Aug 042016
 

With thanks to Kenneth Hutchison, Parliamentary Assistant to Dr. Eilidh Whiteford.

Eilidh-Whiteford-Parliament2Banff and Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford has backed a Chartered Trading Standards Institute campaign against scammers who prey on vulnerable customers.

Scam Awareness Month has been running over the summer to highlight different techniques used by unscrupulous criminals to part members of the public with their money.

Thousands of people across the UK every year fall victim to scams, with detriment estimated at £5-10 billion annually and growing.

The problem is amplified by the fact that only 5% of victims report such frauds to the authorities. Many suffer in silence, embarrassed at having been scammed.

The theme this year is ‘listening to your gut feeling’. Trading Standards are calling on consumers to act on their initial caution and suspicion that often comes when they get an unexpected phone call, email, mailing or knock at the door.

Dr Whiteford said:

“I am pleased to support what is a hugely important campaign to raise awareness of how these criminals operate. Whether it’s by e-mail, telephone or letter, everyone should be aware that not everyone who contacts you has your best interests at heart.

“The message is a simple one. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Never trust anyone who asks for your passwords or PIN. And if you have any doubts whatsoever about who you’re dealing with, don’t hesitate to leave the conversation.

“Scammers utilise email, telephone, and letter and can even turn up on your doorstep. Listen to your gut feeling, and if you have any doubts whatsoever, don’t proceed with the transaction – whatever it may be.”

For more information about Scam Awareness Month, visit http://www.tradingstandards.uk/events/ScamsAwarenessMonth2016.cfm

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Aug 042016
 

With thanks to Phil Moar, Account Manager, Citrus:Mix.

CLAN Landmark WalkWalkers and marshals are still being sought for a popular fundraising event that is set to take in the sights of Aberdeen next month. CLAN Cancer Support’s Landmark Walk will take place in and around Aberdeen on Saturday, September 24, with the charity appealing for walkers to take part on its behalf.

Now in its fourth year, the event will see participants tackle either a 13 or 7.8 mile walk which will take in various landmarks across Aberdeen – from the charity’s own CLAN House, King’s College, St Machar Cathedral, Pittodrie and many others – before participants are welcomed back at the city’s Westburn Park.

There are also various volunteering opportunities on offer for the event and the charity is still appealing for more than 100 marshals to ensure the walk goes ahead. Helping guide walkers around the course, alongside manning water stations and helping with the event village within Westburn Park itself, volunteers play a massive role in aiding the success of the walk and the charity is encouraging anyone interested in helping to apply through its website.

Last year’s event saw more than 800 walkers and marshals don a purple t-shirt in support of the charity, with a sea of walkers taking to the streets of Aberdeen to help raise nearly £50,000.

This year’s walk is generously supported by Macduff Shellfish with various other sponsorship opportunities also available for businesses looking to get involved. All profit from the day will go towards CLAN’s provision of free support services to anyone affected by cancer across the north-east of Scotland, Moray, Orkney and Shetland.

Susan Crighton, CLAN’s fundraising manager, said:

“Preparation for one of our biggest fundraisers of the year continues to grow, with a number of walkers and marshals already signed up and committing their support to the day.

“Despite this, we’re still urgently appealing for another 100 marshals to ensure the walk itself goes ahead and we are encouraging anyone interested in helping on the day to get in touch. Without this help, the event simply cannot go ahead but we’re still confident we’ll reach the required levels for the day.

“As well as the personnel support, the event is always an important fundraiser for the charity so it’s great that we’ve got corporate support from Macduff Shellfish amongst others. Funds raised are integral to our provision of free services to those affected by cancer so your involvement on the day could make a massive difference to an individual, their family and their friends.”

Entry costs £10 for adults (plus £1.50 admin fee) and £5 for children (plus £1.50 admin fee).

Registration can be made online here: https://www.entryhub.co.uk/clan-landmark-walk-2016.

