new electronic therapy bed to the CLAN centre in Ballater posed a

logistical challenge as staff faced the prospect of hiring specialists to manoeuvre the new equipment into position in the therapy room upstairs.

Gemma Powell, Aberdeenshire services co-ordinator for CLAN, said: It was a difficult task to get the bed up the stairs in the centre and without the Armys help we would have had to have hired a removal team. The electronic therapy bed will be a great benefit to clients and therapists as it is designed for a variety of therapies and it can be adjusted for each client. Therapies we currently offer in the centre are Aromatherapy, Reiki, Homeopathy and Reflexology.

CLAN Cancer Support is an independent charity which provides comfort, support and in-formation, free of charge, for anyone, of any age, affected by any type of cancer. The charity covers the whole of Grampian, Orkney and Shetland. For more info about CLAN Cancer Support please call the Ballater centre on 013397 56318.

STATION

Station Square, Ballater AB35 5PB

Telephone 013397 55050

Popular Informal Restaurant in the Old Royal Station

Open daily from 10am

Volunteering For CLANMany readers will be familiar with the CLAN Cancer Supports charity shop in Ballater. Open

Monday Saturday, the shop provides much needed income that helps to ensure that CLAN can continue to provide services locally.

We are renowned for the quality of goods we have for sale, including an extensive range of mens and womens clothing, and would like to thank everyone for their generous donations and support. If you havent been into the shop wed invite you to come and have a look round you might be very surprised at what you will find.

We couldnt run our shop without the support of a dedicated team of volunteers, like Deirdre from Ballater who helps to sort and price donations as well as working on the till. Deirdre says, For me the most enjoyable part of my role is meeting customers locals and tourists. I wanted to give something back to the local area and enjoy helping a local charity.

Margaret from Braemar helps out with fund raising events as well as helping in the shop. She too enjoys meeting people. Margaret says, I volunteered to help CLAN because the charity helps so many people who have been directly or indirectly affected by cancer.

Letchimi, also from Ballater, says: I enjoy helping out and have already met some good friends as a result. The support we get from the public is also very encouraging both from the donations they bring in and their patronage of the shop.

So volunteering in the shop can be fun, sociable and rewarding. To ensure that we have enough cover in the shop six days per week, we do need more volunteers to join the team. We are also looking for volunteers to help with fundraising and events. To find out more about how you can get involved with CLAN please call us on 013397 56318. www.clanhouse.org

20

Philipp N. Stellmach

Plumbing & Heating Engineer

6 Craigview Place, Ballater, AB35 5PJ

Telephone:

013397 55565Mobile:

07801 947528Email:

[email protected]

BroadbandThe project is still working with Aberdeen-

shire Council and the Cairngorms National Park Authority to bring broadband to areas of poor or no coverage. Presently Aberdeenshire Council has prepared several cases on behalf of rural communities to look at testing how best to provide a broadband service to the more dif-ficult to reach areas. This project has submitted for consideration a strong case on behalf of a number of communities in Deeside. It is unclear how things will progress as the whole procedure is subject to a national broadband programme. However the good news is that Aberdeenshire Council are committed to bringing some level of broadband to all areas.

Ballater Learning CentreThe Learning Centre initiative has submitted

a draft memorandum of understanding to the Royal Deeside Partnership with Aboyne, Ballater

and Braemar, which will formulate the basis for the partners contributions to the operating of a centre in Ballater within the Victoria and Albert Halls. Once this has been agreed, funding bids can be made for some equipment.

Braemar Action PlanBraemar has an action plan working group

which is currently preparing a draft community action plan. This will be presented to the Com-munity Council at the end of the year for them to endorse and then begin the actions which will shape the way the community and various agen-cies tackle the priorities which have been identified for Braemar.

Housing PartnershipThe Princes Trust is helping put together

options for a site on Balmoral for self build op-portunities with the Highland Small Communi-ties Housing Trust looking into how to ensure the housing is appropriate to the needs of the community now and in the future as well as how the financing element will work so local people can afford to be part of the scheme. When this aspect and the design consideration are complete, a report will be submitted to the Cairngorms Na-tional Park Authority as part of a pre-application submission, which comes in advance of the formal planning application.

Community Website Assistance

Once again a reminder about the small fund available from the Cairngorms National Park Au-thority to help local groups establish or improve their group or project websites. If anybody is interested in applying for this fund please contact me on the details above/opposite as I have the guidance and application forms. Several groups in Ballater have already taken up the offer and received funds up to nearly 1000 so dont let the opportunity pass for your group to benefit!

Finally as always I would ask folk to contact

DDDPby Nick Mardall

Brian SmithFuneral Services Ltd

The only family run and owned funeral directorin Aboyne, Banchory and Peterculter

317 North Deeside Road, PeterculterTel: 01224 732530

Huntly Road, AboyneTel: 013398 86625

85A High Street, BanchoryTel: 01330 825400

Contact Brian or Angela Smith (24hrs)

Pre-Paid Funeral Plans Available

me if they have any project or funding they would like me to help them pursue. [email protected] or telephone 013397 53775.

DalmochieFinally the Forestry Commission has consid-

ered the application under the National Forest Land Scheme for the Dalmochie site. Fortunately, down to a lot of hard work from the Ballater Historic Forestry Project Association and BRD, the application was successful and the land can now be purchased for the community. We expect to be able to raise the money by spring and then prepare an international project to restore the site.

