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AllFord at Alford: Popular Event Returns This Sunday

Aug 132015

With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

This Sunday (Aug 16) more than 200 Fords will head for Alford for the second AllFord event, taking place at the Grampian Transport Museum.

Launched in 2014, AllFord at Alford is a showcase of everything ‘Fordie’ from 1908 to the present day and celebrates motoring for the masses.

A number of special entries have been received, including a rare Aberdeen bodied Model T van, owned by Les Coull of Keith.

Built in 1924 by Georgeson & Co of Aberdeen it is believed that the van spent its working life at a bakers in Bucksburn before entering into preservation.

Also making an appearance at this year’s AllFord will be the only Model T to have made it to the top of Ben Nevis. Having been taken to the foot of the hill by a group of enthusiasts to celebrate the models centenary it was taken apart in the car park before being lifted, piece by piece, to the top and then reassembled to celebrate the event. Descent from the summit was carried out in a similar manner, with the car being taken apart and then reassembled at the start!

Taking on a gruelling 850 mile round trip for this years show is Adrian Evans of Great Barr, Birmingham. Adrian will be travelling north in his 1969 MK2 Ford Cortina which won the 2014 Meguiars Club Showcase at the NEC, Birmingham.

The event will be supported by Ford UK who will be attending the event with a dedicated Ford Marquee, complete with Playstation driving simulator and brand ambassadors on hand to offer help and advice to enthusiasts. Arnold Clark, as part of the Ford stand, will showcase some of the latest models direct from the showroom.

The popular ‘Choice of the people’ award will once again allow visitors to vote for their favourite car of the show. Craft traders, specialist suppliers and accessories retailers will add to the show atmosphere of this unique event.

Vehicle entries are now closed for this year’s event. Public admission to AllFord is £5 for adults, with children under 16 admitted free.

Final Preparations Underway For Celebrate Aberdeen

Aberdeen City, Information No Responses »

Aug 132015

With thanks to Jessica Murphy.

From soulful singing to foot-stomping classics and drumming talent to folk beats – the Granite City will come alive this month for Celebrate Aberdeen.

Final preparations are now underway for the popular event, which is being held in the city centre on August 22 and 23.

Performers including award winning traditional folk singer Iona Fyfe, local sensation Best Girl Athlete, acclaimed musician Colin Clyne and Scottish rockers Uniform will take to the stage to entertain the crowds throughout the weekend.

They will be joined by local favourites The Lorelei, entertainer Samyouel, the Aberdeen Chorus of Sweet Adelines, Aberdeen Rock Choir and Acoustified in Union Terrace Gardens, Aberdeen Central Library and the Bon Accord & St Nicholas Centre and bandstand area.

The fun weekend will begin in style with the return of the third sector parade, which was first held in 2011 and has brought together more than 3,500 people from 130 diverse third sector organisations on each of the three occasions.

Different charities, social enterprises and volunteering organisations will unite in a colourful procession through the heart of the city on August 22 to illustrate the fantastic work they are involved in. Musical performances will be held on both days of Celebrate Aberdeen, which aims to foster community spirit in the city.

Morven Mackenzie, director of Aberdeen based integrated communications agency Citrus:Mix, the leading force behind Celebrate Aberdeen, said the event was shaping up to be the best yet.

She said:

“We are absolutely delighted with the wide range and diversity of talent that makes up the programme for Celebrate Aberdeen this year. There really is something for everyone and we hope everyone comes out to celebrate with us and enjoy all the entertainment throughout the city centre.

“It really will make for an incredible spectacle as the third sector organisations march down Union Street and kick off the weekend. These groups provide an invaluable service to people in Aberdeen and we are pleased to be able to say thanks and help raise their profile in this way.”

For more information on Celebrate Aberdeen contact Morven Mackenzie on 01224 439990 or morven@citrusmix.com

Neigh Joke: Horse Trains For Highland Games

Aberdeenshire, Featured, News 1 Response »

Aug 132015

Socks, the new Lonach horse

With thanks to Ian McLaren, PR account manager, Innes Associates

A horse is in its final stages of training ahead of its debut performance later this month at one of Scotland’s leading highland games.

