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The Temperance Movement Conquers Aberdeen

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Jan 282016

The Temperance Movement returned to a sold-out, packed, eager audience on Tuesday 19th January, their first UK show in a year or so. They’ve toured with the Stones; they’ve toured the States. They’ve released their second album and it’s No. 1 in the rock charts. And here they are at Aberdeen’s Beach Ballroom.

Are they are the heirs apparent to The Stones, The Black Crowes and possibly even Zeppelin? Suzanne Kelly thinks so. Suzanne Kelly reviews the show and album; photos by Julie Thompson.

They come from Glasgow; they come from London. They are here to stay. Here are the basics:
The Temperance Movement is Phil Campbell (vocals), Paul Sayer (guitars), Nick Fyffe (bass) and Damon Wilson (drums) and Matt White (guitar on this tour). Luke Potashnick (guitar) has left since recording the album.

TTM’s second album White Bear is No.1 in the UK Rock charts – and that’s exactly where it should be.

It can be as much of a curse as it is a blessing if your first album is a critically-acclaimed, hit-laden debut without a bad track on it. The pressure of putting out a follow-up has proved too much for many acts; think of the Stone Roses. SR took over 5 years to make their second record; it cost Geffen fortunes, saw personnel hired and fired on the grand scale, and well… it’s not anyone’s favourite album.

If your first album was so impressive the Rolling Stones took you out on tour, then the pressure’s really on.

TTM did it. This is brilliant. They display more sheer genius and conviction as they take rock and southern rock flavours and again do unique things with power and grace.

The themes from the first album are still there; references to themes from the bible and the actual Temperance Movement are peppered throughout the lyrics and I say ‘hallelujah’ to that ( “I paid silver at the wailing wall” on Three Bulleits, “calling all believers righteous and deceivers alike” on Magnify, and a peppering of words like ‘witness’, ‘brother’, ‘genuflecting’ – for me this is a small but important thread running through their works like a label identifying their writing).

They are also referring back to other bands and songs with a just a word or two eg ‘ pretty vacant’, ‘tiny dancer’, ‘little Susie’ – paying a small homage here and there to past influences.

More importantly, the lyrics still cover themes that resonate to all their fans, loves, lost loves, bad loves, really bad loves, striving. And it’s all, to a line, beautiful and honest:

“high price for wisdom, do your best until the best comes along our love is all that I am / we smile so sleekit (nice bit of Scottish dialect there btw) / death wish rambles where the shadows are long / finger my sunbeam like a dirty joke”
– on the title track, White Bear.

One of my favourite songs is A Pleasant Peace I Feel:’

“beautiful and notorious / warring factions and a pleasant peace I feel.”

All in all, I still feel that the sentiments they capture must have been written from decades of experience, not from a still young band; I don’t see where they’ve found the time to write, record, tour, and have time for experiences that lead to such insightful lyrics.

Lyrics – love them; but the music they’re set to and how they’re played is why I think we’ve really got something special in TTM, and I’m hoping that nothing will interfere with their 3rd, 4th, or 10th albums.

The opening bars of 3 Bulleits makes me think of Zeppelin’s ‘Good Times Bad Times’ and then we’re into pure southern rock honky-tonk with layers of hot guitar and vocals. The album was only recently released when TTM came to Aberdeen, but we were all singing along when they play. The production on this – on all the new material — gets a ‘hats off’ from me; it’s very well crafted.

Unlike some acts, they play this material live beautifully (as you’d expect from them), not as if they were studio act that can’t play live, like a hothouse flower that couldn’t live outside a greenhouse.

‘Get Yourself Free’ – I’m wondering if it’s the ‘70s again – I’m hearing Bad Company, Zeppelin, and CSNY type harmony. Lynyrd Skynyrd could have written this. Or Zeppelin when in one of their southern modes. But it’s pure Temperance. The instrumental section – pure class; high octane, with beats that make me think Bonzo had more than a little influence.

Don’t get me wrong; when you hear elements that make you think of the world’s greatest bands of the past in these songs, you’re never in any doubt that what’s going on here is brand new, high-voltage music that no one else is going to be able to touch for a long, long time.

Oh, just go buy it – White Bear is genius; it’s energy. ‘The Sun and Moon Roll Around’ alone’s worth the price of admission. Praise the Lord. In fact, I tell you what: If rock / southern rock is your thing, and you buy this album and can’t find at least one track to satisfy you, send your album to me and I’ll refund your money (and I’ll think you have no taste).

As an important side note, as well as picking the album up from iTunes, I’ve bought a white vinyl, White Bear LP, which takes me back to the days when albums were LP records, material things to enjoy as objects, too. It’s a sweet piece of art; it’s an elegant gatefold (get one now if you want a signed print included) including a poster, with lyrics and sleeve notes.

When someone puts something out like this, one clear message is that they care more about giving the fans something to enjoy and cherish more than they do about cutting corners to make a better profit margin – but there is nothing about this band on or off the balance sheet to indicate they’d ever cut any corners. More and more people and artists are appreciating the beauty and the sound of vinyl; expect an increase in vinyl sales and albums.

I think I’m going to order a second one, now I think on it. (Earache must be one hell of a label. I’ve worked at labels that were hell).

TTM take on Aberdeen: HMV and The Beach Ballroom

When The Temperance Movement played the Lemon Tree in April 2014, I think everyone there knew they’d seen something big – something important – starting up. Their first eponymous album had taken less than a week to make [Stone Roses – take note] – and perhaps that’s the way to get the energy and immediacy down.