Dalmochie CampLetter to the Editor

Dear Editor,We would like to take this opportunity to thank

all the people of Ballater who gave so freely of their time to help us retrace the footsteps of our fa-ther Sam Beckett, a member of the Newfoundland Foresters stationed at Dalmochie Camp in 1940.

We look forward to revisiting the area when the campsite is fully developed. I think it will be a great tourist attraction for many Newfoundland descendants and relatives of the 3,000 foresters who were scattered all over the Scotland High-lands during the war effort.

We had such a great experience that we will take every opportunity to promote this destination as a place for Newfoundlanders to connect with their past.

Regards,Eric & Gerri Beckett

22

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Ballater (RD) Ltdby Jack Coull

The Caravan Park is about to complete its first season under the management of Ballater Community Enterprises and has been very suc-cessful with good ownership satisfaction.

Projects to which BRD are contributing, such as the Dalmochie Heritage Centre and the Birkhall Self Build scheme, are progressing well.

Measures continue to provide a Welcome to Ballater granite stone at the west end of the Pass of Ballater similar to the one erected at the east entrance to the village.

It is intended to conduct a feasibility study regarding the location and construction of a Heritage Centre for Ballater where photographs and village memorabilia can be on permanent display for tourists.

In conjunction with Ballater and Crathie Community Council the possibility of recreating an appropriate Coat of Arms for the village is

being investigated.All BRD members are reminded that they

will be welcome to attend the Annual General Meeting of BRD which will take place on Thurs-day 29th November at 7.30pm in the Beaton Craigie Room, Victoria and Albert Halls.

Pic: Nick Mardall

The Dalmochie Camp today

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Balmoral Eventsby Garry Marsden and

Glynn JonesWinter Climb

Celebrate International Mountain Day with a winter ascent on the Balmoral Estate and climb a winter peak with the Balmoral Rangers. A high walk, the exact route will be decided on the morn-ing of the walk and will mainly depend on weather conditions. A good level of fitness is required.

Date: Saturday 8th December Meeting point: Spittal of Glen Muick Visitor

Centre.Time: 9.30am until 3.30pmCost: 10 per person.Booking essential call 013397 55059.

Festive ToursWinter Tours are available around Balmoral

Castle every Saturday up to and including Satur-day December 15th. Tours are conducted on the hour, from 11am to 2pm. December 15th will also bring us the Balmoral Gift Shop Christmas Sale from 10am until 4pm, with 20% off most lines.

Coronation MemoriesAt Balmoral we are looking to displays for

next year and obviously the Coronation is top of my list. I wonder if any Eagle readers have memories of the Coronation and Coronation year, that they would mind sharing with the visitors to Balmoral next April to July? Pictures and memo-ries would be much appreciated. Please contact Garry Marsden at the estate office Balmoral on 013397 42555 or email [email protected]

An Eagle reader has already shared memories of gathering round a large bonfire celebrating the Coronation when the news of Sir Edmund Hil-lary conquering Mount Everest was announced.

24Coffee at the Kirk

The ever popular Monday Coffee Mornings in Crathie Church Hall continued till the end of October, with the Coffee Ladies extending their usual warm welcome to all comers and every week providing their wonderful home baking. Al-though the regular coffee mornings have finished for the winter, there will be a one off Christmas Coffee Morning on Monday 3 December, so be sure to keep that date free!

Sadly there will be one VIB. (Very Important Baker) missing from the Coffee Ladies line up Nan Colthart, a stalwart of the team for the last six years, is leaving the area at the end of November. Nan and her husband Jim, beadle at Crathie Church, are returning to their roots in the south of Scotland to be near their family. Nan will be much missed by everyone who comes along on Monday mornings.

On a brighter note, as one coffee pot emp-ties another one fills! Stepping into the Monday morning breach, Kindrochit Court, Braemar, are holding a drop in Coffee Morning every Mon-day at 10.30am. This will comprise, for a charge of 1.50, a mug of coffee and a freshly made pan-cake. The money raised will go to the Cyrenians in Aberdeen for their Christmas appeal.

Book GroupOur most successful read over the last few

months was Rules of Civility by Amor Towles, a witty, fast-paced novel set in 1930s New York. Also enjoyed was The Paris Wife by Paula MacLain, by coincidence set in the same era but as the name suggests mainly taking place in Paris, the wife in question being married to Ernest Hemingway. By contrast, Winter in Madrid by CJ Sansom, set in wartime Spain and harking back to the Spanish Civil War, failed to hit the

Crathie Newsby Marion MacIntyre

spot for the majority of the group.We are currently reading The Cellist of Sara-

jevo by Steven Galloway and on the horizon is The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling. Although it has had mixed reviews, the Harry Potter fans among us are especially looking forward to finding out how she tackles her first adult novel.

Ballater

Post Office

Hours of Opening:

Mon: 9am - 5.30pm

Tues: 9am - 5.30pm

Weds: 9am - 5.30pm

Thurs: 9am - 12.30pm

Fri: 9am - 5.30pm

Sat: 9am - 12.30pm

Please note we are OPEN over lunchtime

Foreign Currency

We now stock Euros

& US Dollars

for immediate purchase.

Tel: 013397 55505

www.ballaterpo.net

Support your local Post Office,

you know it makes sense!

Seasons Greetings

from all of us at your Post Office

Bowling ClubCrathie Bowlers are as usual meeting on

Tuesday and Friday evenings from 7pm to 9pm in Crathie New Hall. New members are always welcome and for more information, call Jean Young on 42415.

