Aberdeen Loons Host Dirty Tricks

Did you catch Channel 4 at 10:30 last night? There were two daft loons fae Peterhead and Porlethen hosting the programme Dirty Tricks – and they were well funny and a bit off the wall! It’s not a programme for the feint hearted – one magic illusion saw them using their arms as a fiddle and a carving knife as the bow! Blood aplenty! I haven’t laughed so much for ages. Thanks Barry Jones and Stuart Macleod you brighten up my Dreich night
Do tune into next week Friday’s edition. It’s really great to see some fellow Aberdonians on the telly – well done lads!

Chris

Grampian Transport Museum Time Travel Exhibition

Time Travelling Experience in Store for Aberdeen Shoppers

Shoppers in the Bon Accord St. Nicholas shopping centre will be treated to a taste of both the past and future next week, as the
Grampian Transport Museum Time Travel Exhibition makes a road show appearance in the lower mall of the central atrium for one week from Monday 12 June.

The mini exhibition will feature a Ford Thames light commercial van dating from 1950, as well as a Manx Norton racing motorcycle from 1952, thought to be the most valuable of its kind, and certainly the ultimate treat for the motorcycling connoisseur. A CD station aimed at youngsters will also form part of the exhibition, and allow budding time travellers to virtually navigate the Alford based transport museum, through the use of 360 degree panoramic photography.

Mike Ward, curator at the Grampian Transport Museum, explains: “This is an opportunity for the people of Aberdeen to get a taster of the time travel exhibition that is currently on display at our museum in Alford. The vehicles from the 1950s are in great condition, and we will be encouraging the public to interact with the exhibits as well as ask questions of our team, who are experts on time travel and have a good knowledge of local travel and transport history as well.”

Centre Manager Frank Sutherland says: “With the current popularity of shows such as Dr Who, the Grampian Transport Museum’s time travel exhibition is a must-see for fans, as well as a source of interesting facts and figures on the local history of travel and transport. I am very pleased to be hosting the exhibition in the Bon Accord St. Nicholas shopping centre, and helping to provide an unusual way for our shoppers to ‘pass the time’ between shops.”

Whack A Haggis

Whack A Haggis Game

Whack A Haggis is a new game at
About Aberdeen where you use your computer mouse to move a wooden mallet to splat the popping up haggis. As each haggis pops up from their hole you need to splat the bad haggis and avoid hitting the good haggis. You get points for each bad haggis that you whack and points taken from your score for each good haggis that you whack. The good haggis are the friendly smiling haggis with the tartan bonnet whilst the bad haggis are the red scary looking haggis with the brown cap.

I'm looking for some testers of the new game and in return you can claim a main borntoloaf item from
www.borntoloaf.co.uk
such as a mug, rucksack, fleece jacket, flask, hoodie, ski hat etc. In addition I will also send smaller items that you request such as car stickers, notelets, pens, an aboutaberdeen rollerball pen in presentation case, badge, wallet, pencil case, frisbee, etc. Quite a lot of stuff in fact. It's my way of saying thank you for helping.

What I'd need you to do is visit whack a haggis game page and play the game. Don't worry about what score you get, you just need to play the whack a haggis game for the minute. Then enter your name or nickname. You will stay on the same aboutaberdeen page but the graphics will change to a score league table. Don't worry if you don't get on it. Use the arrow key to the right and scroll down to some coding. This is where I need help testing the whack a haggis game. Copy the coding, either the first html code or the bottom url code with optional image. There is an example below:



Now I need you to copy and paste this code onto your own website, a forum such as a competition forum, chat forum or webspace like myspace. If you are using the text link url then please add this to a signature you use or under any postings or profile to newsgroups, discussion boards, forums, etc.

This enables me to test that this coding is working and that other people can access the game and play it. I would need your code to stay in place for about 48 hours so that I can trace and tweak any bugs or problems. The site should also have natural visitors and not have been set up just to get freebies! No traffic - no borntoloaf freebies! The freebies will only be sent out to people who send traffic to the whack the haggis game so that testing can take place. I need at least 10 unique visitors from each link, so really describe the game to get people playing whack a haggis and you'll get the born to loaf freebies. I need this minimum level of traffic from each link to fully test the game coding.


So do the above and
contact me using Aboutaberdeen game tester in the subject line and tell me where you placed the link, your name and address and a list of the items you'd like to receive. The items are subject to availability and are kept up to date at http://www.borntoloaf.co.uk/competitionpage.htm

Thank you for your help.
Chris

Aberdeen Inspire Raffle

Cash Prizes and Holiday Vouchers to be Won in Shopping Centre

Great cash prizes and holiday vouchers are just some of the treats shoppers in the Aberdeen Bon Accord St. Nicholas shopping centre could win this weekend (Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 November 2006), courtesy of North East charity Inspire’s raffle, which is being held to raise money for their annual ‘Sparkles’ party at the Beach Ballroom on the 25 November.

“Inspire offers opportunities to improve the quality of life for people living with learning disabilities in the North East of Scotland,” explains marketing officer for Aberdeen Inspire, Debbie Rennie. “We provide a range of services from residential and rural support to independent travel training and holiday schemes. The Sparkles annual party gives service users the opportunity to meet in a fun and relaxed environment.”

Inspire Aberdeen Raffle tickets cost £1 and will be on sale in the central mall of the shopping centre’s lower atrium all day Saturday and Sunday. By buying a ticket, shoppers will help fund the organisation of the party, as well as giving themselves the chance to win £100 in cash, John Lewis vouchers or holiday vouchers from Thomas Cook.

Centre manager Frank Sutherland says: “I am very pleased, on behalf of the shopping centre, to be able to host Inspire for their raffle and hope that shoppers will appreciate this worthy cause and buy plenty of raffle tickets to ensure that this year’s Sparkles party is one to remember.”