If you need to record vocals or a guitar solo for weeks on end, the inevitable result is that the artist will be sick to death of it – and you can’t hide that.

If you record like the Rolling Stones, by taking over a house in France, going a bit crazy and ‘just do it’, you’ll get something different, fresh and possibly even a timeless classic will be the result.

I think of the Stones and TTM in the same breath not just because I really like them both or because they toured together, but because they both make unique, classic, fresh recordings that seem to flow naturally, almost effortlessly.

Both acts produce music that’s more than the sum of their band’s impressively talented parts. A track like ‘Chinese Lanterns’ from the first TTM album could well fit onto Exile on Main Street, arguably one of the Stone’s best albums. The writing on Exile often captures flavours of raw American music and does something new, memorable with it – just like TTM does some 40 odd years later.

While we didn’t hear ‘Chinese Lanterns’ in the Beach Ballroom, it’s an elegantly simple, infectious song that stays with you, and I still remember the whole of the Lemon Tree singing it in April ’14.

The Sheepdogs, an impressive Canadian outfit opens. The audience is clearly appreciative; and the set is an enjoyable affair. Some of the songs are very powerful and infectious. Sheepdogs – harmonies; keyboard player took trombone; taken from rich American past and mined it for 2015 – much like TTM’s MO.

One particularly beautiful song – ‘Southern Dreaming’ had a particularly bright guitar sound; made me think of ‘Jessica’ and the Allman Brothers. There was another song – must find its name! – that clearly owed a good deal to Bad Company’s Feel Like Making Love’s rhythms, but with a very positive, up-head feel to it. I’d go see them again in a flash.

The Sheepdogs.

As an aside, it took a fair bit of self-confidence for The Temperance Movement to put The Sheepdogs on. The Sheepdogs were great, impressed the audience, and they were coming at music from a similar angle as TTM – not just the rock, but the craftsmanship, quality of playing, and the flavours.

There are many bands that wouldn’t agree to have a warm up act on tour of such quality, mining a similar vein as the main act; clearly TTM love music, love this kind of music, and are, appropriately, evangelical about promoting quality.

In an age not that long ago, some record companies would buy up and deliberately bury any act that might rival an act they were trying to promote to protect their investment. I’d like to think having Sheepdogs open for The Temperance Movement means that someone in TTM’s organisation thinks promoting other excellent music to new audiences is important and worthwhile – and is confident that nothing can touch TTM.

The Sheepdogs are Ewan Currie – Guitar and Vocals, Ryan Gullen – Bass and Backing Vocals, Sam Corbett-Drums and Backing Vocals Shamus Currie – Backing vocals and keyboards (and if I’m not wrong, tremendous trombone); find out more about them on their page.

The Temperance Movement open with ‘Three Bulleits’; everyone’s screaming. Phil’s all over the stage; never still; it’s physical theatre. Numbers from the first album appear; first of these is ‘Midnight Black’, then ‘Be Lucky’ – everyone I can see is singing along; the fact you want to sing these songs because of how they’ve been crafted is a huge part of the appeal.

We also get ‘Pride’, ‘Ain’t No Tellin’, and the beautiful ‘Smouldering’ – towards the end is a personal favourite, ‘Only Friend’ – the whole room is singing loudly; I catch as few seconds on my phone’s recorder as if I could somehow capture a powerful moment. I hope someone’s filming some of these live shows. (We get 16 or 17 songs; it must be exhausting. My only let-down is not hearing ‘Serenity’ from the first record; I love this song. But I realise they can’t play everything).

‘White Bear’ is a thunderstorm. It opens with uplifting powerful major power chords, then grows tender before reaching rising to a remarkable crescendo, falling and rising again. These guys are the heirs apparent to the best rock bands we’ve had. This quite simply, is one of the best songs anyone’s written for years and it’s on an album of other hits.

It’s a short break before the encore; I tell Julie it’s going to be a glowing review.

“Glowing Review?! It has to be a glowing review! Jesus Christ almighty – it was brilliant!” is her reply.

Believe me, that’s not exactly her standard reply. More often than not she’ll leave an act after taking the photos of the first three songs.

If this is only their second album, whatever is next? I’ll make sure I don’t miss a thing about TTM. In fact, think I’ll go check out the rest of their schedule and try to get another show or two in.

This was the band that got me back listening to music – seriously, I stopped listening to any music at all for something like a decade – didn’t buy a single thing; didn’t play music at home (long story). Safe to say, I’ve joined the Movement.

Don’t take my word for it:

“TTM are essentially a classic rock band they have an unbelievably high standard of not only being able to rock but the song craft, melody – there’s not many bands out there that can do that.

“When you listen to them on record – I was quite surprised by the new album; it’s sonically a step forward – sonic, punchier – production is fuller shall we say than the first album, but without compromising any of the song writing craft – you’ve got 11 songs – every song is excellent. It’s not easy for bands to do that. For many bands in the digital age they can’t play live – it’s all about money.” said Joe, a local drummer.

When I see him after the show, he tells me:

“They were excellent. I’m not really surprised they were that good live – but I was really really happy.”

Joe McKenzie said:

“I’ve just watched Sheepdogs; very good! Excellent! TTM never seen them live; can’t wait! Love the albums.”

Lynn Anderson commented:

“We first saw TTM at Belladrum a couple of years ago, a bit by chance really. I walked in and said, ‘yeah, this is my kind of band’.”

Her husband Nick said:

“’Hooked’ isn’t the word. As soon as we got back from that, we downloaded the first album. We downloaded the new album as soon as we could. They’re both on our playlist as favourites.”