HogmanayEnjoy a lively start to the New Year at Crathie

New Hall! From 9pm on 31st December 2012 into the wee small hours of 1st January 2013, Eddie Esson and his band will be making the evening go with a swing. Come along for a great Hogmanay if you would like more information contact Jean Young on 42415.

Parish GuildThe Crathie and Braemar Parish Guild

meets monthly, either in Crathie Kirk Hall or Braemar Church Session Room. For informa-tion about the Guild contact Bell Macaulay , [email protected], tel 55745 or for copies of the syllabus contact Pat Thomson, [email protected], tel 41214.

Crathie Schoolby its pupils

We have been exploring the world of art. We visited an art exhibition in the Victoria Hall in Ballater and we visited a NEOS (North East Open Studio) event at Glenbuchat Hall in Strathdon. We really enjoyed both trips.

We have invited some of the older boys and girls from the Toddler Group into our classroom to share some of our learning experiences.

Outdoor VisitsWe have made regular visits to the Duck

Pond at Braemar and to the Muir of Dinnet Nature Reserve. We are keeping a close eye on our environment to see if we can notice any changes at different times throughout the year. We really enjoy learning outdoors and going on little adventures.

Friendly CoffeesWe have been supporting the Church. Some

Monday mornings we have had break time at the coffee morning, in the Church hall, instead of in school. The ladies at the coffee morning are very kind and friendly.

The Auld KirkBed & Breakfast and

Private Dining Rooms

We are pleased to announce that we are now taking bookings for private

dining and small functions including a special Christmas menu.

Quality en-suite accommodation open all year round. Please contact us to discuss your personal requirements

Braemar Road, Ballater

013397 55762 mobile 07918 698000

...and Fundraising Ones!We held a coffee morning in school to raise

money for MacMillan. Lots of people supported us and helped us to raise 241. Thats enough money for a nurse to look after someone for nearly 10 hours. We are very proud of this achievement.

27Community LearningBy Lindsay Lumsden

Kennin fa tPhoneAn information director y has been

launched that offers important information for older people in Upper Deeside. The Kennin fa tPhone directory contains information on housing, energy, money, adult learning, transport, libraries, health and social work, voluntary organisations and community transport schemes for people in the local area.

The project came about as the result of discussions between the Upper Deeside Community Development Group (UDCDG) and the Public Health Coordinator for Marr, looking for a way to address public health concerns and promote lifelong learning and leisure. The directory is designed to provide vital information to help members of the eld-erly population, which is higher than average in Upper Deeside, who live in a rural area.

The directory was put together with help from the Aboyne, Ballater and Torphins lunch clubs, residents from the Cromar Court and Sluiemohr sheltered housing complexes in Tar-land and Ballater and the West Aberdeenshire Access Panel.

Kennin fa tPhone was launched by the UDCDG in September, with funding from the Health Improvement Fund. Guests from the Aboyne Lunch Club and Sluiemohr Shel-tered Housing Complex enjoyed afternoon tea at the Victoria and Albert Halls in Ballater to mark the launch.

A thousand copies of the directory have been published and will be distributed throughout the Upper Deeside area. It will also be available online at www.ouraberdeen-shire.org.uk

The Chair of Aberdeenshire Councils Education, Learning and Leisure Commit-tee, Cllr Isobel Davidson, said: With a high proportion of elderly people living in Upper

Deeside, it is essential that we do all we can to ensure they have access to the most important services which affect their lives. It is great to see Aberdeenshire Council and the NHS working together to produce such a valuable resource and for rural areas like this one, it will be a real asset.

Committee vice-chair, Cllr Ron McKail, said: This booklet will ensure that older people in Upper Deeside can have easy ac-cess to information about important services available to them.

For more information contact community learning and development worker, Lindsay Lumsden, on 013398 86222, or email [email protected] or contact public health coordinator Dawn Tuckwood on 07900 136493 or email [email protected].

Hair Extensions coming soonTel: 07824 338 767

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Email: [email protected]

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Ballater & Crathie CCby Graham Adams

A big thank you to everyone for the feedback on the recent informal consultation we conducted for the CNPA. You will not be surprised to hear that it didnt bring out anything new; but its still important that we continue to reflect local opinions into CNPAs ongoing process and to continue to try to get those opinions recognized and acted upon.

Ballater and Crathie Community Council re-cently met with senior management of the CNPA and continue to work to get local views reflected in the park plans and to resist the park becoming the same throughout its important that local variations and views are preserved.

Some of you will be aware of the controversy surrounding the sale of the field (to the immediate east of Craigview Road, often used as a winter snow store) by Aberdeenshire Council. This land was sold in 2009 to an unidentified buyer

for an unknown purpose, under a confidential-ity agreement subject to planning approval. B&CCC have been pressing hard to get Ab-erdeenshire Council to either advise us who the prospective buyer is, and its intentions, or to place a time limit on the process. B&CCC have been repeatedly rebuffed with the claim that this is com-mercially confidential; but finally B&CCC has made progress and Aberdeenshire Council has given the buyer until 5th November to complete or withdraw. An appropriate date, perhaps, so hopefully by the time you read this we will know the full facts!

B&CCC have recently engaged with various senior managers from Aberdeenshire Council, which is proving most productive in general they are very pleased to receive our views, and we continue to develop our good working relationship with Aberdeenshire Council.

We continue to receive complaints about dog waste, and dogs out of control, on public foot-paths such as the Cinder path and the Cambus oMay paths.

Please continue to feed comments to us on this. We will continue to try and get the few badly behaved dog owners to improve their behaviour.