Entries close on September 21 and 12-16 year olds may only participate in the 7.8 mile route and must be accompanied by an adult. The deadline for marshal applications is Friday, August 12 and sign-up can be completed online at www.clanhouse.org by clicking on the Landmark Walk button.

To register an interest in volunteering or for more details on taking part, please contact a member of CLAN’s fundraising team on 01224 647000 or email fundraising@clanhouse.org.

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Aug 042016
 

With thanks to David Forbes.

David Forbes with Devon ThompsonVoluntary Disabled Charity Future Choices Celebrates it’s Eighth Year this year with the introduction of it’s youngest committee member taking up the role of Vice Chairman.

Devon Thompson (21) joined Future Choices a few years ago and then had to leave to pursue others life commitments before recently returning to help out with many of the Charity’s key projects.

He works tirelessly to make sure the members are catered for when the group meets up every Tuesday from 11-2 at their base at Inchgarth Community Centre in Garthdee.

Charity Chairman, David Forbes explained:

“Having Devon on my management committee has been a tremendous asset to running the group and now he’s taking the role on as my deputy, he’s the perfect man for the job, young, energetic and very inspirational. In my view this is the greatest motivation to many young volunteers out there – that you can achieve success with hard work and determination.”

Devon said:

“I am deeply and truly honoured to be elected as Vice Chairman of Future Choices. I have served in the care sector for four years now and have never come across such a dedicated and hardworking Charity, with a constant hunger to grow and develop as an organisation that puts the emphasis on the well being of their members, I am truly humbled that they have shown support and faith in my abilities.”

David added:

“Devon taking up this role is very humbling to me as the Charity heads to it’s biggest milestone of 10 years in 2 years time, so to keep the group vibrant and progressive is something Devon will be involved with alongside me and the rest of my team.”

Devon Concluded:

“It is my deepest desire to rise to the challenge and develop. In my experience, collaboration is the stuff of growth and I look forward to working further with the committee to provide for our members greater choices, for the future.”

For more information on Future Choices, visit www.future-choices.org.uk

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Aug 042016
 

With thanks to Richard Bunting, Director, Richard Bunting PR.

IMG_4744 Volunteer looking at a lichen

Trees for Life volunteer looking at a lichen.

Conservation charity Trees for Life is holding a public Bioblitz day in Glen Affric on Sunday 14 August, from 10.30am – 3.30pm, for anyone who wants to discover more about wildlife in the famous glen.

Everyone is welcome to call in at The Quarry car park near the end of Loch Beinn a’Mheadhoin, and to join in the free activities.

A group of wildlife specialists will be on the lookout for plants, fungi, insects, birds and mammals, and will be displaying interesting findings during the day.

There will be opportunities to make mini nature reserves, join bug hunts and guided walks, and hear a storyteller recount tales from forest folklore. The Bog Cotton Café will be on site, selling tea, coffee, cake and other delicacies from their village kitchen in Cannich.

Natural history groups joining the Bioblitz include specialists from Butterfly Conservation Scotland, British Dragonfly Society, Forest Enterprise Scotland, National Trust for Scotland and RSPB. Young Scot’s National Youth Biodiversity Action Group will be running activities for people of all ages.

Trees for Life is an award-winning conservation charity dedicated to restoring the endangered Caledonian Forest and to protecting its rare wildlife from extinction, and so far has created 10,000 acres of new forest. It has pledged to establish one million more trees, by planting and natural regeneration, by 2018.

People can support Trees for Life by becoming members and by funding dedicated trees and groves. Volunteers carry out almost all of the charity’s practical conservation work, including through

Conservation Weeks in beautiful locations. See www.treesforlife.org.uk.

The Bioblitz event is part of Trees for Life’s Glen Affric Forest Restoration Project, which won the Outdoor category of the 2014 European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) scheme, securing £20,000 through an online public vote.