On a personal note:

One of my stories/projects had gone far wider than I’d ever expected; for 2 ½ weeks solid I’d been doing interviews. While still managing work and other projects, I found myself scrambling over sand dunes on the Aberdeenshire coast on frozen mornings for Aljazeera and others, filming in Westminster for German TV, arguing with the notorious Bill O’Reilly at midnight, taping BBC World Service TV and radio at dawn, and skyping Australia Sky News from broom cupboards, etc.

I’m pretty sure I broke a toe, and my left shoulder is killing me, god knows why. The day TTM came to Aberdeen was my first day after the madness had ended, and I wanted to celebrate. I couldn’t have had a better night of uplifting fresh music than TTM gave us. It also was clear that the band expend as much energy in one show as I had in a fortnight.

I stumbled into HMV at the tail end of their playing/signing session and had the quickest chat with them. They’re sitting at a table, undoubtedly suffering from writers’ cramp from signing lots of autographs.

“We are happy to be in Aberdeen; the album’s going great – but you’ll have to tell us really.”

I truthfully tell them I’m listening to it and I love it – my voice is down to a rasp by the way; they joke about ‘whether this interview was authorised or not’, and they’re having a good laugh. Clearly, I need a beer to lubricate the over-worked vocal chords. By the end of the night I’ve talked to great people, had great beer, discovered The Sheepdogs, and got knocked off my feet by TTM. I want to go again.

My cynicism is knocked for six; I believe these guys are as genuine, sincere and nice off stage as all their Facebook posts, comments to fans, tweets, interviews hint that they are. I wish them many decades more of doing as they’re doing.

I started the evening knackered; but I’d forgot anything else that was on my mind before they’d finished the first song. The Temperance Movement left me and a few hundred other people filled with a really wonderful, powerful, positive energy, and I’d like to say thanks for that. So – TTM, thanks for an uplifting evening that, well, you just can’t get from any other act I can think of. Praise Be.

Tour dates, merchandise, photos, a tour diary that wears me out just thinking of what they were up to, and some great footage can be found on their official website.

Aberdeen 1 Dundee 0 – Pittodrie Stadium 22.01.16

Opinion, Sport No Responses »

Jan 232016

Only one goal divided Aberdeen and Dundee but this belied the excitement of the fixture, says Voice reporter Andrew Watson.

It was a chilly Friday night, and the pitch was decidedly brown and muddy. It probably wasn’t even amongst the worst of grounds in the league either, especially at this time of year.
Ex-Don Nicky Low could be seen soaking up the glory after beating his own keeper during a shooting drill. Team sheets also showed Graeme Shinnie to be Dons captain.

Not long after kick off, Aberdeen’s keeper Scott Brown was forced into an embarrassing concession of the ball, chasing it out for a throw in.

There was some good linkup play nipped in the bud up the other end.

Jonny Hayes then forced a corner. Adam Rooney appeared to be hustled off resulting incoming ball.

Kenny McLean later just put a tad too much on ball to corner , putting it out for a goal kick. The ball again found itself in a similar position, but went out for a corner.

A scramble in box almost resulted in a goal, going out, then back into the box, a fingertip save from Scott Bain keeping it from goal. There was then a third situation in the box, which Bain again denied with a fantastic stop.

Brown then pulled off similar heroics at the other end. His backline slipped up not long after, but recovered as Dundee put a dangerous ball across the box. Later they floated the ball completely over bar.

Despite this minor onslaught, Rooney changed things for the home team after 14 minutes.

He completed move instigated by Hayes, who powered in a low and sweeping ball to find his teammate at the back post.

1-0 Aberdeen!

Aberdeen played it safe and put ball out for throw in to quell Dundee advance.

Following that, there was a cynical challenge that put Hayes on the deck as he strode forward. McGinn was flat on his backside taking the resulting free kick.

There was then a good block to deny Dundee good crack on goal.

Back up the other end, Shinnie fought for a ball and was awarded with corner.

David Goodwillie then glanced a low shot just wide of the post as Aberdeen caught Dundee sleeping.

Dundee produced similar from a corner of their own, but Brown snuffed it out.

Heavy touches during play denied Aberdeen good chances on goal.

Then Brown made an excellent block, and teammates mopped up a potential rebound opportunity. A later defensive error left him having to make a brave challenge for the ball, but he managed to retain it in his hands.

One of his backline, Ashton Taylor, delivers an expert ball into opposition box, but Dundee rise to neutralise it.

Dundee later linkup well but intercepted outside Aberdeen’s box.

Hayes wins corner but Bain leapt to catch.

Down the other end, brave goalkeeping from Brown kept Aberdeen’s sheet clean.

There was then another Aberdeen corner put away by Dundee. Subsequent play resulted in another corner, which was saved brilliantly by Bain.

Halftime 1-0.

The White Stripes song ‘Seven Nation Army’ blasted through the speakers, the anthem for the Red Army’s very own band. Maybe a lucky number seven for McLean, a gander that he may help his side to subsequent goals?

Anyway, Dundee were back on the pitch quite quick. They could be seen out doing sprint drills.

Come the opening stages of the second half, Aberdeen sweep away a Dundee advance.

Then Brown had to slide to the ground to stop Dundee attack in its tracks.

Shaleum Logan clashes with opposite number, and both went down. He’s then booked for high feet.