Across the country, musicians, dancers and athletes have been fine tuning their performances and training in order to be at the peak of their discipline for the highland games season.

However, in rural Aberdeenshire a horse has been undergoing a rigorous training regime to participate at the annual Lonach Highland Gathering and Games on Saturday, 22 August.

Socks, a six-year-old gelding, hasn’t been practicing his sword dance or fine-tuning his sprinting ability for the light athletics, but getting used to the skirl of the pipes and the beat of drums.

The young Irish Heavy Cob is making his first appearance at the popular traditional event where he will parade throughout the day with the Lonach Highlanders, and numerous pipe bands.

Having never encountered the sound and motions of the pipes and drums before, Socks has been attending the Lonach Pipe Band practice sessions over the last three months in order to become comfortable with the distinctive sounds ahead of his debut at the gathering.

A horse and cart has traditionally followed the Lonach Highlanders on their marches in order to convey their weapons when they became too heavy for the men to carry on long marches, particularly over uneven hill roads. Socks will follow in the hoof prints of a long line of horses to provide this supporting role to the Lonach Highlanders.

Socks is owned by Kildrummy resident and Lonach Highlander Derek Gray, who has looked after the Lonach horse on marches since 2013. Mr Gray bought Socks as a yearling and hopes he will become a long-standing part of the Lonach marches.

In addition to featuring in the Lonach marches, Mr Gray has set up Odd Socks Enterprises to offer horse-drawn carriage services, which will see Socks available to hire along with a restored four-wheeled wagon.

Organised by the Lonach Highland and Friendly Society, the Lonach Highland Gathering and Games is held annually on the fourth Saturday in August. Staged in the small, picturesque Aberdeenshire village of Bellabeg, this year marks the 174th time the gathering has been held. One of north-east Scotland’s best known and most popular traditional summer events, it attracts up to 10,000 visitors, including many from overseas.

Socks with his owner Derek Gray

A major feature of the gathering are the Lonach Highlanders.

First established in 1823, they are believed to be the largest body of non-military men to carry ceremonial weapons in Britain.

Dressed in full highland dress and armed with traditional Loachaber axes and pikes, which are over eight-feet in length and weigh up to 3 kg (7 lbs), the Highlanders form an impressive sight on their three marches on games day.

Membership of the Lonach Highlanders is drawn from residents of the local area who descend from the Forbes, Wallace and Gordon clans, and currently numbers 220 men.

Jennifer Stewart, secretary of the Lonach Highland and Friendly Society, said:

“A horse has long been a feature of the Lonach Highlanders marches and usually gets as a warm a reception on the games field as the Highlanders themselves. Our last long-term horse, Mac, filled the role for over five years but retired along with Willie Gray, who looked after the horse at Lonach previously. Last year Derek felt Socks was too young, so we had a temporary pony, Mhairi, who did a great job.

“The debut of a new horse is always special and we hope Socks will have a long association with the Lonach Gathering. A horse is an important part of the unique experience that is the Lonach Gathering. The sight of 220 Lonach Highlanders and the massed pipe bands leading the Lonach horse and cart onto the games field in such a stunning setting is a sight to behold.”

Socks’ owner Derek Gray said:

“Until a few weeks ago Socks had never encountered the sound of the bagpipes or the beat of a drum, so we’ve spent the last few months getting him used to them. Horses have very sensitive hearing so it is important to expose Socks to these unique sounds so that he is comfortable with them. He has a great temperament and has taken the training in his stride.

“I’ve been looking after the horse on the Lonach march for the last two years, taking over the role from my father who had done it for over 40 years before that. Having reared Socks since he was a yearling, I will be extremely proud to march alongside him on games day. There’ll be a few carrots close at hand to keep him sweet and ensure he behaves himself and doesn’t end up in the beer tent with all the other Highlanders.”

This year’s gathering, on Saturday, 22 August, will once again feature a full programme of traditional highland events. This will include individual and massed piping, highland dancing and light and heavy athletics, with some of the country’s leading pipers, dancers and athletes competing. The 300th anniversaries of the 1715 Jacobite uprising and opening of the Poldullie Bridge, a local landmark, will also be marked at the event.

