ballater & crathie eagle, issue 65, spring 2012

The Ballater & Crathie Eagle is made possible by:Advertising, Donations, Sponsorship, Fundraising, “Awards for All” Lottery

funding, and Cairngorms Leader + European Funding. Thank You. We deliver FREE from Crathie to Cambus O’May. Thanks to Friends of the

Eagle for delivering to some outlying areas.

Ballater & crathie

Community

magazine

no. 65 spring 2012

£1 where sold

60pi

ctur

e by

Pau

l Mac

kie

‘Festive Flair’Gill Garrow wows Ballater RHS

Floral Art Group at Christmas – see Page 9

...and it’s Goodbye from him...Nigel departs Royal Lochnagar– see Page 26

Thank youvery, very muchBallater Boules’ generous donation to your Eagle – see Editor’s Letter, Page 6

pict

ure

by Jo

hn P

aul

59

Boutique Spa & Gifts

Station Square Aboyne AB34 5HX• •

013398 87744www.ktspa.co.uk

3Inside Your Spring Eagle:

Donations:Donations are gratefully received,

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

or Yules Newsagents. A big “Thank You” this issue to Michael Littlejohn

Advertising:Full page: £60; Half page: £30;

Quarter page: £20; Eighth page: £10Book and pay for 4 issues: series discount of 10% - copy can be changed each issuecontact Faye Swan at info@swandesign

or Tel 55345

DiaryThe dates you need 4-5

The Crathie PagesComings & goings 25

Silver Mine StoriesPass of Ballater in past times 29

Victoria Week News Looking ahead to Jubilee Year 35

Man, Dog, StrokeHeartwarming tale against the odds 37

Royal British LegionA scrapbook snippet 39

CNPAFrom your representative 41

Pottering AboutIt’s not the weather driving her mad... 45

Glen GirnocNot always so peaceful 49

Ozzy - Part 2From salvage to salvation! 54

V&A Halls MinutesFascinating extracts 43

Pedalling for PapyrusCycling the UK 48

Local Groups: Ballater Boules: 6 & 60

Ballater (RD) Ltd: 14

Ballater RHS Floral Art Group: 9

Ballater Royal Horticultural Society: 8

Balmoral Estate Events: 29

Ballater Business Association: 23

Ballater Songsters: 8

CLAN: 16

Community Council: 22

Deeside Management Organisation: 12

Deeside & Donside Development Project: 21

Kincardine & Deeside Befriending: 20

Library Date: 23

Rotary Club: 24

SWRI: 15

Upper Deeside Art Society: 11

Upper Deeside Music: 10

Victoria and Albert Halls: 18

V&A Halls Bowling Club: 10

58

��

Royal Deeside’s Award Winning Highland Retreat

DARROCH LEARG

Dinner7pm - 9pm

Sunday Lunch12:30 - 2pm

A Red Star HotelAn AA Inspector’s choiceHotelRecommendedin the Good Food Guideand Scotland the Best

Darroch Learg, Braemar Road, Ballater AB35 5UXTelephone 013397-55443www.darrochlearg.co.uk

visitors from the Baltic region, formed up in battle formation over the Dee and made a straf-ing run, using their favourite low level bomb-ing technique, that only served to spatter the ground all around with white blobs and cause the squeakies to dive for cover once more. With a menacing wave of the hickory shafted seven iron, ‘Loon’ soon had them veering away back to the trees, their ammunition spent.

‘Cheerio Bike’ some of the friendlier rats squealed, ‘hope you have a good life’ and I had to admit those good wishes made me a little sad. ‘You’ll be back! You’ll be back!’ a now deflated old ‘One Lug’ muttered sourly, as he wiped his old rheumy eyes on his wife’s back, all his fight now gone. He had been quite a warrior in his day, but since losing his lug to a trespassing weasel, he no longer had the will to get involved in actual physical combat.Next Issue: Part Three, in which ‘Ozzy begins a New Life’ ...

place. A host of twitching snouts on grey squeakie heads, large and small, had emerged from a

variety of hidey places, consternation written on their pointed faces. Old ‘One Lug’, his long yellow teeth bared in a menacing snarl, his whiskers quivering, stretched up on his hind legs and used his tail to bang out the danger signal on an old biscuit tin. ‘Attack! Attack!’ he screamed and a few of the older clan males bunched together and made as if to run forward, while mothers gathered in their snivelling bairns and held them close. But, as always, it was that inbred fear of humans that held them back. ‘Cowards,’ ‘One Lug’ roared!

Overhead, a number of ugly black crows had gathered, circling, unsure what to do. ‘Thief! Thief !’ their leader crawed, ‘That loon is stealing our perch’ and a flight of screeching seagulls, alarmed by the commotion and led by Messrs Schmidt and Heinkel, two

Eagle Eyes...4 57see you’ve had a hard life, but ye’ve nae cracks an I see by yer badgie that yer a Raleigh.’

‘Fit a coincidence,’ he had said to himself, ‘here am I trying tae learn the words o’ King Ozymandias o’ Egypt for next wiks hamework an tae fin oot fit the message is that Percy Shelley’s trying to convey. The bittie where this King o’ Kings is found lying half buried in the sand, seems to me tae have some parallel wi’ oor situation, for here you are, the King o’ Bikes lying half buried in the sands o’ this desert o’ rubbish. Ye ken, fan I get ye back on the road, I’ll jist hae to ca’ you Ozzy!’ and with those words he picked me up placed my crossbar over his shoulder and made off for home without a backward glance.

‘Ozzy’. I tried to get a feel for the name, which at that time I had thought a bit common! Surely rising from the ashes I should be a Phoenix! But Ach Pot, I thought happily, what’s in a name?

Behind us, a great commotion was taking

and after studying it for a while, he would keep muttering away to himself as if trying to learn something from it. ‘I’m over here loon,’ I kept screaming silently, willing him to come my way and to my utter astonishment and as I had been losing hope, he had done just that. It was then that I truly believed ‘Fairy Cycle’, the good fairy of all cycles was watching over me.