“You’re only sheep shagging bastards/
You’re only sheep shagging bastards”

This was, as many are familiar, followed with the stock response:

“We’re only sheep shagging bastards/
We’re only sheep shagging bastards”

There was also ‘We don’t give a peep, whoever you may be’, for ‘Stand Free’, sung by a younger member of the crowd. I always wondered how kids navigated that one when with their parents…

Anyway, once the vitriol subsided, Bain was forced into yet another Aberdeen a goal denial.

McGinn and Hayes were also unlucky as they bombed forward.

Further excellent play was cut out by the Dark Blues.

There followed an unbelievable scoring opportunity for the home side. It went well over the bar despite being more or less a sitter.

Shinnie then threw himself into a challenge, clattering the ball off opponent upon impact.

Taylor then put the Pittodrie men in danger with a lax header back to Brown. He was lucky to get away with the unsuccessful resulting corner.

In turn, the Dens Park men clawed a corner that should’ve never been, as the result of legitimate offside claim that was not acted upon by the linesman.

In fact, the general rhythm of the game appeared to be continually interrupted by a pedantic referee in Alan Muir.

Logan, however, whipped the ball into the box, but the resulting header was held securely in hands of Bain.

Goodwillie later shrugged off a barge and delivered an expert ball along the ground towards the box.

McGinn then came in with right idea, a shot as opposed to passing into net, but with just too much height on the ball.

The Red Army then had their own opportunity to pour scorn on the opposing team, after Shinnie was floored floor by a particularly bad challenge.

Cammy Smith came onto the pitch, replacing David Goodwillie after 82 minutes.

Dundee star man Bain put out a dangerous ball for a corner. It left the box, only to be put back in. Finally, it went out for a goal kick.

There was also a ball right across penalty area, but no takers.

The other Scott between the sticks, Brown, spilt a hard drive but nobody was nearby to pounce.

There followed another mad scramble. This saw Dundee with a real chance of equalising, but the dud attempt, almost clear on goal, went well over the bar. Albeit the man had his back to goal, and all he could do was hit it overhead.

Towards the end, Aberdeen were screaming for a penalty, but no cigar.

Final score: 1-0.

River, Railway and Ravine – Duncan Harley Reviews

Articles, Opinion No Responses »

Jan 212016

By Duncan Harley.

Book_Cover_Douglas_Harper_Rivers Railways, Ravines

River, Railway, Ravine by Douglas Harper. A well researched and engaging publication.

At 164pp and profusely illustrated with both period and contemporary images Douglas Harper’s new book examines both the provenance and the history of the patented, made in Aberdeen, Harper and Co rigid suspension bridge.

Until now little documented, the Harper bridges were among the first suspension bridge designs – not to be confused with the ‘Shakkin’ Briggies’ well known in the NE – to employ steel wire rope in order to form a relatively rigid and therefore highly functional bridge.

Harpers manufactured over sixty such bridges for export throughout the British Empire between 1870 and 1910.

Douglas, a direct descendant of the original bridge engineers, has spent over a decade researching the company’s innovative designs and seeking out surviving examples.

The mid 19th century was a period of rapid industrial growth both in the north east of Scotland and throughout the British Empire. The boom times of railway expansion had opened up new markets and stimulated engineering innovation on a scale rarely seen before.

From humble beginnings supplying the likes of the Great North of Scotland Railway’s seemingly insatiable demand for cast iron fence posts and level-crossing gates, Harpers’ were soon exporting caste-iron pre-fabricated pedestrian suspension bridges right across the globe.

Engineered and manufactured in kit form at their Aberdeen foundry and using innovative techniques gleaned from long experience in the designing of fences, Harper’s products required little local engineering expertise to either assemble or construct, making them popular choices in developing countries. These instantly recognisable and iconic bridges – with spans of up to 91m – provided many decades of service in places as diverse as Nepal, South Africa and even the Falkland Islands.

In his book Douglas details over 60 of Harper’s bridges including those erected in the UK, throughout the Empire and also in Estonia. Several are, he writes, still in use including one on the River Muick at Birkhall and another on the River Feugh at Banchory.

This is a well researched and engaging publication and quite literally a riveting read!

Sources include records held by Aberdeen Maritime Museum, the Harper Archive at Aberdeen Museum and Robert Gordon University. Written with the general reader in mind, Gordon’s book will also appeal to engineering enthusiasts and many historians.

River, Railway and Ravine is published in hardback by The History Press at £20

ISBN 978-0-7509-6213-1

First Published in the November edition of Leopard Magazine

Creed – Andrew Watson Reviews.

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Jan 212016

Boxing drama Creed continues the Rocky series as its seventh instalment, both a sequel and spinoff. Aberdeen Voice’s Andrew Watson was there the day of its UK release.

Michael B. Jordan plays ‘juvenile tearaway’, Adonis Johnson.

There were maybe just over a dozen people at Cineworld at Queens Links during the Friday midmorning showing; which would be about right, given it was a weekday and many would’ve been
working.
It borrows a lot from the preceding films in the series, but the repetition is slightly more artistic symmetry than aping years gone by and merely being lazy. It’s not entirely a masterpiece, though.

Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) is a tearaway in juvenile hall, who happens to be the lovechild of deceased boxing legend, one of Rocky Balboa’s fiercest rivals and closest friends, Apollo Creed.

Creed’s widow takes him under her wing, and the boy becomes a man that feels as if something in his life is missing.

Partly inspired by his father’s success in the ring, he goes to seek out Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) as the trainer to propel him into the boxing limelight and title glory.

Antagonist-wise there’s real-life boxer and Liverpudlian Tony Bellew, who serves as Creed’s English opposition, Ricky Conlan.

Between training montages and the like, Tessa Thompson serves as Creed’s love interest, Bianca.

