History Archives - Page 14 of 20

Easter Fun At Grampian Transport Museum

Aberdeenshire, Information No Responses »

Apr 182014

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

On Easter Monday (21st April) the museum will host another exclusive ‘Rides Session’, with a selection of buses from the Aberdeen & District Transport Preservation Trust making an appearance and offering visitors a nostalgic ride around the circuit.

This event is a free addition to the museum’s standard admission price.

This year, two under 16’s are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult – with any additional children just £3. Adult entry is £9.50 with concession entry £7.50

Welcome For Plans To Revitalise Historic Town House

Aberdeenshire, Featured, News 2 Responses »

Apr 182014

With thanks to Martin Ford.

Kintore’s Category-A-listed historic town house could be set for a new lease of life thanks to an initiative to consider new uses for the building.

Kintore Town House dates from 1747 and is sited in the heart of Kintore. The building is owned by Aberdeenshire Council and a small number of Council staff are based there.

Said East Garioch councillor Martin Ford:

“Kintore Town House is a truly superb building, a really, really fine piece of architecture, and the natural centrepiece of the town. But in recent years it has been little used. Most residents of Kintore won’t have entered the building from one year to the next, and many of those who moved to the town in the last decade have probably never been in it at all.

“So Kintore Town House is an under-used asset. It defines the town centre, but it is not itself a centre of community activity. That needs to change.”

Aberdeenshire Council recently agreed to spend nearly £100,000 from its Capital Plan on external repair work to Kintore Town House.

A detailed brief for the external repair work is now being developed in consultation with Historic Scotland.

Aberdeenshire Council officers attended the April meeting of Kintore and District Community Council on Tuesday (15 April) to update the Community Council and ask for its involvement in a group to consider possible new uses for Kintore Town House. The Area Project Officer based in the Garioch Area Office at Gordon House has been tasked with co-ordinating work on finding possible future uses for Kintore Town House.

Cllr Martin Ford said:

“Kintore Town House needs to become busy again, to be a place where residents go – not just a building that is admired from the outside. Getting at least part of the building back into regular public use would be good for the building and good for the community.

“Finding a suitable new use will not be easy. It’s a project that will take time. I’m delighted a group is being formed to take this forward.

“There is no doubt that the building is greatly valued by the community, but it could also be a focus for community activity and identity as the town’s population continues to grow. I very much support the idea of finding ways of bringing this iconic building back into regular public use.”

For more information about the building see:

http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/kintore+the+square+town+house/
http://data.historic-scotland.gov.uk/Kintoretownhouse

£88,742 plus fees (total £97,616). See Item 19, page 10, at the Policy and Resources Committee on 3 April, here: https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/committees/PlannedMaintenance

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Dickens: Prestigious International Conference Coming To Aberdeen

Aberdeen City, Articles No Responses »

Apr 112014

With thanks to David Innes.

Aberdeen has been selected to host the 2016 conference of the international Dickens Fellowship.

Held last year in France and scheduled for Chicago in July of this year, this annual five day celebration of the life and work of Charles Dickens will be held in Aberdeen in July 2016.

Dr Paul Schlicke, a leading Dickens scholar and retired senior lecturer in English at Aberdeen University, formally presented the bid from the Granite City at a meeting of the Council of the Fellowship in London.

Charles Dickens (1812-70) came to Aberdeen on two occasions, in 1858 and 1866, when he gave public readings in what were then the County Rooms (now the Music Hall), and in 1849 he declined an invitation to stand as rector of Marischal College.

The Dickens Fellowship, founded in 1902, is the biggest fan club of a dead author in the world and has branches all over the world. Aberdeen’s group, started up in 2012, the bicentenary of Dickens’s birth, and affiliated with the international organisation this past autumn. It is not only one of the newest branches but also the only one in all of Scotland.

In the early days of the Fellowship’s existence Edinburgh hosted a branch, but it folded some fifty years ago. The international Conference has been held in Scotland only twice before, in 1929 and 1994, both times in Edinburgh. The decision to come to Aberdeen is therefore a tribute to the dynamism of the Aberdeen Dickensians and recognition of the city’s commercial and cultural importance.