Finally, we continue to try to get some sense from the Co-op management. To that end, the lo-cal store mangers will be at our November meeting and I will report further on this in the next Eagle.

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Ballater School NewsCycle-Friendly AwardWe are very pleased that Ballater School has

been Awarded Cycle Friendly School status by Cycle Scotland. Ballater has lots of keen cyclists and over the past few years we have done lots of activities to encourage safe cycling in the area.

Every year parent volunteers run Bike Ability Scotland Level 2 training which allows P6 and P7 pupils to learn how to cycle safely and properly on the road. The school also has a cycle club, usually in the summer term, which is open to P4 and P5 pupils. The club teaches basic bike skills as well as being a fun activity.

This year as part of Activity Time there has been a cycle group. Matt from Cycle Scotland came to the school to assess us. He asked about the clubs and training as well as looking at the school grounds and the bike parking.

We are very pleased that we passed. We are now going to work on looking at safer ways for cyclists and pedestrians to get to school.

By Jonas Law P6

The Scottish PlayAt Drama we have a teacher called Mrs Hart.

We are very lucky to have her in our school this term. P5/6 are doing a play called Macbeth and we all think it is fun. We hope to perform soon.

Macbeth was written by William Shake-speare. These are the main parts Iona is Mac-beth, Louise is King Duncan and Cameron M and Byron B are the narrators.

Macbeth is set in Scotland and it is about the murder of King Duncan.

By Iona Sinclair, Ross McCallum & Cameron Murray P6

John Muir AwardAll pupils in P5 and P6 worked very hard last term to achieve their Discovery level of the John

Muir Award Scheme. Their work was based around the River Dee and involved lots of outdoor trips to the River and some of the tributaries. Pupils worked with Adrian Hudson of The River Dee Trust and some of his staff to learn about the route of the river, native and alien species that live in the river, the geology of the valley and the importance of the river for our environment and local economy.

Pupils enjoyed electro fishing to catch samples of salmon, trout and eels. We even got to handle the eels. We carried out wildlife surveys at different places on the river. We used all our information and experiences to create a group presentation about the River Dee which we shared with our parents, Adrian Hudson and representatives from The Cairngorm National Park Authority. We were all presented with our John Muir certificates at the end of term Prize giving.

By Zoe P7

Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

Act IV, Scene I

Ballater School News 200 ClubBallater School Parent Council is running

its annual 200 Club Draw again in 2013 with the first draw taking place at the end of January. For those of you that are unfamiliar with our 200 Club, draws take place monthly for six months of the year and each draw has four prizes, ranging from 10 up to the grand prize of 250 in the last draw in June! (see below).

Five monthly draws from Jan 2013 prizes:1st - 50, 2nd - 25, 3rd - 10, 4th - 10 Final draw in June 2013 prizes:1st - 250, 2nd - 150, 3rd - 100, 4th - 50 This is a great raffle with all tickets entering all

six draws and there are only 200 tickets so your chances of winning are fantastic! In addition to the prize money, this draw also raises just under a 1,000, benefiting Ballater School and its pupils.

Tickets are now on sale at 10 each, so if you would like a ticket (or two, or three) please call Nick Mardall on 54085 (evenings) or email [email protected] or Jo Croll on 55540 or email on [email protected]

Thank you for supporting Ballater school!By Nick Mardall P42

Safe Team TripAt the beginning of September P7 were

fortunate to be invited to go to Gordon Barracks Aberdeen to the Grampian Safe Team Event.

There were roughly 200 children there, where we were split into small groups to go around the stations. There were eleven stations altogether.

The stations were bus vandalism, bus safety, road safety, electrical safety, anti-social behaviour, assessing risk, fire prevention, first-aid, effects of alcohol, building sites and coastal/water safety.

We went to the Safe Team to help us learn how to keep ourselves and others safe. We learned lots of information about real life dangers and we hope we will remember our visit to help keep us safe. It was a fun day but some of it was quite scary too. We were glad to get chosen to go. Our favourite stations were the alcohol one where we had to put beer goggles on and try to walk on a line and the anti-social behaviour quiz.

By Calum Mitchell and Katie Fernie P7

MudblastersThe running club at Ballater School is called the Mudblasters. Every Wednesday we do running

club with Clare, Michelle, Miss Strang, Mrs Forsyth, Mrs Duckworth and Mr Croll.We run up the Craigendarroch Hill, along the Cinder path, down the Old Line and around the

park.We start off with warm exercises and then we try to run all the way and back. Sometimes we get some time trials. We like running club but it sometimes makes us quite tired.

We take part in races like the Balmoral Races and the Gordons College Race. We are looking forward to taking part in some races soon.

Thank you to all the helpers for organising our running club.By Elise and Lexi P5

Domestic & Commercial Crown Thinning & Reduction

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Teen AuthorsYour Eagle Needs You!

Deesides best community magazine (er, thats us) is looking for contributions from the younger generations of Ballater and Crathie to help fill its pages every quarter. The Eagle regularly has contributions from the primary schools, which are always fun to read and put together. Wed also like to encourage more input from those who attend secondary schools or college, as we feel this is a segment of our vibrant community that is presently underrepresented within the Eagle.

We Have Issue... IssuesIs there a burning issue youd like to address?

Something youd like help raising funds for? Maybe youd just like to express how wonderful it is to live here! Or not...? Your contributions can be short or lengthy, anything up to 800 words, and we welcome your pictures too. Send any words (in Word, ideally) and photos (100KB+) to:

[email protected] we will consider them for publication.