There aren’t many of the original characters reprised in this film, and many maybe crestfallen than it’s not just Adrian who isn’t on the go anymore.

Positives of the film include the soundtrack, though much of it in that sense are reprises from previous films. There’s no denying, however, that chill as you hear the tolling of the bell; that the real training has begun. Or the pounding of the drums as he races up that stairwell.

Negatives, though, centre around Adonis. For someone who’s meant to be the blood of Apollo, he appears to have little of the charisma which gave his father such stage presence. To be out acted by a full-time boxer in Bellew, who plays a good villain in the piece, is daresay not very flattering.

Something else, which has carried on from Rocky Balboa, is the believability of the film. Now, this isn’t concerning the much derided fight scenes of the first five in the series. That aspect has definitely caught up with the times, and is far more based in realism than it used to be.

This more concerns how protagonist and antagonist weigh in against eachother. In Rocky Balboa, Rocky squares up to a comparatively rake-like Mason Dixon and so doesn’t look to be in the same weight division.

The same applies when muscular Adonis faces off with Ricky Conlan, though funnily enough the latter is indeed, as in the film, a light heavyweight in real life. Perhaps they elected for how good an actor was for the part, than any issues that may arise concerning body presentation.

All in all, it manages to come to a reasonable enough conclusion to encourage the viewer to stick around for the rumoured parts two and three of a spinoff trilogy. The parallels between this first Creed film and the original Rocky debut are definitely by design, and not accident.

North East MSP Continues To Support To Local Shops

Aberdeen City, Opinion No Responses »

Jan 212016

With thanks to Sarah Masson.

Independent retailers have welcomed the support shown for their industry from Christian Allard, MSP. The North East MSP attended Scottish Grocers’ Federation’s event at the Scottish Parliament to coincide with the publication of their Scottish Local Shop Report 2015.

The report highlights the value of local independent convenience stores to communities with 87% of retailers currently involved in community activities.

The report also illustrates that there are more convenience stores per head of population in Scotland than there are in the rest of the UK and that convenience stores provide over 44,000 jobs, including valuable services such as post offices, bill payment services and ATMs.

The SNP MSP has always backed local businesses – acknowledging their importance to local economies throughout Scotland today. The North East MSP has praised the community value of local shops, recognising that they support local producers as:

“they make Scottish products accessible for everyone buy, eat and trust local.”

Scottish Grocers’ Federation Chief Executive Pete Cheema said,

“We were delighted that Christian Allard was able to join us at our event. The support of MSPs is vital in ensuring a prosperous and sustainable independent convenience store industry in Scotland.”

Commenting Christian Allard said:

“It is important that we recognise and support local businesses in our communities especially because local shops tend to be resilient to economic changes.

“Local stores are a large part of what our communities are made up of and this report provides the evidence that clearly shows the community value of local convenience stores in Scotland.

“The report crucially looks at the active role that local stores play in both urban and rural communities. They are constantly evolving and changing to meet the many needs of the people they serve. The independent corner shop is as much a part of the past and present as it is the future.”

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[Aberdeen Voice accepts and welcomes contributions from all sides/angles pertaining to any issue. Views and opinions expressed in any article are entirely those of the writer/contributor, and inclusion in our publication does not constitute support or endorsement of these by Aberdeen Voice as an organisation or any of its team members.]

Trump ‘Meaningless Threat’ Dismissed By Councillors

Aberdeenshire, Opinion No Responses »

Jan 072016

With thanks to Martin Ford and Paul Johnston.

Two Aberdeenshire councillors are dismissing Mr Donald Trump’s latest threat to cancel investment in his Scottish golf courses. Mr Trump was reacting to the petition calling on the Westminster government to ban him from the UK signed by over 570,000 people.

Democratic Independent and Green councillors Paul Johnston and Martin Ford are questioning the likelihood of the investment going ahead whether Mr Trump is banned from the UK or not.

Said Cllr Martin Ford,

“Mr Trump has been promising hundreds of millions of pounds worth of investment in Aberdeenshire for ten years. He has also been threatening not to make the investment ever since he announced it.

“Mr Trump routinely uses threats to try to get his own way, to attempt to exert leverage over Aberdeenshire Council or Scottish Government decisions.

“Back in 2007, Mr Trump’s threat not to invest if he didn’t get everything he wanted clearly had the Council and the Scottish Government dancing to his tune.

“Surely, no-one is going to fall for this meaningless threat now. After ten years of promising an investment that has yet to materialise, the sensible working assumption has to be it’s not going to happen. The rational response to Mr Trump’s pronouncements is to ignore them.”

On Wednesday (6 January), Mr Trump said he would not invest £500 million in his Menie development nor £200 million at Turnberry if he was banned from the UK by the UK government. In 2007, Mr Trump promised to invest £1 billion at Menie – a claim repeated regularly over the following years. Mr Trump’s actual spend at Menie is believed to be less than £30 million.

Last year, Mr Trump announced his intention to apply for planning permission for housing and other further development at Menie. No corresponding planning applications have been submitted.

Cllr Paul Johnston said:

“We should deal in facts, not Mr Trump’s media comments. Mr Trump has invested less than £30 million at Menie and makes an operating loss on the course. All else is speculation.”

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Buchan MP Calls For Rethink On Work Allowance

Aberdeenshire, Opinion No Responses »

Jan 072016

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

Banff and Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford

Banff and Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford has called for the UK Government to reconsider its position on cutting in-work incentives for the low-paid.

