Family Archives - Page 11 of 17

AllFord at Alford: More Star Cars Confirmed.

Aberdeenshire, Events, Information No Responses »

Aug 222014

Grampian Transport Museum, Alford, is preparing to welcome Ford fans next Sunday (31st August) for the inaugural AllFord event. With thanks to Martyn Smith, Marketing and Events Organiser, Grampian Transport Museum.

AllFord at Alford will be a celebration of everything ‘Fordie’ from 1908 to the present day and is the museums first ever gathering of everything connected with Ford.
Over 170 vehicle entries have already been received, with everything from standard family cars to high performance rally vehicles and rare examples from the pioneering days of the motor
car.

Local businessman Sandy Dalgarno will be displaying a number of ex-works rally cars, including a 1972 Group 4 Escort Mexico rally car which competed in the Sydney to London Rally earlier this year. An unregistered MK5 Cortina, clocking up just 92 miles from new, will also be brought for display.

Another exciting addition to the event is the ‘Charles Bang’ slingshot dragster, which featured in this years SpeedFest event, will also be on show, falling under the banner of ‘Ford powered’ specials – thanks to its flathead Ford V8 Engine. Built in 1955 it went on to set the USA ‘D’ class record in 1965, running a quarter mile with an elapsed time of just over 10.3 seconds.

Recently on display at the Trinity Centre in Aberdeen the dragster will make its final appearance in the North East at AllFord. Although a static event, the dragster will be fired up to give members of the public an idea of the immense sound it produces.

Also in attendance will be a 1992 Escort Cosworth, driven by Malcolm Wilson. Wilson achieved his long-held ambition of winning the British Rally Championship in 1994 at the wheel of this very vehicle, which was subject to a complete nuts and bolts restoration in 2002. Powered by a turbocharged Cosworth engine, producing around 350bhp, the car also featured in the 1996 Scottish Rally Championship under the care of current owner George Gauld.

Commercial vehicles will also be represented, with entries including a 1976 F100 pick up, and 1970 MK1 Escort van confirmed so far. Historic vehicles including no less than 6 Model T Fords, ranging from as early as 1911 to 1926, will also be present, along with a pair of 1930 Model A examples from the Stonehaven area

Fans of the classic American TV series Starsky and Hutch will also be delighted, with a replica of the shows iconic Gran Torino – signed by Huggy Bear himself – brought by Celebrity Car Hire in Aberdeen.

Away from the vehicle displays a number of trade stands will be present, including the likes of Autoglym and RA Plates and Signs. North East Scotland College will also be on site, providing visitors with information on a range of courses including mechanical courses available.

Museum curator, Mike Ward, explains the rationale behind this new event:

“Where better than Alford to stage AllFord! Our location gave us the idea! Ever since the museum first opened in 1983 there has been a Model T in the exhibition. You simply cannot explain the history of the car to school children without one.

Henry Ford’s immense contribution to transport history with his introduction of ‘motoring for the masses’ was continued by the Ford Motor Company with successive innovative and popular cars. That legacy and the popular appeal of Ford’s family cars and competition cars, makes Ford the obvious choice for the museum’s first one marque celebration!”

A show ‘n’ shine competition as well as an award for ‘The Choice of the People’ – the vehicle the public vote as their most popular at the event – will add an element of fun to proceedings.

AllFord at Alford takes place on Sunday 31st August from 11am – 4pm. Admission to the event is £5, with children under 16 admitted free.

Dalek Day At GTM

Aberdeenshire, Featured, Information No Responses »

Aug 222014

The Grampian Transport Museum is inviting all Whovians to the museum this coming Saturday (23rd August) to help celebrate the launch of the new Doctor Who series. With thanks to Martyn Smith, Marketing and Events Organiser, Grampian Transport Museum.

The award winning Alford visitor attraction will be celebrating Peter Capaldis first full outing as the Doctor by putting together a special Dalek Day from 1pm to 3pm.

Museum visitors will be able to have their photo taken alongside the museums very own blue Police box, plus a fully mobile and operational Dalek will be mingling with visitors inside the museum – again providing a great photo opportunity.

A number of special Doctor Who quizzes will be taking place, plus there will be a prize for the best Doctor Who themed fancy dress!

Finally the Banff based Deveron River Brass Band will also be performing throughout the event, playing the shows famous signature theme plus scores from the recent series and other well known sci-fi music to help keep visitors entertained.