Chris

Aberdeen Scarf

Shopping Centre Supports Energy Saving Week

Shoppers in the Aberdeen Bon Accord St. Nicholas Shopping Centre can find out how to lead more environmentally friendly lives and save money at the same time during Energy Saving week, (Monday 23 – Saturday 28 October) as the Aberdeen-based Save Cash And Reduce Fuel organisation (Aberdeen SCARF) offers tips and advice on the small lifestyle changes that make less of an impact on natural resources and ultimately help to combat climate change. The free event will take place in the central atrium of the Bon Accord St. Nicholas Shopping Centre from 9am till 5pm.

Aberdeen SCARF Chief Executive Jean Morrison says: “SCARF provides householders, businesses and organisations with independent, free and impartial advice on sustainable use of energy that will not only reduce the amount of energy they use or save them money on fuel bills, and provide a warm, dry environment that puts less strain on natural resources and combats climate change.”

“In the Bon Accord St Nicholas Shopping Centre we will be handing out information to the public about the kinds of measures they can take in their own home to save on both energy and bills,” continues Jean. “We will also provide information on the kinds of grants available for insulation and central heating. To encourage people to start saving energy we will be giving away free low energy light bulbs to every householder that commits to saving energy in their homes.”

Centre manager Frank Sutherland says, “We are fully behind SCARF advising the public on how to lead more energy efficient lives, which will go some way towards helping to save the planet. As winter approaches it is especially important that as many people as possible are fully aware of the simple actions they can take to keep their energy footprint to a minimum and subsequently avoid high heating bills at the same time. Such actions can be as simple as wearing a warm jersey indoors instead of a t-shirt, in the middle of December!”
For further information call Jean Morrison (Aberdeen Scarf) on 01224 253900 or visit www.scarf.org.uk

Chris

£5 Off Dorothy Perkins Voucher

Pampering Paradise ‘in store’ at the Bon Accord St Nicholas Shopping Centre

For the ultimate in pampering paradise this week, ladies should look no further than the Bon Accord St. Nicholas Shopping Centre, where Dorothy Perkins will be hosting a Girls Night In, from 4-8pm this Thursday (19 October).

Dorothy Perkins Discount

As well as a 20% discount on all stock, lucky customers will be treated to free hair styling from the team at Toni and Guy, as well as free makeovers from Virgin Vie.

Free Goodie Bags

“We will treat customers to a free glass of wine and also invite them to indulge themselves with one of our goodie bags worth £30 but selling at the bargain price of £2,” says Deputy Manager, Vicki Fraser. “The goodie bags contain a range of tantalising items including lip gloss, scented candles and a £5 off voucher to spend in the store.”

Centre manager Frank Sutherland says: “With the host of treats on offer, Dorothy Perkins’ Girls Night In looks set to be a real hit for those with a passion for pampering and discount retail therapy! Ladies should be sure to get there early to bag the best bargains and enjoy a free glass of wine before the crowds begin.”

Chris

Aberdeen Calendar

Calendars Galore in Local Shopping Centre
Shoppers in the Aberdeen Bon Accord St Nicholas Shopping Centre won’t be stuck for ideas when it comes to gift buying between now and Christmas, as the Calendar Club makes its annual appearance in the shopping centre, on the first floor of the central atrium, outside Laura Ashley. The Aberdeen Calendar Club will be in the centre until 7 January 2007.

With a range encompassing everything from John Wayne and Johnny Depp to Winnie the Pooh and The Far Side, and with 700 different titles to choose from, the Calendar Club certainly has something for every taste. The stall offers diaries at £2.99, long, slim calendars at £4.99 and large square calendars at £9.99.

“We’ve got some really quirky ones this year, including a Sudoku-a-day one and a Chess-challenge-a-day one, as well as some classics in the humour range, such as extreme ironing and crap cars,” explains stall operator Lorna McLachlan. “Many of our calendars would make ideal gifts for those difficult-to-buy-for Dads; we’ve got everything from golf to cars.”

Now in its seventh year of business, the Aberdeen Calendar Club was officially ranked the UK’s number one retailer of calendars recently. The stall in the Bon Accord St Nicholas shopping centre is one of 200 stalls throughout the UK this year.

Centre manager Frank Sutherland says: “This year’s range of themes from the Calendar Club includes everything from travel to entertainment and looks set to offer something for every taste and budget. Those after a quirky calendar for 2007 should make a bee-line to the stall soon however, to avoid disappointment.”

Chris

Woolworths Aberdeen Big Red Book

Woolworths to Launch Big Red Book

Woolworths in the Bon Accord St Nicholas Shopping Centre, Aberdeen will be scanning new horizons this Thursday (12 October 2006) with the launch of their brand new ‘Big Red Book’, a store catalogue comprising more than 500 pages’ worth of Woolworths products, many of which are unavailable in local stores such as Peterhead and Aberdeen.

“With over 5,000 products, the Big Red Book offers customers a chance to choose from the whole range of Woolworths products, then order in store either for store collection or home delivery,” explains store manager for the Bon Accord St Nicholas branch of Woolworths, James Murray. “The range of product categories in the catalogue includes Toys, Kids, Entertainment, Electricals, Home & DIY, Gifts and of course Christmas, just in time for the festive period which is fast approaching.”

Customers can pick up their free copy of The Big Red Book in Woolworths in the Bon accord St Nicholas Shopping Centre and also browse and buy from the catalogue online or over the phone.

Centre manager Frank Sutherland says: “The Big Red Book looks set to be a real boost for Woolworths in terms of increasing their already extensive range of products offered to customers. On behalf of the Bon Accord St Nicholas Shopping Centre, I wish Woolworths all the best with the launch this Thursday.”