It was the blue book that came to my aid, for as he climbed over the grey mound of ashes that had been my bed for so long, the book fell from his pocket and dropped onto my freshly exposed crossbar. The pages had fallen apart in the gentle breeze and I saw that the title on the cover read ‘Palgraves Golden Treasury’. In reaching down to pick it up, ‘Loon’ gave a loud gasp of surprise when he saw what lay beneath. Tugging hard he pulled me up, his eager hands quickly brushing away the dirt and as they ran over my tired old body, he said, ‘Weel! Weel! At last I’ve found fit I’m seekin. Yer a gey battered auld lad and I can

ShanghaiTakeawayFinest Chinese, Peking, Thai

& Cantonese Cuisine10 Golf Road, Ballater AB35 5RE

013397 55666Telephone Orders Welcome

Opening Hours: Open 7 days a week

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

April to October (summer)Sunday to Thursday 4pm – 12amFriday & Saturday 4pm – 12.30am

We only accept cash

NewEDWARD J. EMSLIE

House Furnishers

Serving Deeside & Donside

*Quality, fast &

friendly service

*Extensive flooring range

*Blinds, curtains,

rails & poles

*Haberdashery

Station Square

Ballater

AB35 5DX

013397 55005

MarchFri 2 Guild Meeting, World Day of Prayer, Glenmuick Church, 6.30pmSat 3 Winter Ceilidh featuring Straefoot, Ballater School, 7pmMon 5 BRHS Talk by Andy Beckingham on Gardens in Glen Tanar: Past, Present and Future, Mike Sheridan Room, 7.30pm Ballater Post Office CLOSEDTue 6 CLAN Quiz, Glenaden Hotel, 7.30pmSun 11 Boules at the Pavilion, Monaltrie Park, 10.30am Upper Deeside Music presents the Greenwich Trio at the Darroch

Learg Hotel, 4.30pm. £15 for non-members, tea is £2.50. Bookings Tel 013397 55443. Free to young people and members

of HM Forces.Sun 18 Mothers’ DaySat 24 Annual Coffee Morning at Royal Lochnagar Distillery, Crathie, in aid of the Anchor Unit, Aberdeen, and CLAN Upper Deeside,

10.30am-12.30pmSun 25 British Summer Time begins Boules at the Pavilion, Monaltrie Park, 10.30am Upper Deeside Music, Young Cellists from Marr at Craig Megan, 4pmMon 26 Church Guild meeting, Teaching blind and deaf children, Glen Muick Church Hall, 7pm Ballater Library sponsored author visit by Kenneth Steven, Mike

Sheridan Room, 7.30pmWed 28 Second Chancers Cancer Support Group, 1st floor, Ballater Golf Club, 4pmThu 29 Easter Bingo, Ballater School, All welcome. 6.30pm for 7pm start Fri 30 Ballater School term endsSat 31 Ballater Golf Club Ladies Section Welcome Coffee Morning, 10am

AprilSun 1 Final Boules meeting followed by BBQ, Monaltrie Park, 10.30amMon 2 BRHS Mini Bulb Show followed by Jenni Stockan: Slugs & Bugs – A Guide To The Smaller Creatures In The Garden, Mike Sheridan Room, 7.30pmFri-Sun 6-8 Easter Weekend NHS 24: 08454 242424

12 49RD & C DMOby John Carnie

There are exciting plans for the year ahead in terms of tourism for

Ballater and the whole Royal Deeside area. For one thing, 2012 is the official Year of Creative Scotland – a year-long celebration of Scotland’s rich cultural and creative heritage. This should create many opportunities for businesses in Royal Deeside to take advan-tage of local initiatives and build profitable partnerships.

Marketing PushMuch of our activity for 2012 will be

working with tourism businesses to market the area. A marketing plan recently been agreed with local businesses who are members of the DMO. These include a relaunch of a greatly extended Victorian Heritage Trail. All DMO Partners will be part of this project, which will tie in with the Queen’s Jubilee. This will be a vastly enhanced Heritage Trail including walks, culture, accommodation and eating places and it will cover the whole of Deeside and Donside.

There will be 50,000 leaflets printed, a new website section and mobile website with downloadable maps. We will be carrying out special promotions with some of the UK’s biggest selling papers. All DMO Partners will be able to be included in the Trail.

Mobile WebsitesWe also have exciting plans for creating

new mobile websites for the area. Did you know that over 50% of all internet searches are now done by tourists on the move using mobile phones?

Our Monthly Marketing Campaigns will be sent out around 600,000 potential custom-ers throughout the UK. These will feature all business that wish to be included at no extra cost. If you have not already joined the Royal Deeside and the Cairngorms DMO,

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 stock Euros

and US Dollars

for immediate purchase.

Tel: 013397 55505

www.ballaterpo.net

Support your local Post Office,

you know it makes sense!

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]

in 1943. Once over the bridge, with a sharp turn to the left is the Glen of Girnoc, lying between the Hill of the Piper, Creag Phiobaidh and the hill of the pines, Creag Ghiubhais. Now a quiet glen, it had a stormy past.

Journeying up the Glen, one leaves behind the former farm and cloth dyeing mill known as Little Mill, childhood home of the Gordon benefactor of Ballater and builder of the Vil-lage Hall as well as a couple of bridges. The track passes a few houses with, on the left, the old Mill of Cosh. When the school was about to close because pupil numbers were down to two, a miller was appointed with 13 children. The school remained open but the wee cottage must have been crowded!

Ahead were two rows of houses, but only substantial stones remain. On the right is

On the B976 South Deeside road, one climbs up the Knock Brae where on the right are the modernised Knocks Houses, once Vic-torian grace and favour cottages, and further on the almost indistinguishable remains of the settlement of Little Knocks. Just after the top of the hill, on the left, is Strathgirnoc, home of a Forbes prospective bride of a son of Knock Castle. He was killed, perhaps accidentally, by her father. Later Forbes killed the remaining seven sons of Knock while they were cutting peat. As a result, the baron-baillie, Gordon of Abergeldie, hanged him at his home in Strathgirnoc.

Further along the B976 south Deeside road is the awkwardly angled Bridge of Gir-noc. Immediately over the bridge, on the main road on the right was a school, now a private house, erected by Prince Albert and closed

Glen Girnoc by Sheila Sedgwick

3724

C.S.M. Aerial Satellite

Deeside and Donside sky

approved installers

Strathgirnoc Farmhouse

South Deeside Road

Ballater

Tel: 013397 56227

Mobile: 07506951506

Email:

[email protected]

J.Lanigan

Engineer

On 17 July 2004 I fell asleep in an Oslo hotel, hale and hearty. I was visiting my son, Iain, who works on a golf course there.

We’d planned a round of golf next day and before sleep-ing I tried to prepare my-self mentally for what this meant.

I w a s preparing for

something like this: in the fresh morning air, we’d tee up on the long first hole. Iain would politely let me play first. I would send a fairly mediocre shot up the fairway roughly in the direction of the hole. He’d say, “Good shot, Dad,” to encourage me, then quietly tee up, strike the ball squarely and send a stinger straight and true up the fairway to within a few feet of the hole. This process would be repeated at a further 17 holes. After the 18th hole we’d retire to the club house – I’d try to forget what had happened, Iain would chat about life, the universe and everything; we’d go our separate ways and family bonding would be complete.

The golf never took place.On 18 July 2004 I wakened to find myself

paralysed and struggling to speak. During the night I had suffered a major stroke. I was about to spend four months in hospital in Oslo, then Aberdeen. For my wife and for me, this would be followed by years of struggling to return to some kind of normality. There’s nothing you can do to prepare for that.