Established in 1823, by Sir Charles Forbes, 1st Baronet of Newe and Edinglassie, the Lonach Highland and Friendly Society is a charitable organisation based in Strathdon, Aberdeenshire. The society organises the annual Lonach Gathering at Bellabeg Park, Strathdon, which is held on the fourth Saturday of August – this year’s event takes place on Saturday, 22 August. The main attraction at the gathering is the march of the Lonach Highlanders, a unique body of non-military men.

Further information on the Lonach Highland and Friendly Society, the Lonach Highlanders and the annual Lonach Highland Gathering can be found at www.lonach.org.

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Steve Harris At The Lemon Tree – Reviewed

Aberdeen City, Featured, Opinion No Responses »

Aug 132015

Steve Harris spent some downtime from Iron Maiden at Lemon Tree with his new band, British Lion. Andrew Watson was in attendance. Pictures by Dod Morrison.

The album was released about three years ago, so it was refreshing that some newer material was thrown into the mix.

Upon the band name itself, Harris has reasoned it wasn’t necessarily harking back to the days of imperialist might on these shores; but more like supporting your local football team.

He certainly knows how to do that, with West Ham’s crest emblazoned across the body of his bass; his guitar strap a thick, woolly claret and baby blue.

Soft on the shoulders the key to his longevity perhaps. The Hammers, also known as the Irons because they were founded on Thames Ironworks – ‘Up the Irons!’ – provides a possible link to the origin in the name of his most famous musical endeavour.

One can’t help but draw at least some initial comparison to this setup and the formative spell of Ozzy Osbourne’s solo career. They were originally meant to be called Blizzard of Ozz, yet in the end that was only the name of the debut album and not the band itself. Yes, again as in Iron Maiden, Harris is the primary songwriter, unlike Ozzy.

However, why say onstage the band is called British Lion, when the CD says it’s Steve Harris and that’s merely the album title. It makes sense in both instances from a marketing perspective, one would suppose. Band rebelling against record label? Never!

Before all that, though, were support act The Raven Age, of London. These guys featured none other than George Harris, Steve’s son, on guitar. They were really interesting, actually. The brutality of more modern heavy metal, combined with a more classic rock sensibility of desire for melody and completely refraining from screaming and growls.

What’s more, they actually looked like they were enjoying themselves and, shock horror, you could even catch them smiling from time to time. The only drawback was the singer appearing to thank, come the end, Edinburgh for a good show. Whoops. Which was kind of strange because Aberdeen was mentioned mid set prior to that, so let’s put it down to a mere lapse of thought; engaging tongue before brain.

It turned out they were actually a man down, with their current guitarist away getting married. The fill-in did a tremendous job. Oh, and Harris Jnr was every bit as flashy, dextrous and brilliant as his father; albeit just on a different instrument. As is done a lot, both guitarists took dual responsibility for leads and solos, but you could tell he was their driving force; and that’s no disrespect to the aforementioned.

Overall, very good.

Main act British Lion opened with the thundering ‘This Is My God’. This was quite a grungy number and a fair old rocker to get the crowd going. Think Alice In Chains or Stone Temple Pilots. Yet another comparison would be that the singer sounds like Brandon Boyd of Incubus, and that’s only part of his range.

His opening salvo to the audience was something along the lines of ‘the harder you work for us, the harder we work for you’.

The Aberdeen audience, perhaps conscious of perceived reticence in comparison to more vocal places like Glasgow, and of course, Edinburgh, duly accepted the challenge and went on to do this with much aplomb. Later he said the latter were good but Aberdeen was better. Very diplomatic.

He went on, perhaps as a titbit in reward for the crowd’s raucous behaviour, to explain that ‘These Are The Hands’ was about his hometown, it’s history and it’s struggle and perseverance to this day. It’s driving, epic and links well to the tribal pride in your area or nationality.

There were chances aplenty to wave your arms in the air and clap to the beat of the drums, call and response football-esque chants and get shot by Harris Snr and his machine gun bass.

The song selection was generally good and featured, as said, a lot of new material. The likes of ‘Karma Killer’ was omitted, which was a shame because it’s punchy, groovy and little like anything Iron Maiden has ever done.