Remember to add your name, age and address or contact number to anything you send.

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34

Crathie, By Ballater

Log fires and a warm welcomeat The Inver

Good food & fine winesLunches & Dinners Reservations RequiredMerry Christmas to all our customers!

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This years Upper Deeside Art Societys an-nual Ballater Exhibition was again a resounding success. The members work on sale included framed paintings, wood turned bowls, leaded glass mirrors, 3D work, mosaic, hand-made cards and mounted works. Everyone in the Society is able to exhibit their work if they want to, so styles, mediums and subjects are varied, which means there is always something to appeal to everyone.

In this year of The Queens Diamond Jubilee, the Society was privileged to be loaned two of Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesays watercol-ours to display at the Exhibition. This was most generous of him and proved to be very popular with the visitors.

The Duchess of Rothesay, as The Duchess of Cornwall is known in Scotland, is an Honor-ary Member of the Society and takes a very keen interest in the work of the artists. The Duchess

paid a private visit and met and chatted to all the exhibitors present. Mrs Vera Cormack from Strathdon, who at 91 years old is the Societys oldest exhibiting member, presented The Duchess with a bouquet of flowers.

We are always honoured and delighted when Her Royal Highness is able to come to the Ex-hibition. This year two people were particularly delighted when The Duchess bought their paint-ings, one by Ballater artist Rosemary Romilly and one from Strathdon artist Jane Wills.

This is the second year a framed painting has been donated by a well-known local artist and member of the Society to be raffled during the week to raise money to fund the running of the exhibition. This year the painting was donated by Alison Ewan, and was won by Rhoda Barber from Stonehaven. Alison Ewan also generously donated a framed print of one of The Princes pictures and this was won by Wilma Glashan of Ballater.

The Ballater Exhibition is a very popular annual event with both locals and visitors. For the past four years Moira Mackenzie has taken on the massive task of Exhibition Organiser but has decided to take a well-earned rest and hand over to Ballater artist Jan Mason. The Victoria Hall in Ballater is already booked for the 2013 exhibition from 31 August to 8 September. We look forward to seeing you all again then!

Winter ProgrammeWith the summer over, UDAS members have

been enjoying their winter programme. UDAS does not focus only on painting and drawing. For instance, on Friday 7 December, Pip Will of Larks Gallery will give a talk and demonstration on the design and creation of glass bead jewel-

Duchess Smiles on UDAS

by Helen Jackson

FEATURESBrew something hot and put your feet up

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lery. All talks are open to non-members and are held at the Aboyne Bowling Club. They begin at 2.30 and the cost to non-members is 3.00. We do hope you will join us.

UDAS is a thriving, friendly group of people with all levels of ability and ages. You can find out more about forthcoming events and enjoy a gallery of members work on the website: www.udas.org.uk Also, telephone Sandra Allstaff on 01330 844442 or email [email protected] to find out about joining the Society.

Vera Cormack presented The Duchess of Rothesay with a bouquet of flowers

Moira MelroseKiltmaker

since 1992Quality Hand Sewn Kilts

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36

Celicall CraftsG. Cowie, Workshop,

3 Braemar Road, Ballater

Telephone: 013397 55699

By Appointment to H.R.H.The Prince Of WalesThe Duke Of RothesayPicture FramerCelicall Crafts, Ballater

Bespoke Picture Framer established over 25 Years.

Tapestry & Needlework framed.Supplier of framed Fishing Flies,

framed River Maps and local Pen and Ink Sketches.

In the Spring issue of the Eagle, Sandy Fra-sers appraisal of the life of his mother, known as Granny Fraser, stirred memories for an expat Crathie Loon, David Howie. In his article, Sandy referred to his parents living at Coldrech Cottage, and David too had lived there.

I was born John David at the end of 1940 in Abergeldie Cottage. My parents were John and Constance Howie, my father probably best known as the one-armed postman, having lost his left arm during WW1. Ive always been known as David to avoid any confusion.

I think back now and wonder at how my father did so much with just one arm. He had a specially adapted bike from the Post Office so that he could do his rounds and made himself all manner of devices so that he could dig the garden for growing our vegetables and play golf. No easy NHS help in those days!

Three years later my brother Andy was born and we made our first move to the Coldrech, moving in after Mr and Mrs Thow moved out. We lived there for about three years until my sister Jean put in an appearance. I remember learning how to fish for trout in the burn which ran along-side, a hobby which still gives me pleasure today. We took our grandchildren up to see the cottage a few years ago and they were horrified at how far I had to walk just to get to the road for a bus to Crathie school when I was just a little laddie. Even more shocked that I used to do this on my own. If I missed the bus it was a four-mile walk in the dark during the winter time. Couldnt see youngsters doing that today or their parents letting them! Mr and Mrs Morrison and their family came in after us.

On The Move AgainOur next move was to Tomidhu cottage. The

farm was then run by Willie Grant and I think his first words to me were Oh not you again loon. He was remembering me from our time at Abergeldie when he ran the farm there. On one occasion I let all his chickens out. Then another time it was the pigs but the worst of my crimes was turning on the tap of the water barrel only for him to find half of his store of paraffin over the ground. I was only a wee loon at the time but obviously left a lasting impression.

It was during our stay there that Andy and I joined the Crathie cricket team playing alongside Bud Fraser, his sons and Andy Kemp.