When I fell ill, I knew nothing about the medical emergency that is stroke and the

Man, Dog, Strokeby Eric Sinclair

devastating consequences it can bring – some of which are much worse than anything I have suffered. Man, Dog, Stroke is my account of the experience of stroke and its aftermath. It is intended to help and inform anyone with an interest in this serious health condition which each year affects for the first time 150,000 people across the UK. It’s a fairly short book, less than 100 pages, partly because it is aimed at other stroke survivors, many of whom, like me, will struggle to concentrate on anything longer. It is also aimed at medical professionals in an attempt to give a patient perspective of life in their hands.

A stroke is, essentially, a brain attack and so it gets you thinking about brains. Thus it was that I found myself one day staring at my dog, wondering what was going through

Eric Sinclair

Rotary Update by Ron Drever

KALLOS beauty

Emma MurphyA 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

Your local Rotary Club of Aboyne and Upper Deeside finished 2011

with a Christmas Dinner at the Potarch Ho-tel, and started 2012 with a very enjoyable Burns Supper at Douneside House, Tarland.Ballater’s John Dean-Perrin has rejoined the Club, and at least two other new members seem possible. Unfortunately however, we are now without John Taylor, well known in Bal-later and a former President. John has given years of great service to Club and community, and, together with his unique humour, will be sorely missed.

FundraisingOur Christmas bag-packing at Aboyne

Co-op raised over £1,300 over two days. We again provided and manned the BBQ at the Aboyne Bonfire Night, and our share of monies raised helped our Charity Account by c£500. With our assistance on two days, the

Christmas Car Raffle in the Bon Accord Cen-tre in Aberdeen raised c£58,000 gross. The proceeds are going to CLAN, although our Charity Account also receives a contribution.

Advance notice of our Charity Golf Day, in aid of Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centre, on 22 June at Aboyne Golf Club. Teams of three are invited to challenge for our Golf Quaich and other superb prizes. For entry information contact Andrew Brown, on 013397 56351 or email [email protected].

Community ServiceWe distributed hampers and Christmas cake

to the residential homes in Ballater and Upper Deeside. Donations have been made to Ballater Small Bore Rifle Range Club, to assist their building upgrade, and to the Finzean School of Piping, to help establish the club. As thanks to those who entertained us at Douneside, a dona-tion was made to the Tarland First Responders.

VocationalWe will be sponsoring three Aboyne Acade-

my pupils to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Award event at Nethybridge, a summer week of leadership training, and will again organise the Rotary Primary Schools Quiz for our area. This takes place at Torphins Primary on 20 March. A new project is a Young Photographer Competi-tion for Aboyne Academy students.Engaging Our Community

We’re keen to improve the way we engage and communicate with the community. We’ve held our first informal small group gathering which proved successful and enjoyable, and we hope some attendees might see joining Rotary as an enjoyable way by which they can serve our community. We’ll be contacting attendees, and plan further informal meetings in the coming weeks. For more about Rotary contact Ron Drever on 013397 56224. We meet 1st and 3rd Mondays monthly at the Boat Inn, Aboyne, 6.30pm, and 2nd and 4th Mondays at the Glen Lui Hotel, Ballater, 7pm.

26 35Saturday 24 March from 10.30am to 12.30pm, in aid of the Anchor Unit Aberdeen and

Clan Upper Deeside. Come along to enjoy lots of home baking plus various stalls such as a Bottle Stall, Hand Made Cards, Baking Stall and a Raffle. Entry will be £3.50 – we will be waiting for you with a warming fire in the fireplace and a fine aroma of coffee!

VIP Distillery DepartureRegular visitors to Royal Lochnagar Dis-

tillery will notice a gap in the staff line-up this year. Nigel the cat (see photo, back page) has worked tirelessly outside the Visitor Centre for almost five years.

His main duties included meeting and greeting visitors, and posing for photographs. He has even had his own visitors with one lady from Aberdeen bringing him gifts – she brought him a Christmas stocking filled with

Cordiners TimberCentre Your natural choice

Regular deliveries to Ballater

Crombie Place, Aberdeen, AB11 9PJTel: 01224 877611 (opt 1)Fax: 01224 877489Email: [email protected] www.cordiners.com


Email: [email protected] www.cordiners.com

Panel products

Treated Timber

Sawn Timber

Softwood

Decking

Fencing

Doors

Windows

cat treats!! He also liked getting into people’s cars and was often found on the tour buses. However, all things must change and Nigel, with his owners, Kay and Gordon, has moved house and will be greatly missed.

Coffee at the KirkMonday mornings haven’t been the same

over the winter without the Coffee Ladies of Crathie Kirk, but the good news is that they will be back from Easter Monday 9 April to tempt you with their delicious home bak-ing. They are looking forward to seeing old friends and welcoming new ones from 10am to 12.30pm in Crathie Church Hall.

Crathie Bowling ClubCrathie bowlers continue to meet on

Tuesday and Friday evenings from 7- 9pm in Crathie New Hall.

All welcome – if you would like more information, contact Jean Young, telephone 42415.

It’s party time! Come and join a double celebration for the country and for Ballater as Queen Elizabeth II commemorates 60 years on the throne shortly before Ballater Victoria Week remembers 25 years of loopiness in honour of a previous monarch. Taking place in the village annually since 1987 (then to recognise 150 years since Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee), this year VW runs from Saturday 4 to Sunday 12 August.

Special events on the drawing board for 2012 include a Victorian photo studio, a sideburn festival (fringe, geddit?) featuring music and comedy for those pub-going types (imagine!), and a scarecrow parade. Other ideas include a tennis tournament (in Victo-rian dress, of course), an antiques fayre, hot-air balloon ascent, talent competition, and a duck

race that actually takes place on water...The pet show, which was such a hilarious

success last year, will be improved for spec-tators and participants alike and esteemed clairvoyant Maureen Smith has been booked to provide an evening of spookyiness on Friday August 10. Lady Jennifer’s Picnic should have some additional attractions and it is hoped to rejuvenate the tea dance at the Hilton Craigendarroch. All the old favour-ites are there too: you can take part in a 4x4 safari, a ghost or history tour/talk, or sit back and relax to something musical in our historic and much-loved halls. And don’t forget the book fair, messy play, photo exhibition and car boot sale. There’s really is something for everyone. And if there isn’t, we dare you to tell us what’s missing!

Jubilee Year Victoria Weekby Cat Houston

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

2734 ...continued from Page 29Strontian is situated at the

head of Loch Sunart on the west coast and many, many miles from Bal-

later, but as a major mineral location I have brought it into my book.

The minerals there were discovered around 1722 and by 1724, the York Building Co. had acquired the mining rights. After the Union of the Parliaments, that organisation had acquired many timber concessions for pine, mainly on the Spey, and oak woods in Argyll to produce charcoal to smelt imported iron ore from Cumbria. The York Building Co. saw the Strontian lead mines as yet another business opportunity, but a mineral deposit high on a remote mountain, with hos-tile Highlanders removing their supplies and even their cattle, caused the company to send an urgent request to General Wade for a detachment from his road-building troops to guard the mine. The good general complied,

and, whether he thought it a good investment, or he was simply being rewarded for his pro-tection, it is known that he acquired shares in the Company.