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Aug 042016
 

With thanks to Gwyneth Hinton, Joint Vice-Chair, Aberdeen and District Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

HiroshimaOn Saturday August 6th, Aberdeen and District CND are holding a gathering to commemorate Hiroshima Day. It will take place in Union Terrace Gardens in Aberdeen at 2.00pm.
The rules of the garden do not allow us to have organised speakers but we shall have two minutes silence at 2.30 pm when, weather permitting we shall lie down.

We encourage you to come along with your family and remember the families who died on that day in 1945.

Bring flowers and candles so that we can make a peace symbol.

Come along with musical instruments to play appropriate music and a picnic so that you can sit awhile afterwards.

For further information please email gwyneth.hinton@googlemail.com

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Aug 042016
 

With thanks to Alasdair Scott, Parliamentary Assistant to Stewart Stevenson MSP

inScot005_AccesstoElectedOfficeFundScotland_Asset_Array_Alternate_72dpi_Logo-A2EOFSNP MSP for Banffshire & Buchan Coast, Stewart Stevenson, has warmly welcomed the opening of a £200,000 fund aimed at encouraging more disabled people to participate in politics and stand as councillors in next year’s local council elections.
The fund – which will help cover additional costs for accessible transport and communications support – underlines the Scottish Government’s commitment to ensuring equal opportunities for more people from under-represented groups.

Disabled people are significantly under-represented as local councillors – and the fund will back up wide-ranging support to help correct this imbalance.

Commenting, Stewart Stevenson MSP said,

“Everyone should have equal access to politics, no matter their own personal background or whether they are disabled or not – and this funding will help ensure this is the case by alleviating some of the additional costs that disabled candidates can encounter.

“It is vital that barriers are broken down to encourage people from all areas of society to get involved in politics – which will help make policies more representative of society as a whole. The fund isn’t about giving anyone an advantage, but rather levelling the playing field and making it fairer for everyone. 

“I hope people from across Aberdeenshire access this funding. It will help create equal access to politics for disabled people who wish to stand for selection or election in next year’s local government polls.”

The £200,000 is be used to help to cover additional costs for accessible transport or communications support for disabled people who wish to stand for selection or election in the 2017 local government elections. This also includes £40,000 delivery costs.

For further information and details on how to apply – http://inclusionscotland.org/information/employability-and-civic-participation/access-to-politics/aeofs/

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Jul 292016
 

Aberdeen in 100 Dates Elma McMenemy book launch2By Duncan Harley.

Aberdeen’s Gordon Highlander Museum was the setting for the launch of Mearns author Elma McMenemy’s new book ‘Aberdeen in 100 Dates’.

A professional Blue Badge Tourist Guide, Elma has more than 30 years experience of working with Scotland’s visitors and has built up a vast repertoire of tales showcasing the rich and varied history of both Aberdeen City and the hinterland of the North east.

Her previous book focussed on the often macabre and bloody history of Aberdeen and in this new collection of local tales Elma leads the reader on a journey through 100 of the key dates which have shaped the development of the city.

Aimed, as Elma explains, at “people who would not normally open a history book” the publication has already proved popular especially with fellow tour guides who plan to use it as a research tool when preparing guided tours around Aberdeen and the North east.

“Its easy to talk to a coach full of tourists” she says,

“but putting words down on paper is quite another thing. Aberdeen is such a brilliant and helpful place. No-one I have asked has so far refused to help me in my research!”

The book presents as a sound-bite tour-de-force of popular folk and historical tales. With one story per page and illustrated throughout with line drawings, there’s plenty to interest even the most informed reader and visitors unfamiliar with the North east will undoubtedly be tempted to delve deeper into many of the stories highlighted within the 124pp.

Dedicated to a godson “who loved all sort of trivia”, the 100 dates kick off with an examination of the arrival in Aberdeen of Christianity courtesy of St Machar, a 6th century disciple of St Columba. Given that each tale is restricted in length to approximately 230 words, the author manages to pack in a good amount of information and leads the reader quickly from St Machar’s arrival on Iona on to the miraculous tale of St Machar’s Well and the eventual founding of Aberdeen’s St Machar’s Cathedral.