Mike Ward, museum curator, is looking forward to the return of the TV show and to welcoming fans to the museum on Saturday:

“Doctor Who is one of the all-time sci-fi greats and has a legendary following. It seems fitting that a museum connected with the world of land transport and travel should celebrate the return of a character who has travelled so far – even if it is through time and space! Our Dalek always proves popular and this is its first outing this season so it’s a great chance for fans to meet the Doctors most infamous foe up close!”

Admission to the Dalek Day is included in the museums standard admission which is £9.50 for adults, £7.50 for concessions and 2 children are admitted free with every adult.

Free Attractions At Duthie Park Open Day

Aberdeen City, Information No Responses »

Aug 152014

With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

Organisers of this weekend’s Friends of Duthie Park Open Day, sponsored by A-FAB, have been boosted with the news that Clydelink, the company that operates pedalos and canoes on behalf of Aberdeen City Council, is offering the attractions for free during the course of Sunday’s event.

Tony Dawson, Chairman of the Friends, believes the gesture will all but guarantee that last year’s attendance figure of just over 6,000 will be surpassed this time round.

“When the pedalos were reintroduced last summer, demand was fantastic and the fact that, along with the canoes, they will be free for the duration of our open day. We will also be offering rickshaw rides round the park I’m sure they will also be extremely popular.

“The park is looking stunning right now and, with so much going on this Sunday, all we need now is the weather to make it another day to remember.”

Among the other attractions at this year’s FODP Open Day (www.friendsofduthiepark.co.uk), which runs from noon until 4 pm on Sunday (17th August), are The Bon Accord Silver band, piper Calum Lawrie, Bokwa with Jodie, Zumba & powerhoops with Elma, The Sharon Gill School of Dancing, Wrestlezone Scotland, The Airyhall Dancers, AFC in the Community, British Military Fitness, First Aberdeen vintage vehicles, various kiddies rides, the canoes and, the one and only, Spike the Talking Cactus.

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Great Train Robbery Exhibit Update

Aberdeenshire, Featured, History No Responses »

Aug 152014

The Land Rover and Diorama are moving on at the end of August. With thanks to Martyn Smith, Marketing & Events Organiser, Grampian transport Museum.

Time is running out for members of the public to catch a glimpse of history at the Grampian Transport Museum.

As part of this year’s Great Train Robbery exhibit, a Series 1 Land Rover and Austin Loadstar truck – two of the actual vehicles used in the raid – have been reunited for what is believed to be the first time since the night of the robbery.

The first serious exhibit of its kind, The Great Train Robbery provides an accurate and balanced insight into the events which took place in the early hours of 8th August 1963.

Still billed as the ‘Crime of the Century’ the temporary exhibition, produced by the British Postal Museum and Archive, is further complimented with evidence from Scotland Yard and private collectors.

To help set the scene an absolutely accurate Son et Lumiere model, showing the Bridego Railway Bridge in Ledburn, arrived at the museum in June having been kindly loaned by the Luton Model Railway Club. However at the end of this month both the scale model and Land Rover will be returning to their respective owners.

Mike Ward, museum curator, explains what having the diorama means for museum visitors:

“The robbery took place in the days before rolling news channels and social media meaning there weren’t any pictures taken at the time of the raid. However the Luton Model Railway Club has done a fantastic job of recreating such a detailed scene from the Police photography taken in hours after the event. Our Great Train Robbery exhibition is a fair and accurate account of the raid and its effects on all those involved. We’ve been very fortunate to have such a powerful and topical exhibition this season.”

The Austin Loadstar truck, along with the British Postal Museum & Archive exhibits, will remain at the museum until the end of the 2014 season.

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AllFord Heading For Alford

Aberdeenshire, Information No Responses »

Aug 142014

A brand new event celebrating Ford through the ages will be taking place at the Grampian Transport Museum later this month. With thanks to Martyn Smith, Marketing and Events Organiser, Grampian Transport Museum.

AllFord at Alford is the museum’s first ever gathering of everything Ford, from 1908 to the present day and will be held on Sunday 31st August.
With over 100 vehicles already confirmed, fans of the iconic Blue Oval can expect an eclectic mix of vehicles including Model T’s, Model A’s, Cortina’s, Zephyrs plus a replica of the Gran Torino from the iconic TV show Starsky and Hutch.

Ford Powered vehicles will also be represented, with a 1991 Jago Jeep and a Ford Powered Robin Hood Lotus 7 Kit Car also in attendance.

A fun addition to AllFord is the ‘Show and Shine’ competition plus a special award for ‘The Choice of the People’, where members of the public will be able to vote for the vehicle they deem the most popular at the event.