In a speech to the House of Commons on Wednesday, Dr Whiteford called on the Government to re-think the proposed cuts scheduled for April. The Institute for Fiscal Studies points out that there will be more losers than winners under the proposed cuts, and the Resolution Foundation estimates that working families with children on Universal Credit will be, on average, £1300 pounds a year worse off by 2020.

The IFS estimate that overall, 2.6 million families across the UK will be worse off by an average of £1600 a year.

Speaking after the debate, Dr Whiteford said:

“While the Government’s U-turn on cutting tax credits was very welcome, it was, as I noted in my speech, a stay of execution given the reductions to the Work Allowance under Universal Credit, scheduled for this April.

“The Government has sold Universal Credit on the basis that work should pay for those in employment. Indeed, Universal Credit was sold as a simplified system which would give families real incentives to find work, and keep work. The reality, however, is that by cutting the Work Allowance, the Government is once again heaping the costs of austerity onto low paid families.

“In a country where the minimum wage remains significantly below what could reasonably be described as a living wage, some form of welfare remains necessary for those undertaking low-paid work. By cutting the Work Allowance the Government is imposing an eye-watering level of marginal taxation on people in low paid jobs, and making it harder than ever for those in low income households to break out of the poverty trap.

“If the Government was serious about making work pay, if they were serious about boosting the UK’s productivity, if they actually wanted to help people get on, they would be increasing the work allowance – not reducing it.”

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Aberdeen 0 Partick Thistle 0 – Pittodrie Stadium 30.12.15

Opinion, Sport No Responses »

Dec 312015

Partick Thistle were impenetrable against an Aberdeen side with plenty of endeavour but not enough finesse in the final third, reports Voice’s Andrew Watson.

The pitch was a little more torn than it was for the Caley game Saturday past. That Boxing Day affair was a tad windy, though this night was calmer in that respect.

It would prove to be the tale of the two Thistles, both stealing a point from an at times imposing and hostile Pittodrie.

It was expected Partick would be brushed aside after the Dons struggled, and rallied against the Thistle of Caledonia.

Whoever was policing the music over the tannoy seemed quite ebullient.

First it was The Stone Roses with ‘I Am the Resurrection’. This the phoenix from the ashes after a subsequent draw, aiming for flaming glory and a full three points. This bluntly segued, during the former’s middle section, into the following:

“Goodness/ No, I’ve never known a night like this”
– Hard-Fi – Hard To Beat

This would be the night they put everything right. Perhaps a tad complacent victory would come their way, because they somehow felt they deserved it and can’t be beat?

It wasn’t the same announcer, either. Not the usual speaking through a crackling and faulty sounding tannoy. Maybe something in the air, a touch of superstition, to ensure and obtain victory?

Anyway, the Manchester City baby blue of Partick was sure to get off colour with such a muddy pitch and generally wet conditions.

Their goalkeeper Tomas Cerny was forced into a save with a Jonny Hayes delivery.

The latter then earned a corner for Aberdeen. He takes it, and Niall McGinn earns his side another corner. Cerny saves the resulting non threatening header.

A subsequent McGinn delivery was mopped up by the goalie.

Kenny McLean won the Dons a free kick. Hayes takes the kick, and the Cerny again gets his hands on it.

Not long after, McGinn tees himself off for a wonder shot on goal, but fumbles. Willo Flood cracks one that goes out for a corner. This then comes to no end after a tussle in the box results in a free kick for Partick.

McLean then admirably remains on feet to header to Hayes, who hones in on goal but is mobbed by the back four. His free kick claim is rejected.

There’s then some good Aberdeen defending to deny Thistle. They then go on the counter attack and are unfortunate not to score.

credible claim for a penalty turned down

Thistle are then on the counter attack themselves. There’s a mazy run, but not fruitful. There’s a subsequent shot at Danny Ward, but straight into his hands.

Aberdeen come into some luck with a good free kick opportunity. McGinn drives the ball into the box, but far too low.

There followed a superb, from distance, attempt on goal with Graeme Shinnie smacking his shot off the crossbar.

However, Aberdeen were almost caught out on the counterattack.

McGinn pops up again and beat the last man. However, he was denied by the keeper. Feasibly he could’ve chipped him, but was perhaps seeking to go down the more obvious goal scoring avenue.

Thistle then had a good free kick opportunity just outside Aberdeen’s box. Following this, they’d a credible claim for a penalty turned down.

Another Partick attack was nullified after a superb interception by wingback, Shaleum Logan.

Adam Rooney then clawed play back up the pitch, his determination winning a throw in a fortuitous position.

Skipper Ryan Jack thereafter frustrated things by electing to pass rather than shoot on goal, much to the chagrin of the fans.

Hayes’ dribbling strides were then too big to threaten Thistle back four.

Some hope for an eventual goal returned when Rooney almost expertly received a long ball, just outside the box. He didn’t quite get it, though.

There was some good linkup play with McLean and Hayes, but the goalie cottoned onto it.

The former won a free kick for his team. This, though, was batted away by Thistle.

McGinn then overcooked his shot after beating his man. Shinnie soon did similar, overcooking his delivery into box.

In turn, even McLean admits fault for slipup on pass. A later mishap from him puts Flood in danger and on the back foot.

Cerny couldn’t even be beaten at close range

There was a double clash in the middle of the pitch, both arguably late tackles. Perhaps from this point a sign that the game was about to get bad tempered.

This was followed by one minute of additional play.

Bob Marley and the Wailers’ ‘Three Little Birds’ were yet again reassuring the fans over the tannoy at halftime that victory would yet come.