On June 5th 1815 we learn that a large mob “not falling short of half a thousand, attacked the White Ship, a house of ill repute run by Meggie Dickie”. The military were seemingly summoned to arrest the ringleaders one of whom was transported for seven years. Resurrectionists feature in the story of another Aberdeen riot, this time dated 19th December 1831.

Seemingly a mob burned down the local anatomy theatre after discarded human remains were found nearby. Who said Aberdeen was a boring city?

Bloody Harlaw, the founding of Aberdeen Golf Club, the epic tale of the Scottish Samurai and the Royal connections of William McCombie and his prize Aberdeen Angus Bull, Jeremy Eric, feature alongside the “crushing defeat of Rangers in the 1982 Scottish Cup” and the tragic gas explosion which, in 1983, destroyed the Royal Darroch Hotel in Cults.

Aberdeen_in_100_Dates_coverThe two concluding stories are bang up to date and describe the charity auction of Aberdeen’s Dolphin Sculptures and the 2016 discovery of 92 bodies buried beneath Aberdeen Art Gallery. Art critics perhaps?

In short, from quirky to gruesome, there’s plenty here to interest everyone.

Inevitably in a work of this complexity there are debatable issues. Fitting 100 tales onto 124 pages is no mean feat. The Aberdeen typhoid description is a case in point and includes the oft repeated line that there were no deaths.

However given that most local histories mirror this notion, the contention is perhaps forgivable and the three folk who died as a result the epidemic will no doubt forgive the repetition.

A slight criticism is however due, regarding the lack of chapter headings or even an index. Apart from the chronology of year, month and date there is little to inform the reader regarding the content of each section and although Elma’s general introduction clearly sets out the parameters of the book’s historical context, the lack of a formal navigation structure restricts the reader to a dipping in and out approach.

Aberdeen in 100 Dates is published in paperback by The History Press at £7.99
ISBN 978-0750-960311

First published in the Summer 2016 edition of Leopard Magazine.

Jul 292016
 

Last Bus CanteenBy Fin Hall.

I am neither a vegetarian nor a vegan; but the North East of Scotland is certainly not the best place to be if any of those ideologies are your choice. Especially the latter.
Many years ago, however, I was a vegetarian and it was even worse. I had macaroni cheese coming out of my lugs.

However, if you are willing to travel a little out of the city, up to the village of New Pitsligo a.k.a. ‘Cyaak’, you will find an absolute treasure of a restaurant.

The Last Bus Worker’s Canteen, is situated off the beaten track, or more precisely up a beaten track, just north of said village. It is run by an ex oil worker, Mike and his partner, Jessica.

They always welcome people with a hearty smile, and even it the place is busy, they move things about to find a space for you.

Down the hill from the cafe, is situated their residence and a large building in which is situated two, old double decker buses which are in a constant state of renovation. It has been known, that in times of extreme busyness, one of the aforementioned buses will be driven up the hill and parked outside, and used as an additional sitting area.

Once inside you may be seated at old bus seats before Jessica, who is always dashing about between tables taking orders with that ever present smile on her face. Don’t be excepting a vast choice on the menu, as their is only ever 1 soup choice and one main course, but there is always a fine selection of puddings; crumbles, cheesecakes, muffins, smoothies etc. All home made and very delicious.

Some of you maybe hesitating reading this, thinking, “Vegan? Not for me.”

Perish that thought. You don’t have to be vegan to eat here, and nor will you be made unwelcome just because you eat meat. All are welcome. If you don’t fancy the main course, have a pudding. Go on, have a pudding.

I give this five stars, not in the usual, Chester Hotel, type five star, but the service, taste of food and ambiance, makes it thus.

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Jul 292016
 

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURESWith thanks to Kenneth Hutchison,
Parliamentary Assistant to Dr. Eilidh Whiteford.

Banff & Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford has given her wholehearted backing to NFU Scotland and the Press and Journal’s campaign to ensure the ongoing viability of the north-east dairy industry.