Mike Ward (pictured), museum curator, is looking forward to the first AllFord event.

“The idea of having an event called AllFord in Alford has been talked about for a number of years now. Since the museum opened 31 years ago there has been a continuous storyline about Henry Ford and the enormous contribution he made to the motoring industry and this has always been a key part of our exhibition.

“When it was launched back in 1908 the Model T made motoring for the masses a reality and there isn’t anywhere more fitting than an award winning museum in Alford for an event called AllFord to take place!”

GTM Seeks Funds For New Visitor Reception Area

Aberdeenshire, Information No Responses »

Jul 312014

With thanks to Martyn Smith.

Grampian Transport Museum needs a helping hand. The award winning museum has followed an annually updated development programme for the past three decades in order to remain topical, relevant and popular. Recently it has been agreed that the whole visitor reception experience needs a radical rethink.

Like a good hotel GTM needs an area where visitors can arrive, take stock, get their bearings and be introduced to the experience to follow.

To answer this need a new reception extension has been designed that can accommodate an introduction to the seasonal exhibitions mounted at GTM and also the various activities possible at the museum. For example for the first time the museum’s work with schools, heritage skills and the GTM Young Engineers Club will be showcased.

Customer comfort will be upgraded to exceed expectations with a new superloo and coffee and magazine area in a light airy modern structure fronted by a portico carried on salvaged cast iron piers.

The GTM is a self financing educational charity. In revenue terms it is self sustaining at little or no cost to the public purse but when capital projects are to be funded outside help is needed. A fundraising campaign was launched at the museum on 26th June to raise the £320,000 needed to build the new facility. Last Friday, the museum passed the £100,000 mark; the six figure barrier is broken.

However if the museum is to build the facility this Winter as planned the total sum needs to be secured in the next eight weeks. Planning permission has been secured well in advance to ensure that this is possible.

To date funds have come from a number of supportive companies and individuals. The first to commit was BP who are supportive of the museum’s educational programmes.

The GTM is already a highly rated local facility but anyone wishing to help it to take a big step forwards should contact the Curator, Mike Ward on curator@gtm.org.uk or by ‘phoning 019755 62292. Mike will be happy to explain the proposals in detail and also the attractive reciprocations offered to supporters.

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Sentinel Returns To North East Roads

Aberdeen City, Featured, History No Responses »

Jul 312014

Grampian Transport Museum’s Marketing & Events Organiser, Martyn Smith brings news of upcoming events over the next

The oldest surviving complete and original Sentinel Steam Waggon will once again take to the roads this Sunday to commemorate the outbreak of the First World War.

Built at Polmadie in Glasgow in 1914, the Sentinel will be in attendance at a number of events around Alford, as the community reflects on the outbreak of the war.

A special service will be held at Howe Trinity Church in Alford at 9.30am after which the waggon will make its way to commemorative events, starting at the Alford War memorial at 10.50am, before moving on to Tullynessle & Forbes War memorial at 11.30am and Keig War memorial at 12noon.

A team of volunteers at the popular Alford visitor attraction have been putting the finishing touches to the waggon, to ensure it is ready to take part in such an important engagement. The Sentinel was brand new and a state of the art road haulage vehicle when the First World War broke out. It was actually working through the entire period and forms a great living link with the past.

Interestingly, the wartime austerity measures meant that trips and excursions for children were discontinued. However, the museum’s Sentinel in the hands of Sandy Runcie of Inverurie, a local carrier, began to offer trips to school groups to local picnic spots, like Bennachie, in order to boost morale and lighten the mood.

Speaking of the Sentinel as it approaches its 100th birthday, curator Mike Ward explains:

“The Grampian Transport Museum has numerous photos of the occasions, and in the centenary year intend to recreate some of the outings. The traditions continue as the Sentinel frequently offers rides both at the museum and at local events – it is an extremely sociable Sentinel!

“In fact, we will be marking the Sentinels actual birthday on the 13th August by providing rides around our circuit at our Family Fun Day event”

The summer fun continues in Alford when an interesting array of American cars will take to the circuit at the Grampian Transport Museum on Thursday 7th August for the next ‘rides’ event – American Car Rides.

The day will be a celebration of American motoring with vehicles already confirmed including a 1995 Pontiac Trans AM, a pair of American engined AC Cobras, a 1993 Dodge Ram Charger truck plus a stunning replica of the iconic A-Team van, kindly provided by Celebrity Car Hire of Aberdeen.

