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.

Mike Ward GTMAllFord 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!”

Turra Show Celebrates A Third Half Century

 Articles, Community, Information, News  No Responses »
Aug 072014
 

By Duncan Harley

It’s officially 150 years since the first Turriff Show and the 2014 event drew record crowds to what must surely be Scotland’s premier agricultural event.

turra queenIn the blistering early August heat folk from far and wide turned up for a two day extravaganza of entertainment, fun and the meeting of guid’ friends.

Boasting well over 200 trade stands plus a selection of industrial and craft marquees and with everything from 90ft high wind turbine’s to the latest in sat-nav guided tractors on display, what was not to like?

It was indeed a show to remember with commentary on the Sunday by the North East’s favourite Doric broadcaster Robbie Shepherd plus a visit from HM the Queen on the Monday,

With pipe bands galore, vintage tractors plus dare-devil entertainment from the Bolddog Links Freestyle Motocross Display Team there was something for folk of all ages and interests.

The forestry area hosted interactive games and competitions while “Old MacDonald’s InFARMation“ tent provided hands on agricultural activities for youngsters.

In the Cookery and Butcher area award winning food writer Lady Claire Macdonald showcased Scotland’s best mouth-watering recipes using only the finest of Scottish ingredients such as Scotch Beef, locally sourced venison and wild caught Scottish salmon courtesy of Usan Fisheries near Montrose.

Show President Bruce Ferguson said:

“We enjoyed welcoming visitors from far and near to this year’s show.  Overseas visitors received a warm welcome in the Homecoming Marquee where they were offered hospitality and given a free show pack.”

Adding

“I am particularly pleased that the Queen visited Turriff Show especially since some of her own Highland cattle from the renowned Balmoral fold were being exhibited” Mr Ferguson made reference to the monarch’s entry “Ruaridh 1st of Ubhadh” which won several awards including “Best Senior Bull born before 1st January 2013” and the Champion Prize for the “Best Highland Animal in Show.”

After touring the showground the Queen presented the Champion of Champions prize cup to Bruce & Partners Charolais “Balmaud Eclipse”, winner of the show’s top livestock award before returning to her estate in Deeside via a helicopter of the Royal Flight.

With preparations in hand for the 2015 Turra Show many folk will be curious to know how the Turriff and District Agricultural Association’s hard working team plan to top this year’s event.

GTM Seeks Funds For New Visitor Reception Area

 Aberdeenshire, Information  No Responses »
Jul 312014
 

With thanks to Martyn Smith.Mike Ward GTM

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

Sentinel GTM

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.

BreathingFireGTMA 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.

Transport Museum To Host Classic And Vintage Gathering

 Aberdeenshire, History  No Responses »
Jul 162014
 

gtm_classic_vintage_gatheringWith 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

Aboyne Strongman Lifts Some Extra Special Weights

 Events, Featured, Sport  No Responses »
Jul 112014
 

Forget cabers and stones – local Aboyne strongman James is practicing his weightlifting with some real, live Highland dancers. With thanks to Eoin Smith.

NEWSLINE MEDIA LIMITED To celebrate the launch of this year’s Aboyne Highland Games official programme, local Aboyne weightlifter, James Dawkins, 21, put his super-human strength to the test by lifting a pair of highland dancers, Amy Lawson –Anderson, 6, and Kirsty Dundas, 9.

The girls, also from Aboyne, used the opportunity to demonstrate their impressive balancing skills by holding their dance poses perfectly on the palms of James’s hands.

The young strongman made balancing the girls look like a walk in the park and as if he could in fact toss them like a caber. They are all hoping to perform just as well at this year’s Games, on Saturday August 2nd on Royal Deeside.

The programme celebrates the activities and stories surrounding the Games as well as listing the attractions to enjoy on the day.

There will be 96 arena events, including the famous ‘heavies’ tossing the cabers, highland dancing, a fiddle competition and rousing pipe bands.