Chris

Annual Jobs Fair Aberdeen

The Bon Accord St Nicholas Shopping Centre’s annual jobs fair will get underway today (Wednesday 27 September 2006), in the lower atrium of the Bon Accord centre, in a one day recruitment drive to secure seasonal staff to keep up with the annual stampede of Christmas shoppers who will descend upon the shopping centre from November onwards this year.

The third annual Bon Accord St Nicholas Centre Christmas job fair, which will run from 1 pm – 5pm, will see various staff from the centre’s units on hand distributing application forms and answering queries on skills and experience required for various jobs, as well as carrying out interviews.

Frank Sutherland, centre manager of the Bon Accord St Nicholas Shopping Centre, says, “The last two job fairs have been a great success so we’re hoping for a good turnout this year as usual. We are inviting the public into the centre for interviews for various positions during the Christmas period and are looking for applicants for replenishment duties, customer service, greeters, till operators, stock room duties and sales assistants.

“By holding the festive recruitment drive, we are providing an ideal opportunity for potential employees to meet with several potential employers under the same roof,” continues Frank. “During last year’s one day fair our retailers saw over 500 applicants - and employed a good proportion of those who attended. The one day approach seems to make life easier for the candidates, providing them with a number of retailers to visit under one roof. It also provides a fast track approach to recruitment, since candidates move from the initial meeting to interview all in the space of a day, thus avoiding the need to schedule future interviews around other commitments.”

To make the one day recruitment fair as effective as possible for potential applicants, staff at The Bon Accord St Nicholas Shopping Centre have come up with the following pointers for those seeking seasonal work:

Bring your C.V. The first page should contain personal details for an employer if they need to contact you and make sure that the format of your C.V. is in key headings e.g.
a. Key skills
b. Key achievements etc
Your employment history should commence with your current or most recent position and work backwards and you should provide information that demonstrates your ability to do the job – such as previous retail experience.

Dress for success – Remember to dress smartly. Even though you are in informal surroundings remember that this is a formal interview. Applicants should have a smart appearance as many of the jobs will be customer facing.
Job description – Be specific about which type of job you are looking for and stress your key skills. If you are a good communicator and enjoy dealing with the public then you would be most suited for a sales assistant position. If you feel you are more suited to a manual job then try for a position which deals with stock room and delivery duties.

Temporary to permanent? – Remember that even though the majority of the Christmas positions will be temporary this will stand you in good stead for future employment within the same stores.

Enthusiasm – Be enthusiastic and show how much you want the job! There will be lots of people looking for Christmas employment and last year saw many applicants.

Chris

World Vision Aberdeen

The Bon Accord St. Nicholas Shopping Centre is backing international relief and development agency World Vision’s current ‘3,000 Sponsors Appeal’, that was launched this month by Miss Scotland Nicola McLean. All this week until September 23 the centre will be joining celebrities such as Clare Grogan, Sian Lloyd and Noel Edmonds in supporting the current search for 3,000 new Scottish child sponsors before the end of September.

Representatives from World Vision will be chatting to Bon Accord St. Nicholas Shopping Centre shoppers and locals about child sponsorship and encouraging people to sign up to help change the lives of children living in extreme poverty.

Matt Marlow, World Vision’s Marketing Manager for Child Sponsorship said: “We’ve already had a fantastic response from the people of Scotland and we are look forward to heading to Aberdeen’s Bon Accord St. Nicholas Shopping Centre to help gain the support of the people of the north of Scotland.”

“Last years ‘Big Month’ Child Sponsorship campaign in Scotland successfully recruited thousands of new sponsors, people who are now helping to provide the life-saving basics, like clean drinking water and immunisation for children in the developing world, so we are hopeful that we can beat the target again this time round,” continued Matt.

Bon Accord St. Nicholas Shopping Centre Manager, Frank Sutherland said: “World Vision currently help thousands of children in developing countries through Child Sponsorship. When the staff at the centre heard that for as little as 60p a day – probably less than the price of a cup of coffee - a child in the developing world can be given the basics like clean drinking water we felt we had to get on board and offer our support.”

World Vision representatives will be rallying support and offering further information on their ‘3,000 Sponsors Appeal’ in the Bon Accord St. Nicholas Shopping Centre until September 23. Alternatively, to sponsor a child with World Vision log onto www.sponsor.org or call 0800 50 10 10.

About World Vision

● World Vision is one of the world’s leading relief and development agencies. It is a Christian charity currently helping people in nearly 100 countries in their struggle against poverty, hunger and injustice, irrespective of their religious beliefs.


Children in the developing world - Key Facts

● As parents and other family members become ill, children take on responsibility for income generation, food production, and care of family members.
● Children often face inadequate nutrition, basic health care, housing and clothing.
● Few families can afford to send their children to school, particularly young girls.
● Many orphans are struggling to survive on their own in child-headed households, or forced to live on the streets.
● Children impacted by HIV/AIDS are also at serious risk of exploitation, including physical and sexual abuse.
● After the death of a parent children often suffer from fears about the future; economic circumstances, discrimination and isolation, all affect orphans.

● World Vision is a member of several major agency groups including the Disasters and Emergency Committee (DEC), British Overseas NGOs for Development (BOND) and the Consortium for Street Children (CSC).

Chris

Millie’s Cookies Aberdeen

Free Cookies


Shoppers in the Bon Accord St. Nicholas shopping centre will be treated to frer cookies this weekend (afternoon of Friday 15 and all day Saturday 16 September 2006) as Millie’s Cookies celebrates 21 years of business, with National Cookie Week.