This unique event is an ‘added value’ extra and is available to museum visitors as part of the standard admission, which is £9.50 for adults, £7.50 for concessions and two children are admitted FREE with every adult ticket.

Following the American Car Rides event is the annual Lotus Day, which takes place on Sunday 10th August. This gives museum visitors the chance to climb aboard a number of Lotus examples as they take to the museum’s circuit.

A family fun day follows on Wednesday 13th, featuring Balloon Maker, Face Painting, Puppet Show and rides around the circuit on the museum’s fantastic Sentinel Steam Waggon. Again, these events are included in the museum’s standard admission.

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Fast Car Rides at Grampian Transport Museum

Aberdeenshire, Events, Information No Responses »

Jul 182014

The summer holiday fun continues at the Grampian Transport Museum on Wednesday 23rd July with the next rides session – Fast Car Rides. With thanks to Martyn Smith.

A selection of supercars and high-performance cars will once again take to the circuit to offer museum visitors a shot in the passenger seat for a couple of laps.
Some of the vehicles already confirmed to take part include a Ferrari 430 F1, Toniq R900, Aston Martin DB7 and a beautiful Morgan Plus 4.

This unique event is an ‘added value’ extra and is available to visitors over the age of 8, as part of the standard admission – £9.50 for adults, £7.50 for concessions and two children are admitted FREE with every adult ticket.

Following on from the Fast Car Rides session there will be an American Car Rides session on Thursday 7th August and a Family Fun Day on Wednesday 13th August from 1pm – 4.30pm. This will include arts & crafts, balloon maker, puppet show, vehicle rides and face painting.

The 161st Echt Show

Creative Writing, Opinion No Responses »

Jul 172014

By Bob Smith.

We took a wee bit dauner
Oot ti the 161st Echt Show
Far kwintra fowk an toonsers
They war minglin ti an fro’
.
‘Ere wis Charollais an Suffolk sheep
The Texels a fun ugly limmers
‘Ere wis ither yowes an tups
An some war cross bred gimmers
.
The horse section noo wis gran
The Clydesdales stole ma hairt
As a myn fine as a loon
Rosie yokit ti box cairt
.
Lots o coos wi caafs as weel
Gweed bullocks an heifers ti
Heilan coos wi their horns
A richt fine sicht ti see
.
A parade o vintage tractors
The auldest ti bi seen
Wis a post war Fordson
In a livery o dark green
.
The Kintore Pipe Band war on haun
Roon the ring they did parade
Mony fowk they war whistlin
As weel kent tunes they played
.
Heilan duncin throwoot the day
Sword Dunce weel ti the fore
Wi young eens o aa ages
‘Ere wis tartans bi the score

In the Industrial tint ‘ere wis
Toffees, jams an gweed bakes
Clootie dumplin an oatmeal breid
An lots o WRI wifies’ cakes
.
A fair enjoyed the birds o prey
Wi the display o falconry
In fact a hiv ti say
It fair did mak the day
.
A great faavrit fer mony ‘ears
The young loons an quines races
A buddin Jessica Ennis or Usain Bolt
Micht hae bin amang the faces
.
An efterneen o fine hivvy events
Compered by Leuchar loon Jim Taylor
Haimmer throwin an caber tossin
Wi me es fun great faavour
.
‘Ere wis the Tug-o-War competition
Strappin loons an quines took pairt
In the hans o Jim’s brither Bob
Ti Echt they cam fae ilka airt
.
The wither it played its pairt
A braw day wi nae rain
At only eicht poonds ti git in
Es pilgrimage we’ll mak again
.
.
.
.
©Bob Smith “The Poetry Mannie” 2014

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Transport Museum To Host Classic And Vintage Gathering

Aberdeenshire, History No Responses »

Jul 162014

With thanks to Martyn Smith.

A wide selection of cars, commercial vehicles and motorcycles will descend on the village of Alford for the annual Classic and Vintage Gathering, this Sunday at the Grampian Transport Museum, from 1pm until 4pm

Visitors will be able to view displays of pre-1990 vehicles, including cars from the likes of Austin, Ferrari, Triumph and MG, as well as a selection of vintage buses and other commercial vehicles.

Anyone interested in entering a pre-1990 vehicle can do so on the day, simply by turning up between 11.30 and 12.45. For just £15 the driver and one guest will get entry to the event, complimentary access to the museum, and light refreshments.

Visitor admission to the event is included in the standard museum admission fee. Adult admission is £9.50, concessions are £7.50 and two children are admitted free with every adult.

Further information on the museum and all its outdoor events is available online at www.gtm.org.uk

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