The Highlanders refused to work under-ground. ‘It is a bad place’, they said ‘the home of evil spirits’. That Highland superstition could well have been based on much earlier health problems experienced at Strontian, but, as time passed, toxic radio-active miner-als were identified in the mines. Indeed the element Strontium was first identified here, and named after the locality. Labour then came from farther afield. The government brought in French prisoners-of-war. Those unfortunates were set to mining lead for bul-lets and artillery shells destined to be fired at their own countrymen all over the Continent, and, finally, and drastically so, at Waterloo.

(This article, along with the one in the Xmas Eagle, are extracts from Ian’s next book: “Minerals, Monuments and Man.”)

WHY?

...because your eyesare definitely worth it!

dp opticians

45 Bridge Street, Ballater 013397

56222 [email protected]

Outdoor FunOn Monday 6 February I met Jock

Edwards for the first time. He is good at outdoor stuff and he is going to help me find out about surviving in the woods. Today we made a shelter from bits of fallen tree and logs. We put up a tent and at break time I showed my friend Josh. He said, “it is cool.” Next week Jock Edwards and me are going to make a fire and cook spaghetti hoops on it.

James Tocher P6Burns Supper

Crathie School had a Burns Supper on the 25 January. Paul Anderson played the fiddle for us in the morning. My brother, Josh, did a great job when he decorated the room and set the table. Me, Rachel, Joseph, Alfie and Emilie did the cooking. We cooked Haggis, Neeps and Tatties. Sarah made a birthday cake for her brother, James. Rachel and Sarah learned how to sign ‘The Selkirk Grace’. After we ate our Haggis, Neeps and Tatties we did some ceilidh dancing with Mrs Munro. We all thought we really enjoyed our Burns Supper.

Zak Buchanan P5Skiing

On Thursday 2 and Friday 3 February Crathie School went skiing at the Lecht. The weather was fantastic, the sun was shining and the snow was crispy. We were split into 2 groups: P1-4 went with an instructor called Andy and P5-7 went with an instructor called Lee. We were joined by some Strathdon kids.

The P5-7s went up on the Chairlift and Pomas and the P1-4s were on the practice slope. I really enjoyed skiing because I love go-ing really fast downhill. Josh Buchanan P5

Crathie School are clearly enjoying themselves come snow or sunshine! Thanks for tellingeveryone at the Eagle all aboutyour fun.

FOR PERFECTIONFOR PERFECTIONFOR PERFECTIONFOR PERFECTIONFOR PERFECTION

The ultimate Home Cinema.Design, supply and installation.Plasma, LCD & Projectors.From one room to multi-room.No visible wires.

onsite consultationspecialist to the licensed trade

20 years experience

CALL THE PROFESSIONALS

CyberCyberCyberCyberCyberdynedynedynedynedyne Sy Sy Sy Sy Syssssstttttemsemsemsemsems

Covering the North Eastof Scotland

07802 25965901339 753199

[email protected]

26

BalmoralSC O T T I S H HO M E T O TH E RO YA L FA M I LY

www.balmoralcastle.com

Open April 1st - July 31st 2012

Castle Ballroom and RoyalDress Exhibition, Gardens,Audio Tour, Coffee Shop,Balmoral Collection and Gift Shop

Tel: 01339 742 534 for further information

Original Oil Paintings

Janice McIlwain (Rattray)

To view paintings please call Janice, 013397

55546 or email [email protected]

Commissions welcome for every occasion.

Paintings can be purchased at:

The Silver Thistle and Braemar Gallery

www.janicemcilwain.com

Domestic & Commercial Crown Thinning & Reduction

Dismantling & Felling

Hedge Pruning & Maintenance

Dangerous Tree Control

Stump Grinding & Removal

Firewood for sale

call: 013398 80823 m: 07786 756078e: [email protected] w: www.deesidetreecare.co.uk

Professional Tree Surgeon N.P.T.C. Qualified

Fully Insured Free Estimates

Highland YurtsTailor made yurts

Choice of seven colourswww.highlandyurts.co.uk

Paul SpencerTelephone: 013397 42295

orMobile 07814 051388

32 29Balmoral SpringEvents by Glyn Jones

Saturday 14 April‘Learn to Read or Get Lost’

A practical guide to basic navigation, including taking bearings, grid references, mountain safety and use of a GPS. Mountain walk, off path on rough ground. Meeting point: Spittal of Glen Muick visitor centre. Time: 10am - 4pm. Distance: 10Km (6 miles), ascent 350m. Cost: £10 per person.Booking Essential – 013397 55059.

Friday 27 April‘Birds B4 Breakfast’

An excellent opportunity to observe the courtship rituals of black grouse from a Land Rover Discovery. Meeting point: Spittal of Glen Muick visitor centre. Time: 6 - 8:30am. Cost: £10 per person. Booking essential, lim-ited places available– 013397 55059.

Monday 7 May‘Red Deer Ramble’

Discover the intriguing lifestyle and learn about the management of the majestic red deer of Glen Muick. Meeting point: Spittal of Glen Muick visitor centre. Time: 6 - 8pm. Distance: 4.5Km (3 miles), ascent 50m. Cost: Free. Booking essential– 013397 55059.

Wednesday 6 June‘Lochnagar Ascent’

Enjoy a full day on one of Scotland’s highest peaks, looking at the natural history and management of ‘Dark Lochnagar’. A full mountain day. Hill-walking gear and a good level of fitness required. Meeting point: Spittal of Glen Muick visitor centre. Time: 9:30am-5pm. Distance: 19Km (12 miles), ascent 1050m. Cost: £10 per person. Booking essential– 013397 55059. Mountain walk. Bring lunch.

Wee Jim Landscapes

Bridgefoot,Glenmuick, Ballater

Aberdeenshire AB35 5SN

Firewood AvailableCall for details

Tel: 013397 55997Mobile: 07821 746756

Email:

[email protected]

James Anderson

Aboyne

Van Hire

Mobile

07808 568434

Continue past the quarry workings above the bridge on the Pass and carry on up the hill: soon you will come to the hidden valley.

At the entrance is a still recognisable ditch that drained the mine workings. It is note-worthy that the vegetation here has altered to that which will withstand the still highly toxic contents of the drain. This ditch is deeper and longer than I had remembered. At the entrance is a huge mound of excavations won from the ditch. I estimate that more than two hundred tons has been dug by pick and shovel and barrowed out of this cutting.

On your right is a sheer cliff face, with erosion scree-flows spilling from the bottom of the cliff to the valley floor. On your left are traditional Scots pine woodlands and a path that skirts the scree. Look again at the cliff face: there is a holly tree clinging, improbably, from the crags. Farther along is the mineral vein, ascending the face, the continuation of the ore vein we saw on the Pass, except that by now it is carrying lead ore.