Cookie Vouchers

Representatives from the cookie counter will be wandering the Bon Accord St. Nicholas shopping centre handing out vouchers to shoppers entitling them to a free cookie from a range of their famous 13 flavours, including white chocolate, milk chocolate and double chocolate. Cookie fans should hurry to the shopping centre however, as the cookie company has only 1,000 free cookies to give away.

21st Birthday Cookies

“We are encouraging shoppers to share in the celebrations as we reach this milestone, by offering them vouchers for free cookies,” explains Elaine Mitchell, Assistant Manager at the Aberdeen branch of Millie’s Cookies. “Cookie fans can also pick up a voucher for free Millie’s cookies in this Sunday’s News of the World. Also, if customers can prove that it is their 21st birthday or 21st anniversary, they will also be entitled to a free limited edition pack of 21 cookies.


“We have been in the Bon Accord St. Nicholas shopping centre for over ten years now and are grateful to the people of Aberdeen for their continued custom and support, and are really looking forward to inviting them to share in the celebrations.”


Centre manager Frank Sutherland says: “Biscuit fans across the city should get themselves along to the St. Nicholas centre as soon as possible, to make sure they don’t miss out on the chance of a few tasty – and free – cookie creations. On behalf of the Bon Accord St. Nicholas shopping centre I’d like to congratulate Millie’s Cookies on their 21 years in business and wish them all the best for the future.”

Aberdeenshire and Banffshire Fishing History

Maritime Exhibition Pays Tribute To Banffshire’s Own Local Heroes

The coastal area of Banffshire is not only home to the red phone box, which features in the film ‘Local Hero’, but also to its own local heroes. Famed for its fishing heritage and history, the area has its own real-life ‘characters’ who relish in relaying tall stories to locals and visitors about their journeys and times at sea. This summers Banffshire maritime heritage exhibition pays homage to these men and women of a by-gone era.

John Sellar, who along with his brother used to manage the salmon fishing operation in the area, says, “Going into the salmon fishing business was our family tradition, my great-grandfather started the company J Sellar and Son in 1871, and when my grandfather and his brothers passed away, my father and his brothers took over the business. So when I left school in the early 50’s I went to work in the family business. Our company then was based in Boddam, Aberdeenshire, but fished for salmon from Macduff west to Portessie, so over the years I have seen many different types of fishing. At that time we used cotton nets to catch the fish. These were called bag nets. The bag net was a form of trap; the top rope was buoyed with corks and then submerged on the bottom rope to a depth of ten to sixteen feet. The bag or trap was held in position with rope, wires, which were usually buoyed, and chains which were sometimes shackled to the rocks or held in shore with anchors. The head of the bag was again held off the shore with wire and a length of chain attached to a heavy anchor. The bag was left in the same position for the entire season but was changed with a clean net weekly to save the netting getting covered with marine growth.

“We encountered many storms over the length of a fishing season and one that springs to mind was the Queen Elizabeth Coronation storm in June 1953. Most of our nets were destroyed along the length of the coast. After the storm it took us two or three days to get the nets replaced and put into fishing order again. The wrecked nets were dried and stored with a label stating the extent of damage to be repaired at a later date, as we had to keep up with the daily work of the season. When we did have a spare hour or two we used to mend the nets on the green through the summer. By June we were going to sea at 5am and often I used to fall asleep in the late afternoon summer sun still holding the net, as my father was giving me instructions on how to repair them. Many salmon fishers still use the bag net method to catch fish, however nylon nets with synthetic ropes and buoys are now used, which has made them a lot lighter yet stronger than the cotton ones we had.

“The salmon cobles we used ranged from 25 feet to 28 feet and were built by my father and his brothers in our net factory at Boddam, Aberdeenshire. During the late 1970’s we built a 30 foot coble, as with the modern marine engine, we were covering more coastline with our nets and also carrying more gear. Once that coble was completed we took a fibre glass mould of the hull which allowed us to build in glass reinforced plastic from then on. We did this for many salmon-fishing companies throughout Scotland.

“For many people living on the Banffshire coast, fishing was in their blood, often following in the footsteps of their father and their father’s father, so this exhibition will really be a journey back in time for these people, celebrating their memories of their time at sea. Although I am no longer involved in the salmon fishing today, I still live in Macduff which means I can keep up to date with what’s going on within the fishing industry in the area.”

Stanley Bruce, chairman of the Banffshire Maritime Heritage Association, says, “The Banffshire Maritime Heritage Association was established because there is a significant interest locally in maritime heritage. During the summer season there will be a continually changing variety of slideshows, videos and films available to view. These will generally be of the local fishing heritage, but will also show local attractions such as the beautiful Banffshire coast.”

Also on display will be maritime artefacts such as paintings, photographs, boats and oil-rig models, stories and poems. A children’s corner will also feature with fishing boats to colour-in as well as a boat and lighthouse to draw and add to the exhibitions collage.

The Banffshire Heritage Maritime Exhibition is open from July to October 2006. Entrance times are Mon – Sun 1.00pm to 5.00pm, closed on Tuesday. Thursday - 7.00pm to 9.00pm. Entrance fee to the exhibition is Adult: £1.50, Child/ Concession: £1.00, Children 5 years or under: Free, Family ticket: £4.00. Further information on fishing and the history and heritage of the area can be found at www.banffshirecoats.com or by calling 08708 030251.

Chris

Family Day Out Balmedie Aberdeen

Local Biodiversity Action Plan to Promote Marine Life Awareness
with Family Fun Day

To coincide with Sea Watch Foundation's ‘National Whale and Dolphin Watch Week’, which kicks off this weekend throughout the UK (12-20 August 2006), there will be a celebration of the sea and sealife in the north east at the North East Local Biodiversity Action Plan’s (LBAP) Marine Life Awareness day, “Discover the Sea”, to be held in Balmedie Country Park on Saturday 19 August 2006, from 11am to 5pm.