At 12 years old I went down to Ballater School with friends like Sandy Downie and Peter Gillan. The happiest days at school were when we volunteered for tattie picking in fact anything to get us out of school. I left on my 15th birthday, throwing my books off the bus to prove I wasnt going back again.

I started working on the Balmoral Estate in the forestry the next day. Working with Bob Bisset

Memories of a Crathie Loonby David Howie

ShanghaiTakeawayFinest Chinese, Peking, Thai

& Cantonese Cuisine10 Golf Road, Ballater AB35 5RE

013397 55666

Telephone Orders Welcome

Opening Hours: Open 7 days a week

Sunday to Thursday : 4pm 11pmFriday & Saturday : 4pm 11.30pm

We only accept cash

and Willie Urquhart, I learned the art of taking a quick lunch time nap, an art that has never left me.

When I was 17 I moved down south for work and shortly after that Mum, Dad, Andy and Jean moved to Fergach Cottages where they had Bob Bissett and his wife and Kenny Morrison and his family as neighbours. Mum and Dad lived there for the rest of their lives.

Andy moved on to be a postie in Aberdeen and now lives in Drumoak, Jean lives in Hert-fordshire about a couple of miles away from my wife and myself.

Weve all drifted a bit but as my wife likes to remind me: You can take them out of Crathie but you cant take Crathie out of them.

KALLOS beauty

Emma Murphy

A friendly and professional beauty therapist, formerly

of the Marcliffe.

Beauty treatments carried out in your home or

tourist accommodation.

Call 077345 43554 for an appointment.www.kallosbeauty.com

Irish Cream

Recipe

Ingredients1 tin condensed milk1 pint of long-life

Single Cream2 teaspoons of coffee1 cup of whisky

Method1. Put the condensed milk and the single

cream into a large bowl and mix together.2. In a separate, and smaller bowl, mix the

coffee and a small amount of the whisky to make a paste, then add the rest of the whisky.

3. Add the coffee/whisky mixture to the cream, and stir well with a wooden spoon.

4. Bottle, and place in the fridge.5. Do not keep longer than 5/6 weeks in the

fridge.

With thanks toBarbara Duncan

38

Ae night, when musing by the fire, Enjoyin its genial glow,My memory wandered back to scenes Of fifty years ago.These years have wondrous changes brought;Vast progress has been made.Prosperity has marked its courseIn every branch of trade.

Look where we will; on every handA rising town we see,As up-to-date as ony placeUpon the run o Dee.Weve general merchants, big and sma-Coutts, Barnett, Craig, MGregor,Murray, and Birse; theres trade for a.The toons aye growin bigger.

For bread supply weve Anderson,Malcolm, and Smith, and Milne;And cookies, buns, and wedding cakeThey mak wi taste and skill.And butchers we can boast a pair.Troups meats aye cheap and good;But if yere stoppin up the toonYere nearest Alick Wood.

MPhersons store is weel suppliedWi butter, eggs, and cheese,Aye sweet and fresh; yell deal wi himOr else yere ill to please.John Smith for fish; buy ance frae himYere sure to buy again.He hauds his grun though whiles hard runWi cadgers aff the train.

Harper for carrots, leeks, and peas,And every fruit that grows,In his shop yell see a kinds o gameHung up in great lang rows.Ye needna sup yer porridge dry,For milk yell get galore.The Eastfield cart or Davie ReidWill hant in at yer door.

Lamont or Deans, with bed and board,Supplies the tourists need.The Alexandras up to time;Its run by Willie Reid.And Mrs. Davidsons refreshIts famed baith up and doon.Courteus to all, she keeps the placeA credit to the toon.

The Caf for the cup that cheersCall in on Mrs. Scott.Shell promptly to your needs attend,And serve it piping hot.Should influenza symptoms show,Before ye call a doctor,Just try a drap o special Scotch;Yell get it good frae Proctor.

If sickness comes, and come it will, O doctors we hae twa.Theyre baith M.D. Its odiousComparisons to draw. Innes and Caird will sooth your painWith powders and with pills,Lotions and ointments warrantedTo cure a human ills.

With tailors we are weel equipped,Wilkie, an honest chiel;Mak, Bob D., and Milne & Co.,And Cameron, of Lochiel.

A Sketch of Ballaterby Charles Davidson

This poem, believed to refer to the shops and tradespeople of Ballater around 100 years ago, is from the book Deeside Lyrics

Ballater, circa 1900

39

C.S.M.

Handyman

J.Lanigan

general maintenance inside and

out, gutter cleaning, garden

tidying, chimney sweep, etc.

Strathgirnoc Farmhouse

South Deeside Road

Ballater

Tel.

013397 56227

Mobile

07506951506

Email: [email protected]

All the little jobs

you cant get any1 to do

Theyre a past masters of their craft;Yell travel mony a mileEre ye get work to equal theirsFor finish, cut, or style.

And Mrs. Alexander keepsA kinds of ladies dress,And owre a thriving milliner tradePresides with great success.For haircut in the latest styleGie Willie Smith a call,And while you wait hell shave your faceAs smooths a billiard ball.

For boots and shoes and dancing pumps,Or slippers neat and trig,Theres Castel, Simpson, Willie Milne,And Finlay at the Brig.Mitchell and Smith the saddler tradeRicht weel do represent.Theyll sell you rods, reels, lines and hooksIf yere on fishin bent.

John Knowles and Robb with skill and careCan clean a clock or watch,Or mend a scarfpin or a broochWith neatness and dispatch.John Findlay for deers heids and skins;Willox will mend your bike.With steel and iron Willie SmithMaks onything ye like.