Speaking of the Irons there were at least a few numbers that sounded like that kind of material, but never explicitly so. Just like Bill Wyman warned his Rhythm Kings wouldn’t play Rolling Stones songs at the Music Hall a few years back, so British Lion are within right to demand the same.

However the influences do creep into some. Who is the audience to claim they don’t like the sound of dual guitars, or the performer to claim they don’t like pretending they’re Thin Lizzy when they’re doing them?

A pretty lively night, considering it was a Monday.

Southpaw – Andrew Watson Reviews

Aberdeen City, Opinion No Responses »

Aug 072015

Sports drama Southpaw has had some rave reviews, particularly for Jake Gyllenhaal’s depiction of a down on his luck boxer. Aberdeen Voice’s Andrew Watson cast his eye over this recent offering.

There were maybe a dozen people at Vue on Shiprow for the Thursday night showing, which you could suppose is okay for the night time viewing of a film having already been out almost for a week.
The basics of the story are that Billy Hope (Jake Gyllenhaal) is top of the pile as light heavyweight champion of the world.

He’s come a long way from the kid brought up in an orphanage, like his wife, Maureen (Rachel McAdams), in the notorious neighbourhood of Hell’s Kitchen.

They both attend a charity event particular to their upbringing, and he makes a candid if not particularly confident speech regarding his childhood and the good work the system did in its bid to make a positive impact upon his life.

After this a contender for Billy’s belt harasses him, goading with explicit remarks about Maureen. This descends into a scrap. The two are pulled off eachother, but not before his wife is accidentally shot during the skirmish by one of the challenger’s entourage.

This was a little bit evocative of Rocky III, to be honest. The mouthy challenger, the champion losing a loved one after a fracas; though in this case a wife, instead of trainer.

The comparisons to that series don’t end there, neither.

Billy’s subsequent fall from grace following Maureen’s death is akin to the money problems Rocky Balboa encounters at the beginning of Rocky V. Both end up moving from spacious mansions back to their old unpretentious stomping grounds, the places where they made it and made it from.

Even generally speaking Hope’s fighting style is one of sheer determination, persevering through punch after punch with minimal blocking and an inhuman granite chin. Sound like anyone?

During this time Billy loses the championship to an unremarkable fighter, who is then beaten by the said Colombian Clubber Lang.

Not only that, Hope lashes out at the referee and finds himself suspended from boxing. This is where the aforementioned money problems kick in, his income drying up.

His descent into drink and drugs mean the social services take away all that’s left for him to care about, his daughter. This begins a long process to get sober, resume boxing and regain eventual custody.

Trainer Titus Wills (Forest Whitaker) moulds Billy into a more defensive fighter, like when Apollo Creed takes Balboa back to the drawing room, fighting wise, again as said, in Rocky III.

Ultimately, come fight night, Hope learns not to be goaded, like was at the charity event; winning with a cool head, instead of losing all with a hot one.

As an aside, Rachel McAdams was slightly perplexing. Upon first inspection she looks like Laura Vandervoort of V remake fame. However, when she starred in About Time two years ago, onscreen she was more akin to a younger, fresh faced Hilary Swank.

You would be forgiven for thinking she was some sort of reptilian shape shifter, akin to her character in that very sci-fi series from 2009. Strange stuff.

Moving on, in all honesty the film was a bit sickly at first. The happy clappy family life came to a welcome end and the real hardship and heartbreak made for better dramatic viewing.

It did seem a bit ‘boxing movie cliché aplenty’ at times, but there was enough grit in it to not glorify the sport as some sort of cakewalk that some similar films unintentionally make it.

Trail to Tranquility – A Scottish Wild West Film

Aberdeenshire, Featured, Information No Responses »

Aug 072015

Huntly seems an unlikely venue for a film set in the American Wild West frontier. However, when you come up the Aberdeenshire country drive to the Tranquility Wild West Town for the first time, you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. On the weekend of 11 July director Paul Vernon, town founder and script writer Ally Baranowski, actors and crew worked at breakneck speed from dawn to dusk to film the short movie ‘Trail to Tranquility’. Suzanne Kelly was on hand to report – and to take the role of Kitty, Tranquility’s saloon owner.