A civic reception will greet delegates, and the conference will be a showcase for all the attractions of Aberdeen and the North-east of Scotland generally. It will be an opportunity to show off the city’s museums and art gallery and to provide excursions to regional castles and distilleries, to the Lewis Grassic Gibbon Centre at Arbuthnott, and to Hospitalfield House, the arts centre in Arbroath, at which a cache of Dickens’s letters has recently been discovered.

The University of Aberdeen will have a central role to play, providing accommodation, dining, and lecture and seminar facilities. An exhibition is planned in the magnificent new Sir Duncan Rice library, which holds one of the richest collections of Dickens materials in the world .

Renowned Dickens actors Simon Callow and Miriam Margolyes hope to perform at Aberdeen’s conference. The broadcaster, Aberdeen’s own James Naughtie, has agreed to speak at the conference banquet.

For more information about the conference including enquires regarding sponsorship, participation and membership of the Aberdeen branch of the Dickens Fellowship, see the website https://sites.google.com/site/aberdeendickensfellowship/ or contact Dr Paul Schlicke at p.schlicke@abdn.ac.uk, or tel 07864945213 (moble) or 01467643337.

The University of Aberdeen is a charity registered in Scotland, No SC013683.

Emergency Services Head For Alford

Aberdeenshire, Events No Responses »

Apr 102014

Easter Holiday Treats Continue at Grampian Transport Museum. With thanks to Martyn Smith.

The Grampian Transport Museum will be welcoming members of the Emergency Services to the museum this Friday for a special ‘Emergency Vehicles Rides’ session.

Taking place on the dedicated road circuit, visitors will be able to enjoy a ride in one of a selection of vehicles, including the museum’s very own 1957 Dennis Fire Engine, Mountain Rescue Land Rover.

There will be representatives of Police Scotland and an Aberdeen Airport Fire Command and Control Appliance in attendance.

This unique event, which is timed to coincide with the school Easter Holidays, is an ‘added value’ extra which is available to all museum visitors. Rides will take place from 1pm – 4pm.

Further events taking place at the museum during the holidays include an ‘Easter Fun Afternoon’ on Thursday 17th April from 1pm – 5pm, with special activities plus Allan’s Magic & balloon maker, Easter crafts, face painting and quizzes.

On Easter Monday the museum will host another Rides Session, with a selection of buses from the Aberdeen & District Transport Preservation Trust making an appearance and offering visitors a nostalgic ride around the circuit.

Grampian Transport Museum
Alford, Aberdeenshire, AB33 8AE
019755 64517

Website: www.gtm.org.uk
Twitter- @transportmuseum
Facebook- Grampian Transport Museum

Tourism Award for Grampian Transport Museum

Aberdeenshire, Featured, Information No Responses »

Apr 042014

Grampian Transport Museum’s Mike Ward with the ‘Visitor attraction of the Year’ award

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

The Grampian Transport Museum is delighted to announce success at the inaugural Aberdeen City and Shire Tourism Awards, which took place on Friday (28th March)

Hosted by Original 106 presenter John McRuvie, the awards
celebrate and recognise excellence in the regions hospitality and tourism sectors.

The black tie event, at the Ardoe House Hotel, was organised by the Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels Association and the Alford museum was presented with the ‘Visitor attraction of the Year‘ award, sponsored by the Marcliffe Hotel.

Also on the final shortlist for the accolade were Drum Castle, Macduff Marine Aquarium and Deeside Activity Park.

Presented with the award just hours before the Museum opened to the public for the new season, curator Mike Ward said:

“Grampian Transport Museum has been developing steadily over the past three decades from volunteer community roots and winning this award is a great boost to the Trustees, staff and volunteers past and present, who have built it up into a top notch visitor facility.”

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Book Review: Fishermen, Randies and Fraudsters

Information, Opinion No Responses »

Mar 282014

Aberdeen and its hinterland in the 19th century, from the research published in Fishermen, Randies and Fraudsters, had its fair share of criminals hell-bent on pursuing their career of choice no matter the misery or inconvenience caused and generally undeterred by the sanctions likely to be applied if caught. Review by David Innes

Burglars, pickpockets, drunkards, whores and murderers all feature as Archibald paints a picture of urban and rural lawlessness and the increasingly difficult task faced by the authorities in attempting to keep some sort of order with so few resources and tight budgets, 200 years before central police forces, remote control rooms and controversy over corroboration.