The Deeside press in Albert RoadWide custom has secured;With first-class work and moderate chargeIts success is assured.And Morgans studios up-to-date,Complete in every part.His cabinet and landscape viewsAre splendid works of art.

The bookstall keeps the magazinesAnd papers of the day.MKenzies fancy goods saloonIs aye a fine display.

Miss Farquharson a record holdsOf service nobly done;Her able and efficient staff

Have public favour won.Our watchful guardians of the peace,Dutys a special care.A lum on fire pits up their ire,So housewives a beware!

If cup or plate ye smash or knockThe handle aff the trackie (teapot),Haud doon to Mrs. Reillys shop, Or owre to Jamie Mackie,And every kind of crockery wareTheyll furnish in a trice.For rags or bones and rabbit skinsThey give the highest price.

The different building trades, ower themI hinna time to gang.Next time I tak a rhymin fitTheyll mak anither sang.I trust by those Ive mentioned hereNae umbrage will be shown.My motto is; Try to amuse,And give offence to none.

40

Graham Stuart

Plumbing & Heating Engineers

Tel: 013397 55627 / Fax: 56342Mobile: 07836 562946

Est. 1975

BathroomsBoiler ReplacementsPressurised Systems

Oil Fired, Solid Fuel orUnderfloor Central Heating

Cindy Adams

PG Dip (Coun)

Person Centred Counsellor

1 Netherley Place

Tel: 07969 495399

Andraby Ian Cameron

At Dalguise I had a lodger, one Andra Gilmore, who had been carter on the estate for a long time before it was taken over by the Forestry Commission. He had elected to stay on and plant the new trees, indeed the young larches growing outside his bothy door had been carried home in his pocket, to be lovingly planted and protected from rabbits, the hungry descendants of Beatrice Potters original Peter Rabbit. The following is part of his story.

Andra was last to climb down from the platform of the truck. The driver shook his hand and said All the best, Andra, Ill be seeing you, then he turned his truck and drove off into the gathering darkness.The little group of men stood talking together for a moment then broke up as they set off home for supper.

Andra slung his piece-bag over his shoulder and set his steady pace along the road, passing the little store-cum-post office with its harassed owner

trying to cope with the usual Friday pay-night rush of locals. A poster stuck on the Hall door, announcing a forthcoming concert, drew scant attention from Andra. He used to be a regular patron of all functions, but, after winning a raf-fle one night, someone, in jest, said that he was cheating. Andra was so enraged that he returned the prize and left the Hall. He had never been through the door since. Just past the Hall, Andra struck up a private road, past a small cluster of white-washed cottages; he paused on reaching two stone pillars, one on each side of the drive.

Andra could remember when massive wrought-iron gates had hung there, resplendent in the black paint that he used to renew each year. He remembered too, how they had been sacrificed as scrap metal for the war effort. On either side of the drive ran straight rows of tree stumps. Andra recalled with mixed feelings, the once tall sycamores and limes that had stood there, their majestic beauty in high summer, their welcome shade, and then again the endless toil sweeping up and burning their leaves on cold November mornings.

Andra could now see the Castle, but at this point he turned up a steep track that left the drive. This led to a quadrangle limited by a gardeners cottage on one side, a large archway leading to the castle opposite, and on the other two sides sta-bles, coach houses and latter-year motor garages. Andra made for the corner of the nearest building

Opening Hours:Monday 2pm - 6pmTuesday 10am - 2pm

Wednesday 10am - 5pmThursday Closed

Friday 12 noon - 5pm

Tel. 013397 - 55134

Morven Veterinary Practice

24 Golf RdBallater

AberdeenshireAB35 5RS

where a green-painted porch with one small win-dow leaned against the wall. The old man found a key under a pail and opened the door. An old army blanket hung immediately behind the door for a screen. Andra pushed it aside and entered his 2/6d per week home.

In days gone by, this had served as an estate office. The room was lined with wood from floor to ceiling, there was an old iron fireplace, leaning at a crazy angle and only held from final collapse by a broken file jammed into the brickwork. A bed with innumerable quilts was placed under the only window, and a table, one arm chair and two trunks completed the furniture.

Andra lit a large blue-glass paraffin lamp, sought out dry kindlings and paper for his fire and soon had his sooty kettle boiling. His supper busied him for some time, and he switched on his old Sky Queen radio to hear the news and the weather report. Then, as had long been his custom, he sat down before the fire to read his newspaper.

Tonight, however, was different. The print, always troublesome, refused to keep his attention, and his mind kept moving away to events long past of his childhood on the farm where his father had worked, of how he had had to leave school, against his headmasters wishes, at 13 years of age to start work and help keep the home. Andra remembered, too, the pain when he had been rushed to hospital in Perth for an appendix operation, and later, the deeper, greater hurt of being turned down for the Metropolitan Police, because of the resultant scar.

As he grew older, Andra had worked on many farms, some good places, others not so good. One farm in particular he did not like, and, to escape his term of employment, he had crossed a flood-swollen River Tay at night in a rowing boat to lodge his kist, full of all his worldly possessions, in the sanctuary of the nearest railway station left-luggage office at Glencarse.

Some 30 years ago, Andra had come to Dal-guise Estate as carter, or horseman. Life had been uneventful but satisfying until the war came. After

the war, the estate grounds had been sold to the State for tree planting and Andra had opted to work among the new trees. The castle had become a youth holiday and sports centre.