Human League’s ‘Don’t You Want Me’ stated ‘Peter Pawlett (Baby)’ as a hopeful substitute for after the break.

Furthermore, KC and the Sunshine Band were extoling the virtues of Hayes’ first half performance, with ‘Give It Up’.

Kicking things off again was McLean, who was denied on goal after a commendable mazy run.

Defensively, Ashton Taylor leapt to deny opposition ball into box. His team then went on a counterattack, but were snuffed out.

Aberdeen then absorb a worrying and persistent foray into their box.

Generally, Aberdeen were trying too hard to pass it into the net. There was no sharpshooting with this side.

Flood then conceded free kick for challenging header.

Logan afterwards delivered a deft ball but McGinn couldn’t latch onto it and beat the keeper. Cerny couldn’t even be beaten at close range, with good reflexes.

The other man between the sticks, Ward, was almost caught out with a poor kick out that could’ve been costly.

Flood then came up with a through ball, but was a tad elusive for fellow teammates.

Two of them, the centre backs, combined well to help Ward comfortably catch a potential threat in the box.

Pawlett did eventually, it turns out, come on the pitch on the 65 minute mark, with Jack subbed.

Aberdeen were fortunate not to go a goal down

Generally, Partick were never say die, and keeping their game alive. They clawed away torrent of attack after attack, which started with a corner.

Hayes then won a free kick on corner of the box.

Cerny later dived low to absorb Aberdeen attack. It was all thick and fast, yet they still held on.

Taylor delivered a fine ball, but teammates were marked out.

The man to potentially change things, Pawlett, instigated another barrage. No luck. His muscular runs beating everybody bar the keeper. The latter rising to beat every man in red, no matter how far away from his two sticks.

Thistle then have what could be an essential crack on goal, with a rare corner. No luck.

Aberdeen were fortunate not to go a goal down with some lax marking, leaving a man totally free not far from goal.

Thistle then have another rare corner. Dons manage to bat it away.

Shinnie was integral to the back fours clean sheet aspirations, snuffing out a dangerous attack and deflecting a goal bound ball out for a corner. Thistle are really getting into the game, attacking wise, by this point.

Then 83 minutes into the game Cammy Smith came on for McGinn.

Finally, Ward’s beaten. Off target, though.

Logan, though, is later booked for what was arguably a cynical challenge.

Yet again, Aberdeen cannot beat this resolute Partick side. Even up close, where scoring seems a given, there’s no goal to be seen.

There looks to be plenty additional play, especially with an injury in the Main Stand/Dick Donald Stand corner. A Firhill man is on the floor, and looks it might be serious.

This was followed by five minutes of additional play. Cue boos from Red Army when Partick take their time for a substitution.

One last lash on goal for Aberdeen, but over the bar. Ward has last kick of the game before whistle sounds.

Final score: 0-0.

Aberdeen 2 Inverness CT 2 – Pittodrie Stadium 26.12.15

Opinion, Sport No Responses »

Dec 272015

Aberdeen were almost comeback kings against Inverness but had to be content securing a point against their Highland rivals, says Voice’s Andrew Watson.

The pitch looked not bad considering the weather.

Having said that, it looked the game might descend into a mud bath quite quickly.

The groundsmen did all they could to keep the playing surface level.

There were boos when Willie Collum was announced as referee for the match, a man that has never been popular with the Dons support.

The rain was absolutely lashing down, and Pittodrie being so near the North Sea perhaps it was little wonder.

The Real Madrid white of Inverness looked set to go off colour fairly quickly in this mucky contest.

Opening the game, there was some pretty good link up play between Shaleum Logan and Jonny Hayes. The ball unfortunately went out of play, though.

Captain Ryan Jack also teamed up with the aforementioned duo not long after. The trio were, however, swiftly dealt with.

Adam Rooney had slightly more luck, but his low drive towards goal was slightly lacking power and precision.

Steven McLean figured in things, winning a header, but couldn’t be kept in play.

Logan couldn’t quite keep in a speculative attacking delivery, too.

Some close up action in the box followed, but with no red shirts getting a foot on the ball.

Danny Ward then saved Aberdeen’s blushes, coming out to shut out an Inverness advance. Further to that, a good opening for the away side was thrown away as the ball was skied over the bar from distance.

Down the other end of the park, Ashton Taylor lofted a ball beyond his teammates and straight into the hands of the opposing keeper.

There was then a contentious offside decision as Aberdeen closed in on goal.

Graeme Shinnie then found himself fouled, inviting a free kick opportunity. The resulting run of play saw McLean come close with a drive on goal.

There was another set piece which went out for a corner. There was some good attacking play, but Caley managed to scramble it away.

A ball from Andrew Considine was caught by keeper, Owain Fon Williams. From thereon the Caley Jags carved open Aberdeen and almost scored.

Niall McGinn put in a good ball into the opposing box, but nobody rose to the occasion and fought for it. Williams catches.

Referee Collum brought forth the ire of the Red Army for seemingly awarding a foul that was arguably a slip on the wet surface.

Considine then showed endeavour with a run down the wing into the box, and though unsuccessful, won a throw in for his troubles.

Not long after, there was an in-swinging corner headed over the bar. Just as inaccurate was Logan’s overly clever long ball, nowhere near any of his teammates in that final third of the pitch.

On the other hand, there was some encouraging work with McLean tussling to maintain possession. However, his dribbling direction was anticipated by his opposing number.

There was a good ball into their box, though Considine’s header was a tad weak.

Keeper Ward mopped up another Aberdeen slip at the back.