Climb out along the foot of the cliff and when you reach the lead ore vein, follow it down into the scree. In my youth, a mere one hundred and fifty years after Francis Farqu-harson’s nephew, William, was conducting his mining operations, you could still see the rotting timbers that supported his shaft, follow-ing the vein deep into Creag an t-Seabhaig. The galena proved to be argentiferous, from the Latin argentum (silver). It was like Aber-gairn, silver-bearing lead ore. It was William Farquharson’s proud boast that he had recov-ered enough silver to have cast a set of silver buttons for his dress tunic.

continued page 34

Pass of BallaterSilver MinePart 2 by Ian Cameron

...continued from Today you can no longer

see the timbers, and 60 more years of erosion have tumbled many

boulders down the scree slope into the shaft, but if you know where to look, the entrance can still be seen. The rocks in this scree are well worth examination for both mineral ores and crystals, amazingly, so near Ballater yet so undisturbed. It is very interesting to note all the lead mining that was going on around here in the early days of the 19th Century. We see activity at Abergairn and at the Pass of Ballater. Meanwhile, on the south side of the Dee, the Gordon laird of Abergeldie was also mining away for lead on the exposed veins of Creag Ghiubhais.

I digress a little; but one hundred and forty years later the 22nd/24th companies of the Ca-nadian Forestry Corps came over to clear-fell the Scots pine on Creag Ghiubhais during

the Second World War. The Canadians could not believe the mineral wealth lying around unexploited. Those men were very mineral conscious; many had worked in mines in pre-war Canada, and saw here the potential for mining lead, zinc and silver. It was a topic in the local pubs all through the war.

Back to our tale. In the early 1800s, and by 1805 especially, we have to remember that Britain was fighting with France in the Napo-leonic wars and an invasion of these islands seemed imminent.

We read of local militias being formed, like the 5th Volunteer Battalion with its Ballater Company, and, whether through patriotism, or for monetary gain, many lead mines were opened throughout Scotland. Lead was un-doubtedly at a premium for bullets, and the great mines at Strontian, that General Wade had shares in from the 1720s, were very busy.

continued Page 34

30 31Ballater School

PoetryThe Magic Box

I will put into the boxThe feel of a five pound noteThe inside lining of a very soft coatThe slow movement of a sailing boat

I will put into the boxThe smell of night airThe water from the clearest lakeThe taste and smell of chocolate cake

The box is rectangular with two question marks on the top and metal edges and corners

I will float away on my box on a huge sea of lemonade.

Ruaraidh Murray P7

I will put into the boxAn art box full of pens and pencilsA stage with Jessie J singingThe memory of going to Disneyland Paris

I will put into the boxThe sound of a horse’s neighA poem that was written years agoThe cutest meerkats in the world

My box is made of chocolateWith little sweets on the lidIce cream for the hinges

I shall ski in my boxDown all the hills you can go downThen ski back down and have a hot

chocolatePasha Georgeson-Ball, P6

SkiingOn the 23rd and 25th of January 18 P5

and 6 children went to Glenshee for skiing. We also joined up with Aboyne and Braemar schools.

We were very excited when we got there. First we went to ski hire to get our skis and boots. We were put into our groups, met our instructors and off we went.

On Monday the weather was really good with lots of sunshine and snow. Tuesday was ok but quite misty. Wednesday was really wet so we skied until 1pm then had our lunch and came home. Unfortunately the snow had melted by Thursday so we had to stay in school instead.

Lily and Louise G

Greyfriars BobbyOver 100 years ago there lived a little dog

and his master. The dog was called Bobby and his master was called Old Jock. Bobby was a Skye terrier but not just any old type. He worked in Edinburgh as a cattle dog. He was brave and strong. In winter they huddled together still guarding the cattle unaware how bitter cold this winter was going to be which made Old Jock so ill that he died. The next day Bobby followed his master into the graveyard for the last time. The one person I’m missing in this story is Mrs Ramsay, the café owner, but if Bobby went would there still be a bone waiting for him like there always was? Of course there was. When Mrs Ramsay found out where Bobby was living there was food for him every day. He was given his own food bowl, collar and a special permission to live in the graveyard and that’s where he stayed for 14 years. Cluan, P2

Burns SupperOn February 2 Ballater School held a

Burns Supper to celebrate the life of Robert Burns. P6/7 organised the event. We invited the whole school to come along and celebrate. We had to organise the food and entertain-ment. A few of us went shopping and got neeps, tatties and 12 bottles of Irn Bru. Then P6/7 peeled and chopped the vegetables. The teachers took the food home to cook it all.

On the day of the supper we started with the arrival of the haggis, which was brought in by Barry from Sheridan’s Butchers. Then P6/7 did the Address to the Haggis. Every-one was served food and drink. It was tasty! After our food we had entertainment. Holly and Zoe did highland dancing, Hannah and Orla played the drums, P1/2 sang Three Craws, and Ye Canna Shove Yer Granny, Ben and Orla played Flower of Scotland on the recorders, Mrs Arthur sang Gin a Body, Han-nah and Kara did Tam O’Shanter and Lily and Pacha sang Donald Fars Yer Troosers.

We finished our event with everyone in a huge circle singing Auld Lang Syne. We learnt a lot organising and running our event and had lots of fun. Special thanks to Barry Florence and everyone at Sheridan’s Butchers for donating the delicious haggis.

Ben and Archie, P7

Victoria Week Challenge!You probably know this year is a special

one for Queen Elizabeth II, who celebrates 60 years on the throne. But did you also know that Ballater’s own Victoria Week, which remembers the reign of a former monarch, is also celebrating a special jubilee? Victoria Week started in 1987 so it is celebrating 25 years in 2012 and has lots of exciting events for you to enjoy. The VW Committee is look-ing for special artwork and creative writing to include in the Jubilee edition of the VW 2012 brochure, and is inviting local school children to contribute their artwork and articles. You can use the following for inspiration...

1) What would Queen Victoria make of our Victoria Week today? What would her favourite activity be and what new ones do you think she or Albert would suggest?

2) Draw a picture of what you think QV would wear to our Jubilee party, if she had a time machine that would bring her to 2012.

3) Write a poem about what life was like in Victorian times, or about one particular Victorian event or person.

4) What do you think Deeside will be like as a place to live in another 25 years’ time?

Take your creations to your teacher or send them/drop them into 17 Hawthorn Place, Ballater, AB35 5QH before May 31 2012.

A haggis in the wild? wordpress.com

32 29Balmoral SpringEvents by Glyn Jones

Saturday 14 April‘Learn to Read or Get Lost’

A practical guide to basic navigation, including taking bearings, grid references, mountain safety and use of a GPS. Mountain walk, off path on rough ground. Meeting point: Spittal of Glen Muick visitor centre. Time: 10am - 4pm. Distance: 10Km (6 miles), ascent 350m. Cost: £10 per person.Booking Essential – 013397 55059.

Friday 27 April‘Birds B4 Breakfast’

An excellent opportunity to observe the courtship rituals of black grouse from a Land Rover Discovery. Meeting point: Spittal of Glen Muick visitor centre. Time: 6 - 8:30am. Cost: £10 per person. Booking essential, lim-ited places available– 013397 55059.

