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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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Record Opening Quarter For City Park

Aberdeen City, News 1 Response »

May 012014

With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

One of the north east’s most popular visitor attractions has attracted record numbers of visitors for the opening quarter of the current year, in its first full year following major restoration work.

Aberdeen’s Duthie Park welcomed more than 100,000 visitors during March, a rise of over 20,000 when compared to 2012 and over 40,000 more than the corresponding month last year.

Tony Dawson, Chairman of the Friends of Duthie Park, believes the increased numbers reflect the positive feedback received since the £5.2 million revamp.

“The park is a real jewel in the crown within, not just the north east, but the whole of the country, and after seeing more than a million visitors last year, the signs are that we’re in for even better numbers this time round.

“Everyone who visits the park cannot fail to be impressed by the way it is looking right now and I must pay tribute to the staff there who take such a pride in ensuring a visit to Duthie Park is a fantastic experience. With such a variety of attractions, including the pedalos, Spike the talking cactus and the magnificent David Welch Winter Gardens, the park has something for all age groups.”

Its historical significance as one of the finest examples of a late Victorian public park has led to its inclusion in Historic Scotland’s Inventory of Designed Landscapes and Gardens. The recent restoration and reconstruction of some of the lost features was inspired by old written and photographic sources and was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Aberdeen City Council.

The official reopening of Duthie Park took place on 30th June last year. This year’s Friends of Duthie Park Open Day will be on Sunday 17th August.

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Friends Of Duthie Park Gardening Session This Sunday

Aberdeen City, News No Responses »

Apr 252014

With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

The next Friends of Duthie Park gardening session will take place in Duthie Park on Sunday 27th April from 12 noon to 2pm. Friends and volunteers will be planting daffodil bulbs that were used for early spring displays in the David Welch Winter Gardens to give added colour next spring in the park.

Existing members and any potential new members who wish to take part are requested to meet at the entrance to the David Welch Winter Gardens at 12 noon.

Friends Of Duthie Park AGM – 04.03.14

Aberdeen City, News No Responses »

Feb 282014

With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

This year’s Friends of Duthie Park Annual General Meeting will be held within the sunken area of the David Welch Winter Gardens on Tuesday evening (4^th March) at 7 pm.

On the same day, the organisation will unveil its brand new website which has been donated by media and communications agency AVC Media.

The AGM is open to members and non-members and those present will be treated to a presentation updating activity within the Park over the past twelve months in addition to sponsorship opportunities available for local businesses.

FODP Chairman Tony Dawson is delighted to add AVC Media to the list of well known local organisations that are supporting one of the north east’s most loved attractions.

“All of the monies raised by the Friends are reinvested within the Park and the fantastic support we receive from business means we can undertake more projects to benefit visitors to what is such a lovely place.

“Spencer Buchan and the team at AVC Media have been a pleasure to work with and the website they have designed for us is fabulous. We want the Friends website to be the first port of call for anyone to find out what is happening within Duthie Park so it a hugely important communication tool for us.”

AVC Media managing director Spencer Buchan said the firm was only too delighted to help out. He said:

“Friends of Duthie Park is a great local organisation dedicated to helping look after one of Aberdeen’s best public parks and we were only too happy to design and build its website.

“Our talented team wanted to reflect the fantastic work carried out by FODP and let people know about it through a great website.”

The Duthie Park is one of the most popular parks in Scotland, with over half a million visitors every year. It was bequeathed to the city by Miss Elizabeth Crombie Duthie in remembrance of her brother and uncle and was opened in 1883 by Princess Beatrix. Its historical significance as one of the finest examples of a late Victorian public park has led to its inclusion in Historic Scotland’s Inventory of Designed Landscapes and Gardens.

The recent restoration and reconstruction of some of the lost features was inspired by old written and photographic sources and was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Aberdeen City Council. The official reopening of Duthie Park took place on 30th June last year.

Among the other companies to assist the Friends are BP, Ocean Installer, Craig Group, and Ben Reid.

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Fun Open Day To Demonstrate Duthie Park Restoration

Aberdeen City, Featured, News No Responses »

Aug 152013

With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

The third Open Day organised by the Friends of Duthie Park, and the first since completion of the park’s major restoration work, takes place on Sunday 18 August, from noon until 4 pm.

It will be an afternoon of chock-full of family-friendly entertainment, explains chairman Tony Dawson.

“The Bon Accord Silver Band will be performing at the Bandstand between noon and 2 pm, whilst there will be various acts on the temporary stage in front of the Winter Garden including Uniform, Spindrift and The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society.

“In the sunken area, we’ll have bokwa, zumba and power-hoops demonstrations and there will magicians and face-painters as well.

“At our own stall, we’ll be encouraging people to join the Friends and purchase our 2014 calendar, produced in association with the Craig Group. And, of course Spike and McPuddick will both be there too.

“Last year more than 3000 attended and with the interest in the park following the completion of the restoration, we will be disappointed if we don’t top that number this weekend.”

Other attractions will include children’s rides, paddle boats, vintage vehicles and demonstrations of woodturning and military fitness. The Dons Community Department will be there and Wrestlezone Scotland will be performing at 2 pm.

Tours to show off the park’s restoration work will run at 1 pm and 3 pm.

The full timetable for the day is at www.friendsofduthiepark.co.uk

Friends Of Duthie Park AGM Details

Aberdeen City, Information 1 Response »

Feb 212013

With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

This year’s Friends of Duthie Park AGM will be held within the sunken area of the Winter Gardens on Tuesday 5th March at 7 pm.