All this rushed through the old mans mind, of the changes that he had seen and the way of life that had gone. Now was his time of change, tomorrow would mark the start of a final chapter, because, after 52 years of honest and conscien-tious toil, Andra had retired.

Today, Dalguise House is part of the Parents Get Lost adventure holiday

organisation for children.

42 Breast CancerDont get scared, get checked

The earlier breast cancers found, the easier it is to treat. Most women know that if you get a lump in your breast, you need to get it checked out early. Lumps can appear anywhere in your breasts, armpit or around your collarbone, Some-times an area feels thicker or just different to the rest of your breasts. But lumps arent the only sign of breast cancer.

Signs to Look Out For:Skin like orange peel. Some womens breasts

look red and become sore. The skin looks like orange peel because the pores stand out in the inflamed area.

Crusty nipples. Some women get crustiness around or on their nipple. Sometimes its like a red rash, sometimes its flaky skin, and it can be itchy.

Turned-in nipples. Any changes in the size or shape of your breasts need to be checked out. One of the more noticeable changes is a nipple

Actress and comedian Elaine C Smith fronted a recent awareness-

raising campaign by the NHS.

that, over time, becomes turned in.Leaking nipples. If you notice a discharge

coming from your nipple, you need to see a doc-tor as soon as possible. Sometimes the liquid has blood in it, but not always.

Dimples. Some women find dimples on their breasts. These can appear anywhere and need to be checked out early.

The other thing you can do is find out more about breast screening. Its estimated that breast screening save 130 lives in Scotland every year. If youre between 50 and 70, youll be invited for a mammogram every three years. This takes place at a screening unit in your local area. (Women over 70 are welcome to refer themselves for screening via their local screening centre). But, please re-member, you still have to look out for any changes in between screenings.

For more information on signs or symptoms and signposting to local cancer support organisa-tions contact your local NHS Grampian health-point, call the free healthline on 0500 20 20 30 or log on to nhsinform.co.uk

Crannach Coffee

Shop & Bakery

at Cambus OMay

Open Thursday - Tuesday11am - 5pm

Bread Making Courseson Wednesdays

Gift Vouchers Available

Tel: 013397 55126 for details

43

Since my election as one of your Ward 15, Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside council-lors, life has been a bit of a whirlwind! The other two councillors available for you to contact are Cllr. Peter Argyle and Cllr. Geva Blackett.

I have had a huge amount of training to en-sure I can provide you all with the best possible service. The initial weeks have meant a very different lifestyle both for me and my car. The days of travelling little more than to Ballater, as I have for the past 26 years, have gone; these days I can be anywhere from Aberdeen to Huntly to Stonehaven and Ballater of course. At first the lack of a fixed routine was very disconcerting but now after nearly six months, every day being different is just part of the challenge.

Good to KnowThere are a few things I would like tell you

about, services that are here to help, but not

everyone is aware of them.To report road defects or street lighting or

gritting or snow clearing faults, phone 08456 081205 or text 07624 820722.

Or alternatively you can go online and com-plete a simple form which then goes directly to the correct service. The internet address is:

www.aberdeenshire.gov.ukLook for Report It, this will open a box for all kinds of faults. You just tick the fault you would like to report pothole, street light or whatever.

You can also go online to look through Ab-erdeenshire Councils entire Lending Library and reserve books, DVDs and CDs. Local Bus Timetables are also available to check routes and times. The website has a vast amount of informa-tion for everyone, but if you dont have access to a computer you can get free access to one at Ballater Library, or you can telephone the council on the numbers given on page 58.

Aberdeenshire Council by Katrina Farquhar

MAN, DOG, STROKEby Eric Sinclair

8.99

Available in all good bookshops and as an e-book or paperback from Amazon.

Or post-free from the publisher send an email with your name and address to Deeside Press: [email protected]

All profits to the charity The Stroke Association

44 Cairngorms NPAby Katrina Farquhar

What does the Cairngorms National Park mean to you, me and to visitors?

The Cairngorms National Park has four aims defined by legislation; in the UK and across the world only the two Scottish National Parks have this unique position.

As communities, we have to work hard to achieve these aims. I feel we should be encouraged to promote sustainable economic growth; as rural communities we need to thrive to survive in this current climate. We have to provide employment for all as well as encouraging people to stay in the area. We dont want a national park that no one lives in and is only used by visitors. This can only be achieved by locals, visitors and the Cairngorms National Park Authority working with communi-ties towards shared goals.

The park authority is here to assist, advise and facilitate in any way it can. It has a dedicated

Royal Deesides Award Winning Highland Retreat

Darroch LeargDinner7pm - 9pm

Sunday Lunch12:30 - 2pm

a red Star hotelan aa Inspectors choicehotel recommendedin the good Food guideand Scotland the Best

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The wind turbine at The Lecht

Good Food GuideAA Highly Commended& Visit Scotland

Michelin Guide

Dinner 7 - 9pmclosed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday

The Green Inn

9 VICTORIA ROAD, BALLATER

TEL: 013397 55701

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housing officer to assist with the complex housing issues in rural areas and towns alike. There are forums throughout the park with which people can get involved and this helps to raise awareness of what assistance is available for the individual com-munities throughout the park. The park authority also supports the Cairngorms Business Partner-ship, which is available for all businesses to join.

The planning office is based in Ballater and our staff are there to help. They provide invaluable pre-application advice and guidance throughout the application process. There is a my

Ballater & Crathie Eagle, Issue 68, Winter 2012

Documents

Transcript of Ballater & Crathie Eagle, Issue 68, Winter 2012