Monday 7 May‘Red Deer Ramble’

Discover the intriguing lifestyle and learn about the management of the majestic red deer of Glen Muick. Meeting point: Spittal of Glen Muick visitor centre. Time: 6 - 8pm. Distance: 4.5Km (3 miles), ascent 50m. Cost: Free. Booking essential– 013397 55059.

Wednesday 6 June‘Lochnagar Ascent’

Enjoy a full day on one of Scotland’s highest peaks, looking at the natural history and management of ‘Dark Lochnagar’. A full mountain day. Hill-walking gear and a good level of fitness required. Meeting point: Spittal of Glen Muick visitor centre. Time: 9:30am-5pm. Distance: 19Km (12 miles), ascent 1050m. Cost: £10 per person. Booking essential– 013397 55059. Mountain walk. Bring lunch.

Wee Jim Landscapes

Bridgefoot,Glenmuick, Ballater

Aberdeenshire AB35 5SN

Firewood AvailableCall for details

Tel: 013397 55997Mobile: 07821 746756

Email:

[email protected]

James Anderson

Aboyne

Van Hire

Mobile

07808 568434

Continue past the quarry workings above the bridge on the Pass and carry on up the hill: soon you will come to the hidden valley.

At the entrance is a still recognisable ditch that drained the mine workings. It is note-worthy that the vegetation here has altered to that which will withstand the still highly toxic contents of the drain. This ditch is deeper and longer than I had remembered. At the entrance is a huge mound of excavations won from the ditch. I estimate that more than two hundred tons has been dug by pick and shovel and barrowed out of this cutting.

On your right is a sheer cliff face, with erosion scree-flows spilling from the bottom of the cliff to the valley floor. On your left are traditional Scots pine woodlands and a path that skirts the scree. Look again at the cliff face: there is a holly tree clinging, improbably, from the crags. Farther along is the mineral vein, ascending the face, the continuation of the ore vein we saw on the Pass, except that by now it is carrying lead ore.

Climb out along the foot of the cliff and when you reach the lead ore vein, follow it down into the scree. In my youth, a mere one hundred and fifty years after Francis Farqu-harson’s nephew, William, was conducting his mining operations, you could still see the rotting timbers that supported his shaft, follow-ing the vein deep into Creag an t-Seabhaig. The galena proved to be argentiferous, from the Latin argentum (silver). It was like Aber-gairn, silver-bearing lead ore. It was William Farquharson’s proud boast that he had recov-ered enough silver to have cast a set of silver buttons for his dress tunic.

continued page 34

Pass of BallaterSilver MinePart 2 by Ian Cameron

...continued from Page 29Today you can no longer

see the timbers, and 60 more years of erosion have tumbled many

boulders down the scree slope into the shaft, but if you know where to look, the entrance can still be seen. The rocks in this scree are well worth examination for both mineral ores and crystals, amazingly, so near Ballater yet so undisturbed. It is very interesting to note all the lead mining that was going on around here in the early days of the 19th Century. We see activity at Abergairn and at the Pass of Ballater. Meanwhile, on the south side of the Dee, the Gordon laird of Abergeldie was also mining away for lead on the exposed veins of Creag Ghiubhais.

I digress a little; but one hundred and forty years later the 22nd/24th companies of the Ca-nadian Forestry Corps came over to clear-fell the Scots pine on Creag Ghiubhais during

the Second World War. The Canadians could not believe the mineral wealth lying around unexploited. Those men were very mineral conscious; many had worked in mines in pre-war Canada, and saw here the potential for mining lead, zinc and silver. It was a topic in the local pubs all through the war.

Back to our tale. In the early 1800s, and by 1805 especially, we have to remember that Britain was fighting with France in the Napo-leonic wars and an invasion of these islands seemed imminent.

We read of local militias being formed, like the 5th Volunteer Battalion with its Ballater Company, and, whether through patriotism, or for monetary gain, many lead mines were opened throughout Scotland. Lead was un-doubtedly at a premium for bullets, and the great mines at Strontian, that General Wade had shares in from the 1720s, were very busy.

continued Page 34

26

BalmoralSC O T T I S H HO M E T O TH E RO YA L FA M I LY

www.balmoralcastle.com

Open April 1st - July 31st 2012

Castle Ballroom and RoyalDress Exhibition, Gardens,Audio Tour, Coffee Shop,Balmoral Collection and Gift Shop

Tel: 01339 742 534 for further information

Original Oil Paintings

Janice McIlwain (Rattray)

To view paintings please call Janice, 013397

55546 or email [email protected]

Commissions welcome for every occasion.

Paintings can be purchased at:

The Silver Thistle and Braemar Gallery

www.janicemcilwain.com

Domestic & Commercial Crown Thinning & Reduction

Dismantling & Felling

Hedge Pruning & Maintenance

Dangerous Tree Control

Stump Grinding & Removal

Firewood for sale

call: 013398 80823 m: 07786 756078e: [email protected] w: www.deesidetreecare.co.uk

Professional Tree Surgeon N.P.T.C. Qualified

Fully Insured Free Estimates

Highland YurtsTailor made yurts

Choice of seven colourswww.highlandyurts.co.uk

Paul SpencerTelephone: 013397 42295

orMobile 07814 051388

2734 ...continued from Page 29Strontian is situated at the

head of Loch Sunart on the west coast and many, many miles from Bal-

later, but as a major mineral location I have brought it into my book.

The minerals there were discovered around 1722 and by 1724, the York Building Co. had acquired the mining rights. After the Union of the Parliaments, that organisation had acquired many timber concessions for pine, mainly on the Spey, and oak woods in Argyll to produce charcoal to smelt imported iron ore from Cumbria. The York Building Co. saw the Strontian lead mines as yet another business opportunity, but a mineral deposit high on a remote mountain, with hos-tile Highlanders removing their supplies and even their cattle, caused the company to send an urgent request to General Wade for a detachment from his road-building troops to guard the mine. The good general complied,

and, whether he thought it a good investment, or he was simply being rewarded for his pro-tection, it is known that he acquired shares in the Company.

The Highlanders refused to work under-ground. ‘It is a bad place’, they said ‘the home of evil spirits’. That Highland superstition could well have been based on much earlier health problems experienced at Strontian, but, as time passed, toxic radio-active miner-als were identified in the mines. Indeed the element Strontium was first identified here, and named after the locality. Labour then came from farther afield. The government brought in French prisoners-of-war. Those unfortunates were set to mining lead for bul-lets and artillery shells destined to be fired at their own countrymen all over the Continent, and, finally, and drastically so, at Waterloo.

(This article, along with the one in the Xmas Eagle, are extracts from Ian’s next book: “Minerals, Monuments and Man.”)

WHY?