Included in the event will be an update on the restoration work being undertaken in the park which is scheduled for completion shortly.

Members and non members are welcome to attend.

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Dunes, Goons & Bliddy Buffoons

Aberdeenshire, Satire and Humour No Responses »

Jan 242013

By Bob Smith.

Menie’s a mess,
A hiv tae confess
Trumpie’s coorse his an extra hole
Near the 4th tee,
Fit a tae dee
Mither Naitur his noo teen her toll
.
A’m nae aat surprised,
The chiel wis advised
Nae tae meddle wi the shiftin sands
Trump stuck oot his chest,
Sayin a ken fit’s best
Bit watter’s teen things oot his hans
.
Like King Canute,
The Donald fun oot
Watter it aye his the last say
If yer drains are nae gweed,
An they stairt tae ”bleed”
Wee burns they flow like the Tay
.
Noo a wee narra road,
Tae the Munro’s abode
Is churned up wi mud an potholes
Efter larries fae afar,
Hid roched up the tar
Ye’d think there’d bin an invasion o moles

Amang aa the dunes,
Lurk Trumpie’s big goons
They mak yer waak richt fractious
Fin they div folla,
Ower hump an holla,
An maybe use ye as target practice
.
It’s plain tae see,
Aat the orra numptie
Hisna heard o the “Richt tae roam”
Wull The Donald desire,
Tae erect barbed wire
As at the mooth he dis foam
.
So Trumpie ma freen,
If advice ye’d teen
An the shiftin dunes ye’d by-passed
Aathing micht hae bin fine,
If ye’d shifted the line
O yer gowf coorse a wee bittie wast
.
Bit fowk like yersel,
Fowk nivver can tell
So Donald ye’ll learn the hard wye
Mither Naitur she rules,
Ower eejits an fules
An fowk faa think they’re richt fly.

©Bob Smith “The Poetry Mannie” 2013

Snow In Aberdeenshire

Aberdeenshire, Satire and Humour No Responses »

Jan 142013

With a wet but generally mild period behind us, could we hope for a snow-free winter? Not a chance, reports Duncan Harley. This is N.E. Scotland!

We Scots are always bleetering on about how unprepared other folk in the UK are for winter weather.

Newspapers and pubs are full of comments about how English cities grind to a halt after a couple of centimetres of the white stuff plunges from the sky.

It reminds me of the leaves on the line headlines of a few years ago following train delays in autumn, except that leaves really do cause locomotives to slip about and lose traction, hence the sand boxes they are now equipped with.

Well, I personally think that we Scots should take it all back. Last night it snowed in Aberdeenshire and, no doubt, elsewhere as well.

Just a bit of wet snow, if truth be told and, as far as snow in this part of the world gets, just a light covering. It was well forecast and the gritters were seemingly out in force.

What happened?

Three-hour tailbacks on the roads into and out of Aberdeen is what happened. Cars on their roofs, in ditches and in fields. Folk unable to get to work, schools closed and transport links in chaos.

On behalf of the Scottish people, I would like to apologise to the rest of the UK for the disparaging comments last year, the year before and the year before that, as well.

Fundraiser Sought For Friends Group

Aberdeen City, Events, News No Responses »

Jul 262012

With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

The Friends of Duthie Park group is looking for a part time fundraiser to assist with ongoing funding to improve the park, following the completion of the current major restoration work.

This will see the return of many original Victorian elements.

As ‘Friends’ Chairman Tony Dawson outlines, there are potentially some tremendous opportunities for local organisations within the confines of the Park.

“There are specific projects that do not come within the remit of the restoration work, including both winter and summer planting. Additionally there are initiatives we would love to be able to afford, such as the installation of a water harvesting system for the glasshouses, or the development of a Duthie Park smart phone application. The Friends also has its Annual Open Day which would, I believe, be an excellent community ‘fit’ for a local company, with this year’s event next month on Sunday 19th August.

“We have produced a selection of potential packages that could be available and what we are looking for is someone who could spend time speaking to local businesses persuading them to become involved, in return for a commission on any funds secured.”

Anyone interested in the position should, in the first instance, contact info@friendsofduthiepark.co.uk including full contact details.

For further info contact Dave Macdermid on 07805 436988.
Email dave.macdermid@bigpartnership.co.uk

Second Friends Of Duthie Park Open Day Planned

Aberdeen City, News No Responses »

Jul 122012

With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

Major restoration work that will see the return of many original Victorian elements to the North East’s most popular visitor attraction is progressing on schedule. And the ‘Friends of Duthie Park’ group is hosting its second open day next month.

Sunday 19th August will see festivities running between noon and 4 p.m.

As Friends Chairman Tony Dawson explains, there will be something for all of the family.

“Last year’s inaugural event attracted more than two thousand people and we will be looking to go one better this time around! I think most people are aware that there are major works going on at the park, without necessarily knowing the details. This will be an opportunity to see at first hand the progress that is being made as we’ll be organising tours during the afternoon.

“In addition, we’ll have plenty of entertainment, including live music throughout the afternoon, horse and cart rides, football coaching with AFC, fitness demonstrations, children’s entertainment, gardening workshops and many other stalls and attractions.

“And of course ‘Spike’ the talking cactus, the park’s most popular resident will be there too, after making his reappearance after a decade at last year’s open day.”

A full timetable for the day will be available on www.friendsofduthiepark.co.uk from the beginning of August.

For information contact Dave Macdermid on 07805 436988. dave.macdermid@bigpartnership.co.uk

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