The fun-packed day aims to promote the marine environment in the North East of Scotland, and raise awareness of the variety of animals which depend on it. Based at the Macaulay Institute in Aberdeen, LBAP is organising the event in association with the East Grampian Coastal Partnership, Aberdeenshire Council and Aberdeen City Council,

Jennifer Lamb, LBAP Biodiversity officer, says: “The Marine Life Awareness day will be a fun event aimed at engaging the general public in issues surrounding the marine life in the north east and promoting the importance of the protection of the range of habitats in the region.

“There will be talks and information stands on marine-related topics from a number of organisations including the RSPB, Sea Search and the Aberdeenshire Rangers. A host of activities will also keep kids entertained, such as a life-size inflatable blue whale, courtesy of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, quizzes, face painting, crafts, nature walks, beach activities and even a whale rescue demonstration by the British Divers Marine Life Rescue team.”

Many of the key messages being promoted at the fun day will be taken from the findings of the LBAP’s recent marine habitat action plan, which involved a collaboration of local and national organisations, and aims to help protect and enhance marine habitats in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray. The LBAP has also completed three other marine-related plans recently, on coastal sand dunes and shingle areas, estuarine and intertidal areas and coastal cliff and heath areas.

Chris

Cheap School Uniforms Aberdeen

Back To School – Adams Offers Cool Clothes For Kids

Term time is almost upon us and parents can be seen scouring the high street for new uniforms, school bags, shoes and accessories. The staff at Adam’s Kids, situated in the lower mall of the Bon Accord St. Nicholas Shopping Centre, are on hand to offer advice and a full range of ‘Back To School’ basics.

Lisa Reid, store manager of Adams Kids in the Bon Accord St. Nicholas Shopping Centre, says, “Most parents want their children to look traditional and smart for their return to school but obviously children still want to have a fashionable edge. Our current stock of girl’s blouses with floral patterns down the side is very popular this year and we are also seeing an increase in the sales of skirts which I would imagine is down to the good weather.”

Lisa continues, “This year’s collection sees trousers with an adjustable waist which come in standard and long length. They are also Teflon coated so easily wiped clean which is an essential with kid’s clothes! All of the range is easy care, machine washable and suitable for tumble drying.”

All ‘Back To School’ mix and match basics are buy one get one half price all year round, this includes school bags, shoes and accessories. Prices from the clothing range start at £3.49.

For further information on the ‘Back To School’ collection visit Adams Kids, Unit 20, Lower Mall, Bon Accord St. Nicholas Shopping Centre or call 01224 625919.


Chris

Castle Care A Lot Aberdeen

Local Children Invited To Make Music At ‘Crechefest’

Local Aberdeen youngsters are invited to make their own music this weekend (29 & 30 July) at Castle Care A Lot in the Bon Accord St Nicholas Shopping Centre. Children aged between 2 and 7 years will be able to sing-along to the latest pop tunes letting them join in on forthcoming music festival fun.

Annette Buchan, manager of Castle Care A Lot in the Bon Accord St Nicholas Shopping Centre, Aberdeen, says, “July and August are definitely the music festival months with forthcoming local events and the recent T In The Park. We wanted to give the youngsters a chance to join in with the fun of the festivals, even if they are a little too young to attend.”

Annette continues, “Our playgroup nursery and creche child day care service gives parents time to stock up on suncream, flip flops and additions to their summer wardrobe whilst having the peace of mind that their child is in safe surroundings and having a lot of musical fun.”

Additional activities include painting, story telling, play stations, games, toys, adventure play structure and ball pit.

Castle Care A Lot is run by a team of fully qualified nursery assistants and costs £3.75 per hour per child. Refreshments are available for an additional 35p per child. Opening hours 9am – 5:45pm (Saturday) and 12 noon – 4:45pm (Sunday)

For further information on Castle Care A Lot, Aberdeen call 01224 626260.

Chris

Busking Fiddlers Aberdeen

Bon Accord St Nicholas Shopping Centre to Host Fiddlers Busking Trail

Shoppers in the Bon Accord St. Nicholas Shopping Centre will have their feet set a-tapping by a fiddlers busking trail this week (Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 July inclusive), which will take in the shopping centre as part of the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention (NAFCo) 2006, a five day long celebration of fiddle and dance from around the North Atlantic, set to take Aberdeen by musical storm from the 26 to the 30 July.

“The fiddlers come from all over the world and will perform at venues throughout the city over the course of the four days, including the Bon Accord St. Nicholas shopping centre, where performances will be held over lunch time,” explains NAFCo convention assistant Carley Williams, from Aberdeen University’s Ephinstone Institute. “They will play traditional music from a range of countries including Canada, Norway, Scotland, Denmark and the USA.

“As well as the busking trail, there are a number of other events happening across the city, such as workshops, concerts and ceilidhs,” she continues. “The next event is scheduled for Newfoundland in 2008, and it won’t return to Aberdeen until 2010, so locals and visitors should be sure to come along this time so as not to miss out on this fiddling extravaganza!”

Bon Accord St Nicholas Shopping Centre manager Frank Sutherland says: “I’m really looking forward to hosting the fiddlers busking trail in the shopping centre and hope that our shoppers enjoy this experience of music-on-the-move, as they pick up the latest summer bargains.”

Banffshire Coast

The Banffshire Coast: Where Sunshine Is Guaranteed


It’s official – as well as being the UK hot spot for storm watching, Banffshire is one of the sunniest and driest parts of the country! While many Brits have long since given up on waiting for a good summer, and opt instead for cheap holidays abroad for that fleeting, but nonetheless essential week or two of guaranteed sunshine, some will take comfort in the knowledge that the Banffshire coast is one of a few corners of the country where the chance of sunshine is higher than elsewhere.