These were the days before highly-organised law enforcement, sophisticated communication technology, forensics and general respect for those attempting to keep order, yet some of the crime solutions Archibald features show ingenuity, bravery and doggedness.

There are also examples of enforcement officers’ stupidity and occasional willingness to partake of petty crime themselves.

Nothing changes, it seems.

Archibald even includes an interesting civil case concerning the whaling industry and ownership of a whale wounded by one ship but finally pursued to the kill by another, a tale that exposes the hardship and brutality of this profession as well as the colossal rewards at stake.

Fishermen, Randies and Fraudsters gives a well-researched overview of those far-off times, the individuals concerned and the increasingly-difficult job of detection of miscreants which led, almost inevitably, to the establishment of modern, organised police forces. Whilst it is informative and insightful, the narrative might have been presented in a more lively way, but that is a minor criticism of a worthy addition to NE history.

Fishermen, Randies and Fraudsters

Malcolm Archibald (Black & White Publishing)
ISBN10: 1 84502 744 2 ISBN13: 978 1 84502 744 5
256 pp
£9.99

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Dons Bike Draw On Monday

Aberdeen City, Featured, Sport No Responses »

Mar 282014

With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

The raffle for the most famous bicycle in the history of Aberdeen Football Club will take place on Monday with former manager and current board member Craig Brown doing the honours.

A Club spokesperson said: “The bike won by Stephen Glass after his League Cup winning man of the match performance in 1995 is up for grabs along with a custom made cycling top from theCyclejersey.com and this is a fantastic chance for one Dons supporter to get their hands on a significant piece of AFC history as well as a unique cycle jersey as well!”

The raffle for the unique piece of AFC history, is being undertaken in conjunction with the AFC Heritage Trust, with tickets costing £5 which can be purchased via www.afcheritage.org by clicking ‘donate’ on the home page, after which a unique number is allocated to each ‘ticket’ purchased.

Alternatively, numbers can be purchased at Aberdeen Football Club reception, ensuring that those buying leave their contact details, including telephone and e-mail.

All money raised is going to youth development at Pittodrie and Head of Youth Development Neil Simpson said:

“The picture of Stephen being given the bike in the soaking rain at Hampden is one of the most memorable images of that day and it’s a real opportunity for someone to own something that was very much part of that occasion! Everyone who buys a ticket will also be helping to invest in the future of AFC and that can only be a positive.”

Tickets for the raffle can now be purchased up until 23.59 on Sunday 30th March 2014 with the draw taking place at Pittodrie Stadium at 12 noon on Monday 31st March 2014 with details of the winner published on the Club website that afternoon.

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Fishermen, Randies And Fraudsters Booksigning 15 March

Aberdeen City, Information No Responses »

Mar 142014

With thanks to David Innes.

Malcolm Archibald’s true crime volume Fishermen, Randies and Fraudsters (Black & White Publishing) has been published and is on sale.

Archibald’s latest book looks at crime in and around Victorian Aberdeen, and from the few pages thumbed so far, it’s clear that the city and its hinterland, even then, was full of rapscallions and scamps ready to part you from your wallet or your ears from your head.

A review is on its way, but we’ll do the author the courtesy of finishing his book first. Hey, we’re pros here at Voice.

Malcolm will be signing copies of Fishermen, Randies and Fraudsters at Waterstones, Union Bridge, Aberdeen on Saturday 15 March at 1300.

That’s the day before the cup final and an ideal opportunity to score yourself a copy to read on the bus to Glasgow, where 39999 rapscallions and scamps are gathering. The 40000th? That’s you, neither rapscallion nor scamp.

For more info and extract, click here:

Bon Accord: We Can Run The Baths

Aberdeen City, Community, Featured No Responses »

Mar 142014

Aberdeen City’s Bon Accord Baths are a beautiful, Listed B, historic bath house which the entire community enjoyed before their closure in 2009. After the Carpe Diem Trust abandoned their plans to run Bon Accord Baths, a group of citizens from all walks of life and political views are banding together. They want the baths to open, whether run by the city or a social enterprise. It is time to run the baths, Phoebe Copeland writes.