...because your eyesare definitely worth it!

dp opticians

45 Bridge Street, Ballater 013397

56222 [email protected]

Outdoor FunOn Monday 6 February I met Jock

Edwards for the first time. He is good at outdoor stuff and he is going to help me find out about surviving in the woods. Today we made a shelter from bits of fallen tree and logs. We put up a tent and at break time I showed my friend Josh. He said, “it is cool.” Next week Jock Edwards and me are going to make a fire and cook spaghetti hoops on it.

James Tocher P6Burns Supper

Crathie School had a Burns Supper on the 25 January. Paul Anderson played the fiddle for us in the morning. My brother, Josh, did a great job when he decorated the room and set the table. Me, Rachel, Joseph, Alfie and Emilie did the cooking. We cooked Haggis, Neeps and Tatties. Sarah made a birthday cake for her brother, James. Rachel and Sarah learned how to sign ‘The Selkirk Grace’. After we ate our Haggis, Neeps and Tatties we did some ceilidh dancing with Mrs Munro. We all thought we really enjoyed our Burns Supper.

Zak Buchanan P5Skiing

On Thursday 2 and Friday 3 February Crathie School went skiing at the Lecht. The weather was fantastic, the sun was shining and the snow was crispy. We were split into 2 groups: P1-4 went with an instructor called Andy and P5-7 went with an instructor called Lee. We were joined by some Strathdon kids.

The P5-7s went up on the Chairlift and Pomas and the P1-4s were on the practice slope. I really enjoyed skiing because I love go-ing really fast downhill. Josh Buchanan P5

Crathie School are clearly enjoying themselves come snow or sunshine! Thanks for tellingeveryone at the Eagle all aboutyour fun.

FOR PERFECTIONFOR PERFECTIONFOR PERFECTIONFOR PERFECTIONFOR PERFECTION

The ultimate Home Cinema.Design, supply and installation.Plasma, LCD & Projectors.From one room to multi-room.No visible wires.

onsite consultationspecialist to the licensed trade

20 years experience

CALL THE PROFESSIONALS

CyberCyberCyberCyberCyberdynedynedynedynedyne Sy Sy Sy Sy Syssssstttttemsemsemsemsems

Covering the North Eastof Scotland

07802 25965901339 753199

[email protected]

26 35Saturday 24 March from 10.30am to 12.30pm, in aid of the Anchor Unit Aberdeen and

Clan Upper Deeside. Come along to enjoy lots of home baking plus various stalls such as a Bottle Stall, Hand Made Cards, Baking Stall and a Raffle. Entry will be £3.50 – we will be waiting for you with a warming fire in the fireplace and a fine aroma of coffee!

VIP Distillery DepartureRegular visitors to Royal Lochnagar Dis-

tillery will notice a gap in the staff line-up this year. Nigel the cat (see photo, back page) has worked tirelessly outside the Visitor Centre for almost five years.

His main duties included meeting and greeting visitors, and posing for photographs. He has even had his own visitors with one lady from Aberdeen bringing him gifts – she brought him a Christmas stocking filled with

Cordiners TimberCentre Your natural choice


Crombie Place, Aberdeen, AB11 9PJTel: 01224 877611 (opt 1)Fax: 01224 877489Email: [email protected] www.cordiners.com


Email: [email protected] www.cordiners.com

Panel products

Treated Timber

Sawn Timber

Softwood

Decking

Fencing

Doors

Windows

cat treats!! He also liked getting into people’s cars and was often found on the tour buses. However, all things must change and Nigel, with his owners, Kay and Gordon, has moved house and will be greatly missed.

Coffee at the KirkMonday mornings haven’t been the same

over the winter without the Coffee Ladies of Crathie Kirk, but the good news is that they will be back from Easter Monday 9 April to tempt you with their delicious home bak-ing. They are looking forward to seeing old friends and welcoming new ones from 10am to 12.30pm in Crathie Church Hall.

Crathie Bowling ClubCrathie bowlers continue to meet on

Tuesday and Friday evenings from 7- 9pm in Crathie New Hall.

All welcome – if you would like more information, contact Jean Young, telephone 42415.

It’s party time! Come and join a double celebration for the country and for Ballater as Queen Elizabeth II commemorates 60 years on the throne shortly before Ballater Victoria Week remembers 25 years of loopiness in honour of a previous monarch. Taking place in the village annually since 1987 (then to recognise 150 years since Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee), this year VW runs from Saturday 4 to Sunday 12 August.

Special events on the drawing board for 2012 include a Victorian photo studio, a sideburn festival (fringe, geddit?) featuring music and comedy for those pub-going types (imagine!), and a scarecrow parade. Other ideas include a tennis tournament (in Victo-rian dress, of course), an antiques fayre, hot-air balloon ascent, talent competition, and a duck

race that actually takes place on water...The pet show, which was such a hilarious

success last year, will be improved for spec-tators and participants alike and esteemed clairvoyant Maureen Smith has been booked to provide an evening of spookyiness on Friday August 10. Lady Jennifer’s Picnic should have some additional attractions and it is hoped to rejuvenate the tea dance at the Hilton Craigendarroch. All the old favour-ites are there too: you can take part in a 4x4 safari, a ghost or history tour/talk, or sit back and relax to something musical in our historic and much-loved halls. And don’t forget the book fair, messy play, photo exhibition and car boot sale. There’s really is something for everyone. And if there isn’t, we dare you to tell us what’s missing!

Jubilee Year Victoria Weekby Cat Houston

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

3724

C.S.M. Aerial Satellite

Deeside and Donside sky

approved installers

Strathgirnoc Farmhouse

South Deeside Road

Ballater

Tel: 013397 56227

Mobile: 07506951506

Email:

[email protected]

J.Lanigan

Engineer

On 17 July 2004 I fell asleep in an Oslo hotel, hale and hearty. I was visiting my son, Iain, who works on a golf course there.

We’d planned a round of golf next day and before sleep-ing I tried to prepare my-self mentally for what this meant.

I w a s preparing for

something like this: in the fresh morning air, we’d tee up on the long first hole. Iain would politely let me play first. I would send a fairly mediocre shot up the fairway roughly in the direction of the hole. He’d say, “Good shot, Dad,” to encourage me, then quietly tee up, strike the ball squarely and send a stinger straight and true up the fairway to within a few feet of the hole. This process would be repeated at a further 17 holes. After the 18th hole we’d retire to the club house – I’d try to forget what had happened, Iain would chat about life, the universe and everything; we’d go our separate ways and family bonding would be complete.

The golf never took place.On 18 July 2004 I wakened to find myself

paralysed and struggling to speak. During the night I had suffered a major stroke. I was about to spend four months in hospital in Oslo, then Aberdeen. For my wife and for me, this would be followed by years of struggling to return to some kind of normality. There’s nothing you can do to prepare for that.

When I fell ill, I knew nothing about the medical emergency that is stroke and the

Man, Dog, Strokeby Eric Sinclair

devastating consequences it can bring – some of which are much worse than anything I have suffered. Man, Dog, Stroke is my account of the experience of stroke and its aftermath. It is intended to help and inform anyone with an interest in this serious health condition which each year affects for the first time 150,000 people across the UK. It’s a fairly short book, less than 100 pages, partly because it is aimed at other stroke survivors, many of whom, like me, will struggle to concentrate on anything longer. It is also aimed at medical professionals in an attempt to give a patient perspective of life in their hands.