Official figures from the Met Office reveal that the area basked in a greater number of hours of sunshine than Scotland as a whole last summer, a statistic that is thanks directly to the area’s unique microclimate, which creates a weather that is milder, drier and sunnier than that of the area’s surrounding regions.

The Banffshire coast’s microclimate, a term used to describe the climate of a small area, results from its position relative to the surrounding land and sea. Nestling in the lee of the scenic Grampian Mountains and perched on the edge of the North Atlantic, Banffshire’s weather is influenced by both the effect of the warming North Atlantic Drift on the area’s coastal waters, and the fact that it is sheltered from the prevailing south westerly winds. In short, the two factors combine to produce a mellowing effect that guarantees the area a more agreeable climate than the rest of the country.

The summer months in particular are the perfect time to visit the area if it’s warm weather you’re after. Joyfully free of the midgies for which the west coast is famed, moderate temperatures are de rigeur on this corner of the east coast, and provide the perfect opportunity to sample one or two of the many outdoor activities the area has to offer. Whether it’s cycling, walking, golfing or fishing, there really is something to suit all tastes and pockets.

“Total hours of sunshine in Banffshire last summer amounted to 436, while Scotland as a whole had only 422,” explains John Hammond of the Met Office. “Banffshire’s microclimate places it firmly as one of the driest regions in Scotland.”
Karen Crowe of the Banffshire Coastal Tourism Partnership says, “Having lived here for more than 20 years, I can certainly vouch for warm, dry summers. It has to be said that the microclimate does much to enhance the area’s natural beauty and also provides great conditions in which to sample the huge variety of outdoor activities the region has to offer.

More information about the Banffshire Coast, from events to what to see or do in the area, is available by visiting the new
www.banffshirecoast.com or calling 0870 803 0251

Chris

Minke Whales Sightings Scotland

Minke Whale Sightings on the Rise on Banffshire Coast

The recent rise in the number of Minke whale sightings off the Banffshire coast is doing much to support the area’s reputation as a haven for a myriad of marine life. With sightings reported as early as May this year, 2006 looks set to rival the record number of sightings reported last year, before the whale watching season has even begun.

“There have been a number of great sightings of Minke whales in the last month,” says Karen Crowe, of Banffshire Coastal Tourism Partnership. “The inner Moray Firth has been a fantastic spot to see them, and along the Banff to Fraserburgh coast, Minkes have been seen in groups of more than four. There were even some juveniles spotted at Pennan on Saturday.”

Dean Southall, director and skipper of local wildlife tour operator North 58 comments: “The Minke whales are definitely appearing earlier in the year, and there are also more of them. Although the most common months to see them are July and August, when they calve, my first sighting this year was in early May just off Portsoy.

“Last year I was really lucky and saw eight at a time, all coming to the surface together; it was a really special moment. They average about ten metres in length and so when you’re in a 8.5 metre long ferry, you really know about it when these creatures pull up alongside!”

Dean attributes the rise in the number of Minke whales off the Banffshire coast to the abundance of food in the area. “The area is currently full of sprat and mackerel, so the Minke whales are having a great time gorging themselves.”

“Around here the whales are typically found about two nautical miles offshore, but often come in quite close to shore, to water depths of about six metres,” continues Dean. “Sometimes you can even smell their presence; they have a really fishy breath that is so potent it can be carried inland on the right wind direction!”

For further information on the Banffshire Coast and all that it offers visit
www.banffshirecoast.com or call 0870 8030251. North 58 (01542 832560) and Puffin Cruises (01261 819900) offer daily sightseeing trips which depart from various harbours along the Banffshire coast. Contact the companies directly for ferry information.

Sea Shanties Aberdeenshire

Will The Sound of ‘Greedy Seagulls’ Attract Hollywood’s Finest to Portsoy?

Johnny Depp Invited to Portsoy Festival

Norwegian sea shanty singers Slogmakaane (The Greedy Seagulls) will greet the traditional boats as they arrive for this year’s festival. Boats include a reproduction Neolithic boat, used some 6,000 years ago to bring the first settlers from Europe; arguably the first North Sea Ferry

Organisers of the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival in Portsoy are hoping the lure of a Norwegian sea shanty singing group - whose name translates as ‘The Greedy Seagulls’ - will attract Johnny Depp to the north east town this weekend (Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 July 2006). Organisers are inviting Johnny Depp to this year’s festival to hear original Norwegian and Scottish sea shanties, as an album of sea shanties which he has produced will hit the shops on the same day as the festival launches. Stars appearing on the album include Bono, Sting, Nick Cave, Tom Waits and Andrea Corr. Scandinavian sea shanty singers Slogmakaane (The Greedy Seagulls) will be serenading land lubbers at the 13th Scottish Traditional Boat Festival.

“When we arranged for Slogmaakane to be a lead act at the festival, we were unaware that sea shanties would be as high profile as they are,” says festival organiser Roger Goodyear. “The release of Johnny Depp’s album and the premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean have certainly raised the profile of maritime heritage. The superb singers of Slogmakaane will bring their magical mix of traditional Norwegian and English language shanties to what is a great musical programme over the weekend at Portsoy. This is just the second time they have performed outside Norway. Their participation marks this year’s theme of North Sea neighbours.”