Adding her name to the list of supporters, Dr Whiteford stressed the need for a vibrant dairy sector in the north-east, and urged shoppers to buy local milk, and to lobby supermarkets to support local farmers.

Speaking after a meeting with NFUS representatives and farmers at new Deer Show, Dr Whiteford said:

“The closure of the Muller plant has undoubtedly been a blow to our north-east dairy farmers, and it’s difficult to overstate the challenges the industry faces.

“That’s why it’s more important than ever for consumers to support farmers in the north-east. It’s also why supermarkets have to do their bit by ensuring that these same farmers receive a fair payment for the top-quality milk they supply.

“Agriculture is the mainstay of many rural towns and villages in Banff and Buchan, and I am very happy to support this campaign.”

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Jul 292016
 

With thanks to Georgette Cobban, scheme manager, Home-Start Aberdeen.

Pic 3

Back Row: Alison Chandler (ACVO), Georgette Cobban (Home-Start Aberdeen), Mark Smith (Piper), Cllr Neil Clooney. Front Row: Angus McKay, Murray Scott, Brodie Passell.

A project to encourage engagement between Aberdeen organisations and their communities burst into life on Wednesday as the finishing touches were put to the city’s first Blooming Big Aberdeen friendly bench.
Representatives from Blooming Big Aberdeen and family support charity Home-Start Aberdeen came together in Hazlehead Park to celebrate the colourful addition of a freshly-painted Home-Start Aberdeen bench.

The friendly bench project is one of the most recent initiatives to have arisen from the Big Aberdeen Event in September 2014 and is supported by ACVO TSI in partnership with Aberdeen City Council.

It invites third sector organisations to claim and design a bench in the city to raise awareness of the support and services that they provide.

Participating organisations are encouraged to create an eye-catching bench design that reflects their identity and activities, then work jointly with the other project partners to implement it.

“The big messages from the Big Aberdeen Event were ‘Let’s do something about the gaps between rich and poor’ and ‘Let’s celebrate our green spaces’,” said Alison Chandler, enterprise & sustainability lead, ACVO TSI.

“The Blooming Big Aberdeen bench project will get people talking and finding out about the great work being done around the city.

“We hope people will have fun out and about, tracking down the dozens of other friendly benches that will be popping up around Aberdeen over the months ahead in playparks, playgrounds and green spaces.”

The sunshine shone over Hazlehead Park as the final touches were put to the Home-Start Aberdeen bench accompanied by the celebratory skirl of bagpipes.

Staff and volunteers from Home-Start Aberdeen were joined by families who are supported by the charity to celebrate completion of the bench. While the adults busied themselves stencilling the charity’s helping hands logo onto the bench, some of the group’s younger members were entertained with outdoor activities organised by Home-Start Aberdeen’s co-ordinators.

“We first heard about the friendly bench project some months ago and were instantly captivated by the idea,” says Georgette Cobban, scheme manager, Home-Start Aberdeen.

“Our raison d’être is to provide city-based families who may be suffering from isolation with emotional and practical support. We hope that the bench will encourage parents who didn’t know about our services to consider getting in touch.

“I also anticipate that the bench will become a popular meeting point for our existing families and their volunteers, as many of them like to make use of the fantastic community spaces that we have here in the city.

“It’s wonderful for both the charity – and for those who need our help – that there is another physical reminder of our presence in such a popular family area.”

Over the coming weeks other Blooming Big Aberdeen friendly benches will appear in popular city spaces – including Seaton Park and the Beach Esplanade – and along walking routes such as the former Deeside railway line.

Pic 1

Mr Bear (Home-Start Aberdeen Mascot) – painting the bench with Peter Gunn watching.

Plaques for each of the benches are being produced and donated by corporate branding specialists, Recognition Express Scotland Ltd.

Further information on the friendly bench project and other Blooming Big Aberdeen initiatives is available here http://acvo.org.uk/working-with/big-aberdeen/blooming-big-aberdeen/.

For more information on the family support services provided by Home-Start Aberdeen visit www.homestartaberdeen.org.uk.

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