Inverness almost scored an own goal trying to put out an Aberdeen cross, this resulting in a corner.

Then came a moment that was perhaps inevitable. Paul Quinn was pushed aside far too easily, and the resulting cutback was guided into the goal.

0-1 (Liam Polworth) 41 minutes into the game.

Aberdeen were carved open again and were lucky not to be two goals down. That moment would come, though.

Half time was called when Aberdeen were advancing toward goal. This incurring boos from the Red Army.

Bob Marley and the Wailers’ ‘Three Little Birds’ were once again reassuring them over the tannoy that everything would be alright. Boney M’s ‘Danny (Ward) Cool’ stated the only positive of the game so far, that our keeper’s cool head under pressure was keeping us in the game.

By this point the pitch was looking pretty torn up. It was also getting a tad windier.

The Red Army was told to ‘Place Your Hands’ and put them up by Reef. This quick post-interval snippet was hoped to gee up the fans and, in turn, the players.

However, it was only two minutes into the second half when Inverness found themselves with a penalty, and a potential two goal cushion over the home side. Again, Quinn was at fault.

0-2 (Greg Tansey).

In response Hayes fired in a cross, but skied it for a goal kick.

David Goodwillie came on the pitch at the 49 minute mark, with Quinn coming off.

The run of play had the Caledonian Thistle faithful singing ‘You’re not famous anymore’. They were almost shut up with a good attempt on goal.

Hayes redeemed himself retrieving a wayward ball, but came unstuck – as did the team as a whole. They appeared to have little desire, fight, to chase the ball if not a pinpoint pass.

There was, though, a flurry of action in the Inverness goal but nothing of note happened. After that, there was also some expert last gasp defending holding back the Aberdeen attack.

Williams ended up on the floor after an incident in his box. His teammates took this as an opportunity to restock on fluids whilst his head got bandaged up.

Following this there was some silly long range shooting from Aberdeen, given how windy conditions were.

An instance in which this almost worked was a cross whipped in but Williams punched it away.

Considine was then fortunate that a foul was awarded in his favour. He was well and truly beaten by his opposite half.

Aberdeen were throwing everything and the kitchen sink against Inverness, but did it with little of the guile needed to be successful in the final third of the pitch. The ball did almost cross that line, to be fair.

McGinn eventually pounced to claw one back 73 minutes into the game.

1-2!

Not long after, Aberdeen had a curling effort wide of the post. During this, also, Collum incensed the home support with the soft awarding of yet more contentious free kicks.

Logan then intervened in the nick of time to keep away that third goal.

McGinn could’ve been the hero, but touch in front of goal was poor.

McLean, arguably with the moment of the match, thundered a shot that appeared to rattle off the underside of the crossbar, but no luck.

Adam Rooney then picked out to score from the penalty spot after a hand ball.

2-2 90 minutes into the game!

Six minutes followed that penalty. A winning goal could feasibly come from either side.

Goodwillie slid well to battle for ball, but lost it.

Game over. A tough way to go about earning a measly point. Good fight back, though. Perhaps the weather went against, though that’s often a leveller for anyone in football.

Final score: 2-2.

School Site Options Are Important Choice For Community

Aberdeenshire, Opinion No Responses »

Dec 242015

With thanks to Martin Ford.

Local councillor Martin Ford has commented on the decision facing the local community and Aberdeenshire Council over where to build the planned new Kinellar Primary School.
Cllr Martin Ford said:

“Aberdeenshire Council has been trying to buy the site allocated in the Local Development Plan for the new Kinellar School for several years and a compulsory purchase process was initiated in 2013.

“However, in circumstances where there is an unwilling seller, the Council is not able to set a timetable for purchase, and due process must be followed.”

The Council has the budget allocated to deliver a new Kinellar School. Faced with on-going uncertainty regarding site acquisition the community is now being consulted on the alternative option of putting the new school building on the current school site.

“The delay and uncertainty over being able to acquire the intended new school site do mean it is now necessary to consider whether a change of plan may be better,” said Cllr Ford.

A public engagement event took place recently (Tuesday, December 15) organised by Aberdeenshire Council to discuss proposals, timescales and options for a new Kinellar Primary School with parents and carers. Over 70 people attended the event to learn about two options proposed by the Council: to either continue negotiation to acquire the site for the new school identified in the Local Development Plan, or; a new build on the existing Kinellar Primary School site.

In relation to the option of building on the current school site, Kinellar School pupils would be educated at the new Midmill School in Kintore from January 2017 until the new Kinellar School was completed around summer 2018. Transport to Kintore would be provided by the Council, as well as additional spaces within the after school club and, for younger children, arrangements would be made to retain nursery provision in Blackburn.

Cllr Martin Ford said:

“The decision now required about where to construct the new school building is down to circumstances. There are advantages and disadvantages to both the possible options put forward by the Council. Neither choice is risk free.

“The site identified for the new school in the Local Development Plan is larger and moving the school to it frees up the current school site, potentially for other community facilities. But the uncertainty over site acquisition is a huge problem.

“The current school site is already in Council ownership, but it’s smaller than ideal. There may be other planning applications for the site allocated in the Local Development Plan for the new school if it is not used for that purpose.”

Cllr Ford has welcomed the good attendance at the engagement event on 15 December. For people who couldn’t attend the meeting and have any questions, or would like a copy of the presentation, contact learning estates quality improvement manager Maxine Booth by January 7, at: learningestates@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

A further report on both options for Kinellar Primary School will be presented to Aberdeenshire Council’s Policy and Resources Committee in January with further opportunities for engagement pending the outcome.

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