Sea shanties are songs which were sung by sailors in rhythm with their work. The word may derive from the French words chanter meaning "to sing" or chantez meaning "sing!", which gives rise to the spelling variations "chanty", "chantey", "chanties", and "chanteys. Johnny Depp’s new album is called Rogue’s Gallery; Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs and Chanteys. Shanties were sung to ease the burden of physical labor. A true sea shanty was sung in rhythm to work on the ship and not during leisure time. Different types of shanties were sung to accompany the various tasks on the ship, for example halyard shanties were sung during the raising and lowering the sails and capstain shanties were sung during the raising or lowering of the anchor. Sea shanties will be sung by Slogmakaane as boats are kedged into the harbour at Portsoy.

The 2006 Scottish Traditional Boat Festival has one of the largest collections of traditional boats in Scotland, with a boat dating from 1895 taking part in the races this year.

It’s not the ‘oldest’ boat however, as there will be the launch and maiden voyage of a reproduction Neolithic boat, used some 6,000 years ago to bring the first settlers from Europe; arguably the first North Sea Ferry!. Made from cowhide it’s not for the faint-hearted nostril.

In a packed programme for all ages visitors can participate in maritime activities, craft demonstrations, a non stop programme of music, dance and drama, a food fayre, a road run and much, much more including the new Adventure Land, packed with a mass of things for kids from 9 to 90 to do.


“If Johnny Depp fancies immersing himself in true maritime history rather than swashbuckling Hollywood,” says Roger, “He’ll be more than welcome at Portsoy this weekend!”


The 2006 Scottish Traditional Boat Festival takes place throughout Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 July in and around the harbour at Portsoy on the Banffshire Coast. Entry to the harbour area is £4 for adults, £2 for children and access to all other areas including the food fair is free

More information can be found at www.scottishtraditionalboatfestival.co.uk or call 01261 842894.

Aberdeen Disney Shop

Ahoy Pirates Of The Caribbean Fans – Go Directly To Disney

To coincide with the first cinema viewings of the second Pirates of the Caribbean epic, the Disney Store is flying the skull and cross flag in the hope of attracting aspiring Captain Jack Sparrow’s and Elizabeth Swan’s to the Bon Accord St Nicholas Shopping Centre on Thursday 6th July. Daily until stocks run out, wannabe pirates should be set to plunder the Disney store between 2 – 3pm in search of hidden golden riches and authentic pirates treasure maps.

Gaye Dench, Store Manager of the Disney Store says, “With the summer holidays in swing, we really wanted put on a free treat for the children that would coincide with the opening of Pirates of the Caribbean at the cinema.”

Pirates of the Caribbean Competition

“We have set up treasure hunts with pretend golden coins and each child will receive an authentic looking treasure map that also doubles as a certificate. Whilst certificates last, every holder will be automatically entered into a prize draw which will entitle them to become a possible winner of a Pirates of the Caribbean goodie bag, with four winners from every store!”

Other ‘pirates’ can go ‘overboard’ entering into a free prize draw encompassing the UK, which will entitle one lucky family of four, to an all expenses paid trip to Disney Land Florida to meet Captain Jack Sparrow.

Gaye continues, “We hope that the children who come down will have a really good time and we look forward to searching for treasure with them. To see who the real pirates are, the first ten certificate holders to come back once stocks have run out will receive there very own pirates hat!”

SWRI Annual Summer School

Join The SWRI Where Schools Not Out For Summer


If learning new skills and meeting new people sounds like something you wouldn’t mind doing over the summer, joining the Scottish Women’s Rural Institutes (SWRI) may be the perfect solution. One of the popular events that the SWRI runs is the annual Summer School, this year being held at the St. Leonard’s School in St. Andrews from 17 – 21 July with 127 delegates already registered.

The courses are educational, fun and a great place for like minded members to meet and participate on subjects that are of interest. Each Summer School is held in a different area in Scotland every year and they not only aim to be accessible to a majority of members, but also offer members the chance for extensive travel throughout Scotland.

The Summer School offers classes such as, Digital Photography at two levels – one for those with computer experience and one for novices - Singing for Pleasure, History of St. Andrews & District, Gardens, Drama for Fun, Silk Shading, Tatting and Scrapbooking. Each year there is a diverse selection of classes catering to all different tastes and abilities of members.

Alison Bayley, National Chairman of the SWRI, says, “The Summer Schools that we offer are hugely popular with members, this year several classes were full within a couple of months of its organisation. The courses prove to be so popular because we offer such a broad range of activities, catering to the different interests of our members. The Summer Schools also offer members the chance to get away with other women with similar interests which in many cases can end up in long lasting friendships being struck.”

“We feel that it is our attention to detail on trips and other courses or classes that we have on offer, which has resulted in our 25,000 strong memberships that the SWRI has throughout Scotland today.”

The SWRI encourages members to participate in many different activities such as attending classes, events or simply to enjoy the friendship of fellow members at monthly meetings. If you feel that the SWRI may have something to offer you in the way of classes, activities, courses or friendships or to find out more about what’s available to SWRI members, call the National Headquarters in Edinburgh on 0131 225 1724.

Austalian Pipe Band Aberdeen Scotland

Male Pipeband From ‘Down Under’ To Perform Scottish Classics For Aberdeen Shoppers


Knox Grammar School Pipe Band from Wharoonga, New South Wales, Australia will treat shoppers to two half hour sets of Scottish musical interludes such as Auld Lang Syne, Flower of Scotland and the Skye Boat Song as part of their music tour of the UK. The 37 strong all male band of pipers and drummers, dressed in Red Macpherson tartan, will perform the free open air concert on the St. Nicholas bandstand of the Bon Accord St. Nicholas shopping centre on Tuesday 27 June 2006 from 12.30 pm to 2pm.

Father’s Day Presents Aberdeen

Fathers’ Day Finds to be Had in The Bon Accord Shopping Centre

Shoppers in search of a special fathers’ day present need look no further than the Bon Accord St. Nicholas shopping Centre this week, as leather accessories specialists ‘Koral Accessories’ sets up shop in the lower mall of the central atrium, from Monday 12 June until close of business on Saturday 17 June.