Karl and Michael on the Tranquility set.

Trail to Tranquility is the latest in a series of films to be shot in Huntly’s Wild West Town, Tranquility. When this film comes out in December, condensed to 35 minutes, it promises to be an action-filled, fast-paced adrenalin ride.

Without giving too much of the plot away, outlaws make their way to the little town of Tranquility, where they take a hostage. Battle rages between the US Marshal’s forces and the outlaws, with fatal consequences for some.

Award-winning director Paul Vernon was joined by a hard working film crew including Calum McCrae / Patrick Haram on sound recording duties.

Professional makeup artists Deborah Cowan and Kym Murchie did an outstanding job ranging from making up the saloon girls to ensuring any wounds looked realistic.

Vernon told the team:

“Every single participant contributed to this overall project, whether it was a townsperson attending a scene on Sunday morning or a member of the main cast and crew, or even that person making teas, or cleaning out the toilets, to filling up the water trough, or making the director a cuppa! Each and every one is as important as the next.”

The actors came from across the UK; with male lead Mikey Mccallen and others coming from the Southampton area for the shoot.

The cast and crew that made it all happen are:

Mikey Mcallen, Michael Lorsong, Gregor Cameron, Ryan Hamilton, Stuart McGough, Mikey Rennie, Dave Alexander, Roderick Mackenzie, Karl Fredrick Hiemeyer, Atholl Buchan, Alistair Baranowski, Andrew J Douglas, Stuart Patterson, Suzanne Kelly, Kiera Robertson, John Haram, William Kidd, Brian Grassie, Brian Watt, William Beaton, Brendan Moir, Patrick Haram, Andrew McDonald, Calum McCrae, Phil Vinden, John de Sykes, Larry Willett, Will Napier, Cameron Lawrie Ross, Jim Anderson, Jane Leiper and Danny, Vicky Largue, Kelly Moir, Samantha Domeracki, Erin Sharpe, Iona Rennie, Deborah Cowan, Kym Murchie, and a wonderful group of extras who came from all over the Aberdeenshire area.

Tranquility founder and scriptwriter Ally Baranowski said:

“This weekend was the culmination of months of preparation by both myself & Paul Vernon, the director & in the last few weeks by Debs & Kym. And over that long weekend everyone managed to gel together as a team so enabling a successful conclusion to the film making.”

December will see the film’s premier at Aberdeen’s Belmont Cinema. Aberdeen Voice will keep you informed of developments and the launch date.

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Lotus Day At Transport Museum This Sunday

Aberdeenshire, Information No Responses »

Jul 302015

With thanks to Martyn Smith, Marketing & Events Organiser, Grampian Transport Museum.

This Sunday 2nd August the Lotus Enthusiasts Group Scotland will be hosting “The Lotus Day” at the Grampian Transport Museum.

Now in its 4th year this popular event sees Lotus cars from all over Scotland in attendance.

50 years of Lotus cars will be on show, with examples from the early 1960’s up to the very latest production cars, capable of 0 – 60 mph times of less than 4 seconds and top speeds in excess of 170 mph!

The event has proved popular with museum visitors and club members alike, with club members given the unique opportunity not only to display their cars but also to take members of the public out for laps on the museum’s road circuit, between 2pm and 4pm.

In addition to the passenger rides there will also be a static display of some very rare cars including the first production Lotus Esprit and a Lotus Exige LF1, built to commemorate the 1st of 81 Formula 1 victories which was achieved by Sir Stirling Moss at Monaco in 1960.

Lotus is a marque synonymous with motor racing and their race pedigree can be seen clearly in the road cars they produce.

Admission to The Lotus Day is included in the museum’s standard admission – £9.50 for adults, £7.50 for concessions and 2 children are admitted FREE with every adult.

Preceding Lotus Day the museum will be treating visitors to a day of nostalgia on Thursday 30th July with a one-off 90’s Day – along with a soundtrack from the era, the museum will also be running 90’s themed quizzes for younger visitors to enjoy.