A stroke is, essentially, a brain attack and so it gets you thinking about brains. Thus it was that I found myself one day staring at my dog, wondering what was going through

Eric Sinclair

Rotary Update by Ron Drever

KALLOS beauty

Emma MurphyA 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

Your local Rotary Club of Aboyne and Upper Deeside finished 2011

with a Christmas Dinner at the Potarch Ho-tel, and started 2012 with a very enjoyable Burns Supper at Douneside House, Tarland.Ballater’s John Dean-Perrin has rejoined the Club, and at least two other new members seem possible. Unfortunately however, we are now without John Taylor, well known in Bal-later and a former President. John has given years of great service to Club and community, and, together with his unique humour, will be sorely missed.

FundraisingOur Christmas bag-packing at Aboyne

Co-op raised over £1,300 over two days. We again provided and manned the BBQ at the Aboyne Bonfire Night, and our share of monies raised helped our Charity Account by c£500. With our assistance on two days, the

Christmas Car Raffle in the Bon Accord Cen-tre in Aberdeen raised c£58,000 gross. The proceeds are going to CLAN, although our Charity Account also receives a contribution.

Advance notice of our Charity Golf Day, in aid of Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centre, on 22 June at Aboyne Golf Club. Teams of three are invited to challenge for our Golf Quaich and other superb prizes. For entry information contact Andrew Brown, on 013397 56351 or email [email protected].

Community ServiceWe distributed hampers and Christmas cake

to the residential homes in Ballater and Upper Deeside. Donations have been made to Ballater Small Bore Rifle Range Club, to assist their building upgrade, and to the Finzean School of Piping, to help establish the club. As thanks to those who entertained us at Douneside, a dona-tion was made to the Tarland First Responders.

VocationalWe will be sponsoring three Aboyne Acade-

my pupils to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Award event at Nethybridge, a summer week of leadership training, and will again organise the Rotary Primary Schools Quiz for our area. This takes place at Torphins Primary on 20 March. A new project is a Young Photographer Competi-tion for Aboyne Academy students.Engaging Our Community

We’re keen to improve the way we engage and communicate with the community. We’ve held our first informal small group gathering which proved successful and enjoyable, and we hope some attendees might see joining Rotary as an enjoyable way by which they can serve our community. We’ll be contacting attendees, and plan further informal meetings in the coming weeks. For more about Rotary contact Ron Drever on 013397 56224. We meet 1st and 3rd Mondays monthly at the Boat Inn, Aboyne, 6.30pm, and 2nd and 4th Mondays at the Glen Lui Hotel, Ballater, 7pm.

12 49RD & C DMOby John Carnie

There are exciting plans for the year ahead in terms of tourism for

Ballater and the whole Royal Deeside area. For one thing, 2012 is the official Year of Creative Scotland – a year-long celebration of Scotland’s rich cultural and creative heritage. This should create many opportunities for businesses in Royal Deeside to take advan-tage of local initiatives and build profitable partnerships.

Marketing PushMuch of our activity for 2012 will be

working with tourism businesses to market the area. A marketing plan recently been agreed with local businesses who are members of the DMO. These include a relaunch of a greatly extended Victorian Heritage Trail. All DMO Partners will be part of this project, which will tie in with the Queen’s Jubilee. This will be a vastly enhanced Heritage Trail including walks, culture, accommodation and eating places and it will cover the whole of Deeside and Donside.

There will be 50,000 leaflets printed, a new website section and mobile website with downloadable maps. We will be carrying out special promotions with some of the UK’s biggest selling papers. All DMO Partners will be able to be included in the Trail.

Mobile WebsitesWe also have exciting plans for creating

new mobile websites for the area. Did you know that over 50% of all internet searches are now done by tourists on the move using mobile phones?

Our Monthly Marketing Campaigns will be sent out around 600,000 potential custom-ers throughout the UK. These will feature all business that wish to be included at no extra cost. If you have not already joined the Royal Deeside and the Cairngorms DMO,

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 stock Euros

and US Dollars

for immediate purchase.

Tel: 013397 55505

www.ballaterpo.net

Support your local Post Office,

you know it makes sense!

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]

in 1943. Once over the bridge, with a sharp turn to the left is the Glen of Girnoc, lying between the Hill of the Piper, Creag Phiobaidh and the hill of the pines, Creag Ghiubhais. Now a quiet glen, it had a stormy past.

Journeying up the Glen, one leaves behind the former farm and cloth dyeing mill known as Little Mill, childhood home of the Gordon benefactor of Ballater and builder of the Vil-lage Hall as well as a couple of bridges. The track passes a few houses with, on the left, the old Mill of Cosh. When the school was about to close because pupil numbers were down to two, a miller was appointed with 13 children. The school remained open but the wee cottage must have been crowded!

Ahead were two rows of houses, but only substantial stones remain. On the right is

On the B976 South Deeside road, one climbs up the Knock Brae where on the right are the modernised Knocks Houses, once Vic-torian grace and favour cottages, and further on the almost indistinguishable remains of the settlement of Little Knocks. Just after the top of the hill, on the left, is Strathgirnoc, home of a Forbes prospective bride of a son of Knock Castle. He was killed, perhaps accidentally, by her father. Later Forbes killed the remaining seven sons of Knock while they were cutting peat. As a result, the baron-baillie, Gordon of Abergeldie, hanged him at his home in Strathgirnoc.

Further along the B976 south Deeside road is the awkwardly angled Bridge of Gir-noc. Immediately over the bridge, on the main road on the right was a school, now a private house, erected by Prince Albert and closed

Glen Girnoc by Sheila Sedgwick

59

Boutique Spa & Gifts

Station Square Aboyne AB34 5HX• •

013398 87744www.ktspa.co.uk

The Ballater & Crathie Eagle is made possible by:Advertising, Donations, Sponsorship, Fundraising, “Awards for All” Lottery

funding, and Cairngorms Leader + European Funding. Thank You. We deliver FREE from Crathie to Cambus O’May. Thanks to Friends of the

Eagle for delivering to some outlying areas.

Ballater & crathie

Community

magazine

no. 65 spring 2012

£1 where sold

60

pict

ure

by P

aul M

acki

e

‘Festive Flair’Gill Garrow wows Ballater RHS

Floral Art Group at Christmas – see Page 9

...and it’s Goodbye from him...Nigel departs Royal Lochnagar– see Page 26

Thank youvery, very muchBallater Boules’ generous donation to your Eagle – see Editor’s Letter, Page 6

pict

ure

by Jo

hn P

aul

ballater & crathie eagle, issue 65, spring 2012

Documents

storiespass of ballater

ballater songsters

ballater rd

ballater ab35

ballater crathie eagle

ballater business association

half page

quarter page