The Games will also host 70 trade stands and a fun fair for the kids to enjoy.

As well as the traditional events, there will also be some sporting events to participate in. Some are more competitive than others – from the high jump and junior sack race to the extra gruelling Fungle Hill Race.

As part of 2014’s Homecoming celebrations, the Games have marked this extra special year by finding a strongman to take on the Dinnie Stones challenge. UK strongman, Mark Felix, a competitor at the World’s Strongest Man, is taking on the challenge to lift and carry the original stones, which weight over 773lbs over a distance of 4 metres.

Mark is attempting to recreate the feat set by the legendary Donald Dinnie, celebrated as ‘The World’s Greatest Athlete of the 19th Century’, who famously carried the ‘Dinnie Stanes’ across the Potarch Bridge in Aberdeenshire in 1867.

Ian Scott, Aboyne Highland Games chairman, says:

“More than 9000 visitors from all over the world are expected to visit us on the village green on August 2nd. People of all ages will be able to enjoy the events whether they are competing or spectating. There really is something for all the family to enjoy – from the famous ‘Dinnie Stanes’ attempt to the highland dancing.”

Further information on the games and all of the activities can be found by visiting www.aboynegames.com

 

Paul Lawrie Meets ‘Design A Board’ Competition Winner

 Aberdeen City, Featured, Sport  1 Response »
Jul 112014
 

Paul Lawrie with winner David McIvorfeatWith thanks to Tricker PR.

Local hero, Paul Lawrie met 16 year old David McIvor from Aberdeen, whose artwork he selected from hundreds of entries to win the 2014 Aberdeen Asset Management ‘design a board’ competition.

David’s depiction of ‘Scotland – The Home of Golf” has been made into an on-course board at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, taking place on Lawrie’s front door step at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club in what is the 1999 Open Champions home Open.

The board is placed in a prime spot on the first tee and will be seen by some of the world’s best golfers as they take to the course this week.

Featuring 23 of the world’s top 60 players and 10 major winners including Lawrie and the legendary Sir Nick Faldo, the procession of talent on show makes for the best field ever assembled in the tournament’s history that is sure to be watched by a global TV audience.

In addition to having his artwork turned into a course board the tournament, David and his family have been invited to the Aberdeen Asset Management Pavilion for afternoon tea during the event. One thousand pounds worth of junior golf equipment will also be donated to Jamie’s school, Albyn School in Aberdeen.

David said:

“It was amazing to meet Paul Lawrie and to see my design actually on the golf course. I’ve grown up watching Paul play so to finally meet him has been great, I hope he has a good week! I am volunteering during the week here so it will be great to take a break in the Aberdeen Asset Management Pavilion.”

Lawrie said:

“It was a pleasure to meet David here at Royal Aberdeen, to see his artwork on the course is great and I really enjoyed picking the winning design. He is a talented young artist and I’m sure a talented golfer too.”

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SpeedFest 2014 Draws In The Crowds

 Aberdeenshire, News  No Responses »
Jul 042014
 

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

Alford SpeedFest 2014 took place at the Grampian Transport Museum on Sunday 29th June with nearly 4,000 people flocking to the outdoor arena to see the largest gathering of rare supercars, performance cars and historic racing cars in the North East of Scotland.

Now in its fifth year, highlights for the 2014 event included displays of the ‘Jim Robbins Special’ Indy car plus the ‘Charles Bang Special’ dragster – a record holder, having set the US ‘D’  class quarter mile record.

The ‘Early Bird Rides’ began on the circuit at 11am, giving members of the public the opportunity to jump into the passenger seat of some of the days participating vehicles.

The event was officially opened at 12.30pm by Joel Sande, father of UK pop star Emeli Sande.

The cutting of a fantastic Packard Bentley inspired cake confirmed that the event was officially underway before Richard Pargetter took to the sky in his Pitts Special to wow the crowds with the first of the day’s displays.