Visitors to 90’s day will also enjoy reduced admission, with adults just £2.80 or a family ticket, priced at just £5, admitting 2 adults and up to 4 children.

Big Country Live In Huntly: Suzanne Kelly Reviews

Aberdeenshire, Featured, Opinion No Responses »

Jul 302015

When Big Country played The Lemon Tree last year as part of their 30th Anniversary ‘Steeltown’ Tour, fans had come from all parts of Aberdeenshire and further afield. The atmosphere was intense as well as friendly and warm, the band seemed to enjoy themselves as much as the large crowd. It was a great night – but when Big Country came to Huntly last week, there were a few new and special things going on. Suzanne Kelly reports. Photos by Rob Scott.

Big Country have seen many many changes during their long, hit-filled career. Huntly was the scene for a further lineup change with Simon Hough on vocals.
There was something about the intimate old venue with its high ceilings having a definite acoustic edge over venues such as Aberdeen’s Lemon Tree.

There was something about the crowd; all who spoke to Aberdeen Voice on the night having encyclopaedic knowledge of the act. There was something about the Aberdeenshire setting and the summer evening that made it the perfect time and place for Big Country’s decidedly Scottish unique sound.

As the photos show, they also looked great. Things look very positive for the rest of this year’s demanding tour schedule.

The opening act, actor and singer Tom Urie entertained with covers and good humour.

The band played their classic hits and live favourites including Harvest Home – Fields of Fire – In A Big Country – Chance – Wonderland – Look Away – The Teacher.

This line-up was a new one for us all; and it worked. The band line up – BRUCE WATSON (guitars/vocals); MARK BRZEZICKI (drums, vocals); JAMIE WATSON (guitars/vocals) and former SIMPLE MINDS’ bassist/vocalist, DEREK FORBES – was augmented on stage by SIMON HOUGH, ex-front man for Denny Laine (Wings), Eric Bell (Thin Lizzy) etc.

Event organisers Huntly Live said:

“after a shaky sound start, we did really good. The band are getting tighter and the sound of Simon’s voice won’t be Stuart’s – but it ain’t far away.”

Any sound issues were minor if not unnoticeable to those front of house on the floor or in the balcony, where the sound was perfect. Perhaps a few larger / city centre venues could learn a thing or two from Huntly.

The organisers have a mission to bring acts out of the big cities to the lovely Huntly area. As they told Aberdeen Voice:

“The idea behind the company is a simple one. To provide good quality entertainment on our doorstep… we have some great venues around the region and it’s our plan to use as many as we can.”

They’d succeeded on the night.

On a personal note – I was taken ill (very ill), or I’d have had a few words from the band to share. This will definitely be redressed when they play Aberdeen later this year. And even though I could barely stand, when they played, my focus was on them and I forgot how badly I was doing.

For further information on the rest of the band’s 2015 tour dates, news and more, visit www.bigcountry.co.uk including their future Lemon Tree date.

Visit Huntly Live Entertainment for information about further shows.

Northern Lights To Appear At Edinburgh Fringe

Aberdeenshire, Information No Responses »

Jul 242015

Through August, at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, ‘Myrtle Throgmorton, Ancient Heckler’ is being staged by a cast and crew all from rural Aberdeenshire. With thanks to Kieran Booth.

More sit-down than stand –up, enthusiast for all things Scottish and certified old trout, Myrtle Throgmorton is taking to the stage to ruminate on many splendid things: long life, comedy, gussets, Burns, decrepitude, pimping your Zimmer and so much more.

Created by former BBC Comedy producer Jennie Campbell / Chalmers, Myrtle insists she has been gently heckling at the Edinburgh Fringe since “before it began”.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, so long as it is hers. Jennie has developed the character over many years and admits that the game old bird is now, worryingly, more ‘ego’ than ‘alter’.

Post- election, Myrtle has unwittingly become slightly more satirical, taking Jennie back to her comedy beginnings.

Myrtle’s accumulated years are off-set by the youthful vigour of contemporary dancer, Gordon Raeburn (“not proper dancing” MT ) and pianist, Sam Williams (“pianissimo, dear!” MT). The production could be unique on the 2015 Fringe as the cast and crew all come from rural Aberdeenshire; Gordon from Huntly and Jennie, Sam and technician Kieran from Barthol Chapel. Only the director, David Jackson Young, breaks the mould with his Borders roots.