Bon Accord baths photographed by Geoff Croll 2012

The campaign to save the Art Deco Bon Accord Baths is picking up steam. Barely one week old, and a Facebook Page ‘Save The Bon Accord Baths’ has reached 10,000 members.

The social benefits of re-opening the baths cannot be denied; this bath was used by children, older citizens, and people with special needs.

If we wish to encourage people to engage with swimming, witness the new Olympic pool, there must be a suitable place for fledgling swimmers and those who might be more inclined to exercise if they could also socialise with friends.

The baths could play a part in alleviating stress; the therapeutic benefits of baths, spas and swimming are undisputed.

A petition is under one week old to save the baths, started by Craig Adams, local businessman and owner of the Moorings Bar. The count is going up swiftly as signatures hit over 2000 in less than one week. The petition can be found here: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-bon-accord-baths.html

There is a draft statement on the fledgling Facebook page; this is the text:-

For Bon Accord Baths to be reinstated to working condition and reopened to the public. We’d prefer the baths to be run as a public amenity, but would consider partnership with a charitable trust. We’d like them properly maintained. We’d like the pool to be of a similar temperature to other leisure pools.

By Bon Accord Baths, we refer to all the facilities historically on offer, including but not limited to the:

Swimming pool

Spectator seating

Gymnasium

Turkish baths / saunas

Cafe

Shop

We believe that Bon Accord Baths can be operated as a viable public amenity. Operating costs would be adequately covered by the following revenue streams:

Pay per use admissions

Block admissions

Season tickets

Corporate sponsorship in exchange for employee access benefit

Cafe, potentially leasing the cafe to a third party operator

Shop for sale of apparel and equipment

Ancillary revenue from vending/gaming machine,s etc

Bon Accord baths photographed by Geoff Croll 2012

So can these baths make enough profit to stay open? Other cities are doing it. London’s beautiful Porchester Baths are making a healthy business out of keeping people healthy.
http://www.better.org.uk/leisure/porchester-centre

The town of Bath spent a huge amount of money on a new, state-of-the-art public bath and spa, and it is attracting tourists from around the world as well as offering local people an excellent service.
http://www.thermaebathspa.com/the-spa/spa-sessions-new-royal-bath/

No one is proposing a grand redevelopment, just a concerted effort to stop the baths being sold, and to have them open again. Many residents are concerned that built heritage is being lost, witness the redevelopment of the Capital Theatre. Surely this is one issue that everyone can agree on?

Much has been made of ways to revivify the city centre: surely this is one of the best ways to re-establish an affordable, necessary amenity, create employment, and give people a reason to linger in the city centre. Let’s not allow Bon Accord to go down the plughole.

What to do:

Sign the petition.
Join the discussion on Facebook
Send any memories or photographs to the campaign via the Facebook page
Contact your local representatives – find them here.

Aberdeen Voice is grateful to photographer Geoff Croll for kind permission to reproduce his work.

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Still Chance To Win Iconic Dons Bike

Aberdeen City, Sport No Responses »

Mar 112014

With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

There is still time to have the chance of winning the iconic Coca-Cola branded bicycle won by Stephen Glass the last time the Dons won the Scottish League Cup and seen here modelled by midfielder Ryan Jack.

Alternatively, numbers can be purchased at Aberdeen Football Club, ensuring that those buying leave their contact details, including telephone and e-mail.

AFC Head of Youth Development Neil Simpson is confident that supporters will be eager to get their hands on such an iconic vehicle.

“It’s a fantastic gesture by Stephen and really appreciated. The picture of Stephen being given the bike in the soaking rain at Hampden is one of the most memorable images of that day and it’s a real opportunity for someone to own something that was very much part of that occasion. Everyone who buys a ticket will also be helping to invest in the future of AFC and that can only be a positive.”

Tickets for the raffle can be purchased up until 23.59 on Thursday 13th March 2014 with the draw taking place at Pittodrie Stadium at 12 noon on Friday 14th March 2014 with details of the winner published on the Club website that afternoon.

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