The traditional pursuits took place in the afternoon, with regular demonstrations from the   guest vehicles including the Packard Bentley driven by Chris Williams, taking to the track complete with white boiler suit and bowler hat. Spitting flames out of the exhausts of its 1500bhp, 42 litre engine the vehicle was a real crowd pleaser.

IndycarGTMStatic paddocks were complimented by the appearance of not one but two of the classic McRae Rally Cars, including Y4 FMC (one of the Ford Focus rally cars driven by the late Colin McRae) This complimented perfectly the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth rally car which was also in attendance.

As the day came to a conclusion a ‘Best of British’ parade took to the circuit, featuring some of the vehicles which had taken part in the track events. They were then joined by a rare McLaren P1 for the final few laps.

Museum curator, Mike Ward, enjoyed the day’s proceedings.

“SpeedFest 2014 was a really great event and I’m sure people will long remember the three special guest cars we had – it’s the first time we’ve had a dragster on our circuit, the first time we’ve had an Indy racer on our circuit and certainly the first time we’ve had a 42 litre aero engined Packard Bentley on our circuit. These vehicles captured the imagination of the crowds and it was great to see so much track activity on the day.”

The event organisers would like to express their thanks to the many supporters who helped make the event possible, including John Clark Motors, Parks Motor Group, Revolutions UK, Fennel Inverurie and Peter Vardy Porsche. Special thanks also to the many drivers and volunteer marshals and not forgetting the North East public, whose continued support helped ensure a great event in 2014.

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Aberdeen City and Shire Tourism Awards Return

 Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Featured, Information  No Responses »
Jul 042014
 

With thanks to Eoin Smith, Senior Account Executive, Tricker PR.

Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels’ Association launches new tourism awards at Dunnottar CastleAn awards scheme that recognises exceptional tourism operators in the North East is returning for a second year, with even more opportunities to win.
The number of categories in the Aberdeen City and Shire Tourism Awards (ACSTA) has been increased to 14 from 12 and the categories have been aligned to the national industry scheme, the Scottish Thistle Awards.

Awards organiser Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels’ Association (ACSHA) is appealing to businesses and individuals to enter and show how they do their bit to ensure visitors return home with fond memories of their time in the region.

ACSTA chairman Iain Watson says he hopes operators will respond to the call for entries. He adds:

“The number of entrants to the inaugural awards last year took us all by surprise, as did the quality of the entries received.

“It left us in no doubt that there are some truly exceptional businesses and individuals making positive differences to the quality of the visitor experience, and that we should be doing all we can to encourage them and other like-minded operators.

“Many of those who won and who were shortlisted across the various categories earlier this year are already telling us that the exposure and endorsement has had a positive impact on their business. I would urge everyone to go online and visit the awards website: there are categories recognising everything from hotels and guest houses, to bars and festivals.

“We have aligned many of our categories to the Scottish Thistle Awards and it is our intention that ACSTA will become the North East regional heat of this national scheme by 2016.”

Entries for ACSTA are now open at www.acsta.co.uk  and will close on September 16. Three entries will be shortlisted for each category and the winners will be announced at a ceremony at Mercure Ardoe House in Aberdeen on January 30, 2015.

The full list of awards categories is:

  • Most Hospitable Hotel
  • Most Hospitable B&B/Guest House
  • Best Holiday Accommodation
  • Best Informal Eating Experience
  • Best Restaurant Experience
  • Friendliest Pub/Bar
  • Best Event or Festival
  • Our Warmest Welcome (customer service award)
  • Best Visitor Attraction
  • Creative Ambition
  • Young Ambassador Award
  • Ambassador
  • Community Involvement
  • Green Tourism

A lifetime achievement award may also be presented at the discretion of the awards organising committee. Further information about the entry requirements for each category is available at www.acsta.co.uk

Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels’ Association represents 46 independently-operated hotels and conference venues. These hotels provide around 4,000 bedrooms in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. The Association is committed to improving the quality and standard of hotel services and to furthering the overall standards of excellence and hospitality within the region.

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