The show is a mix of Myrtle’s musings and her comedy ABC ( Audience, Banter, Crudités ), Dance – a thankfully brief Pas de Zimmer salvaged by Gordon’s skills, live and original music from Sam and every show ends with a ‘surprise’ guest joining Myrtle for cheery chat over the tea trolley. The audience is completely unaware who the guest will be – indeed Myrtle herself may not be entirely up to speed until just before the off.

It could be a TV celebrity, an acclaimed author, a well-kent radio voice, a rising star ( that ‘I saw them first…’ moment ), an unknown character with a story to tell, someone with a great show and no audience or the joker from the café on the corner… A truly potluck surprise, in the spirit of the Fringe. And every one a guaranteed delight!

After a brief career as a London lawyer, and a briefer one cleaning houses, Jennie Campbell joined BBC Radio Comedy as a producer of such programmes as Week Ending, the News Quiz and the Edinburgh Festival compilations, scouting the Fringe in the 80s for hungry new young talent – Rory Bremner, Paul Merton, Arnold Brown, Helen Lederer, the Bodgers, Merry MacFun Co and many, many others.

On moving to Scotland, she switched from satirical news to the real thing and has been variously a radio presenter on Newsweek Scotland, news and current affairs producer, director of theatre, opera and musicals, drama teacher, arts organizer, serial committee member and session clerk. With Myrtle Throgmorton, Jennie makes a long overdue return to her ( now blue-rinsed ) comedy roots.

Venue: Greenside@Infirmary St. ( Venue 236 )
Dates; 7th – 29th August ( except 16th and 23rd )
Time: 17.15 ( Duration 55 mins )
Tickets: £10/£9/£5 ( SUCD )

Available from:
Box Office: ( open from 7th August ) 0131 618 6968
or Edinburgh Fringe website at: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/myrtle-throgmorton-ancient-heckler

Myrtle is also making an appearance during the Haddo Arts Festival, a six-day festival of arts for all at Haddo, including classical concerts, Scottish Opera, exhibitions, schools workshops and Myrtle Throgmorton, Game Bird.

Wednesday October 7th, 7.30 pm at Haddo House Hall. Full details and tickets are available here: http://www.haddoartsfestival.org.uk

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/myrtlethrog
twitter @myrtlethrog
Website: www.myrtleproductions.com

AllFord at Alford: More Cars Confirmed For Event

Aberdeenshire, Information No Responses »

Jul 242015

With thanks to Martyn Smith.

The Grampian Transport Museum, Alford, will once again be welcoming Ford fans when AllFord returns for the second year on Sunday 16th August.

Launched in 2014, AllFord at Alford is a celebration of everything ‘Fordie’ from 1908 to the present day.

Over 200 vehicles took part in last year’s inaugural event, with vehicles ranging from standard family cars to high spec rally vehicles and rare examples that caused such great excitement at the dawn of the motoring era.

The organisers are delighted to announce that Ford UK will be supporting this year’s event, ensuring an impressive line up of the very latest Ford models straight from the showroom. There will also be a dedicated Ford Marquee, with Playstation driving simulator and dedicated brand ambassadors on hand to offer advice to enthusiasts.

Over 100 vehicles entries have already been received, including a pair of Model T fords dating from the early 1900s entered by James Gray on behalf of the Fraserburgh Vintage Car Rally. A pair of 1997 Mustangs are joined by numerous Fiestas and Escorts, including several MK2 examples – with the second generation of the popular vehicle celebrating its 40th birthday this year.

The popular ‘Choice of the people’ award will once again allow visitors to vote for their favourite car of the show. Craft traders, specialist suppliers and accessories retailers will add to the show atmosphere of this unique event.

There is still time to enter your Ford – entries are open until Friday 24th July and can be made online at www.gtm.org.uk.

Entry is just £10 per car which includes free entry to the museum for 2 people/ Entry is open to any Ford car, or Ford powered vehicle, manufactured from 1908 onwards.

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