Selling a range of leather items from wallets to customised belts, Koral Accessories is the ideal shopping stop-off for those looking for a high quality, practical gift for Dads.

Koral Graham of Koral Accessories, says: “As well as items well suited to Fathers’ Day, we have a whole host of products including handbags and purses, in an array of colours from fuscia to lilac, along with the traditional blacks and browns, and various products in the Saddler range. With prices ranging from £1.99 to £12.99 on purses, and from £4.99 to £59.99 on handbags, there is something to suit all budgets.”

Centre manager Frank Sutherland says: “I am pleased to be hosting Koral Accessories in the shopping centre and offering our shoppers the chance to pick up some last minute Fathers’ Day gifts. If past experience is anything to go by, these leather goods normally go like hot cakes, so shoppers should get in quick to see the full range!”

Chris
www.aboutaberdeen.com
www.borntoloaf.co.uk

Swamp Soccer Scotland

Brits Invited to Get Down and Dirty in Alternative World Cup

Wayne Rooney wannabes, footballers’ wives, business men and women… anyone over 17 who likes football, fun and …getting down and dirty, can now sign up for the first ever British ‘Swamp Soccer’ event. Registration for this unique two-day tournament, which makes its UK debut on 1 and 2 July 2006, is now open.

An extreme sport that requires no training, Swamp Soccer originates from the swamps of Finland and is fast becoming an alternative sport phenomenon globally – tournaments already take place annually in Russia, the Netherlands, Brazil, Sweden, Iceland and now in the UK.

Stewart Miller, Swamp Soccer Event Organiser says, “We are really excited to bring Swamp Soccer to the UK for the first time. I’ve taken part in tournaments in other parts of the world and it really is great fun, whether you are entering as a group of friends or as part of a corporate team building exercise.

“Team registration opens today and we are expecting a large number of teams taking part on the 1 and 2 July. Thousands compete in the tournaments elsewhere in the world and in terms of popularity, Swamp Soccer is considered one of the fastest growing alternative sporting events in the world.”

Taking place at the Hunter’s Quay holiday village, Dunoon, Scotland – a unique campus that is made up of a variety of two and three bedroom lodges and caravans – the action packed weekend costs just £20 to enter a team, including free ferry travel, free entertainment, live music, discos and ceilidhs. World Cup fans can also watch the matches on a huge television screen.

The Swamp Soccer rules are similar to regular football with a few exceptions - there is no offside rule, each team consists of six players - one goalie and five field players, unlimited substitutions can be made, the game lasts 24 minutes, players in the same team must wear the same colours but fancy dress is also encouraged and, as the name suggests, players should expect to get more than a little dirty.

Swamp Soccer is open to everyone over the age of 17 years and teams can be all male, all female or mixed. Whether you want to enter as a group of friends, get a team of work colleagues together or just come and watch the fun, this is guaranteed to be a great weekend in a beautiful west coast of Scotland location and much more fun than celebrating the World Cup down the pub.

To enter a team and for further information visit www.swampsoccer.co.uk or call 01369 830000.

Seventh Annual Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise

Five Aberdeen Companies Win Coveted Enterprise Awards

Five Aberdeen based companies are today celebrating their success at the seventh annual Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise that was held on Thursday 8 June 2006).

Capture Imaging of Aberdeen won the New Business Award. A document management copy and scan solutions service company, Capture Imaging, was launched in October 2005 by Colin Yule and Robbie Cheyne. The business aims to provide a local, personal service in the field of document management and in the first quarter of trading secured contracts worth more than £400,000.

The Young Business Award was presented to TSMarine (Contracting) Ltd, a specialist marine and subsea operations support services provider exclusively supporting subsea operations to the offshore oil and gas industry. The company primarily focuses on the decommissioning of redundant subsea production facilities but also supports a diverse cross section of offshore projects when required.

The oil and gas industry is represented for a second time by the winner of the Business Growth Award, C&M Group Ltd. In order to provide a wider range of engineering services to their clients, C&M Group Ltd split their organisation into separate divisions. Two years on, the company has grown beyond recognition with an increase in turnover approaching 500%.

The Sir Ian Wood Award for Innovation was last night picked up by Aberdeen life-science company, NovaBiotics Limited. The design and development of anti-infective technologies is undertaken by NovaBiotics Limited in order to meet an increasing need for safer, more effective antifungal and antibacterial drugs. NovaBiotics Limited concentrates on developing truly original therapies and has an innovative approach to delivering the technology to market which has allowed them to discover more effective antibacterial compounds.

Winner of the New Business Award at the Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise in 2003, Richard McLaughlin of attic was last night awarded the Ian Davidson award for Entrepreneurship. Richard took over the family wholesale business nine years ago and now owns two successful shops - one in Aberdeen and one in Inverurie. Richard has also set up a website, one of the first branded clothing websites through which the company serves customers across the world.

Winners of the six awards were announced in front of an audience of 400 north east business people. Rachel Elnaugh, one of Britain’s highest profile female entrepreneurs was the key note speaker at the event.

The Awards commend business achievement in companies of all sizes and enterprising individuals, are organised by Enterprise North East Trust (Enterprise) and sponsored by The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Business Gateway (in association with Scottish Enterprise Grampian).

Chris Travis, chief executive of Enterprise says, “There was a record number of entries for the Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise this year, entry numbers were up by 27% on last year. The awards act as a showcase for businesses from across the north east and highlight the wide variety of industry sectors which are represented in the area. Judging the entries was not an easy task as all of the entries were of a consistently high standard with many demonstrating dynamism, ingenuity, business flair and other entrepreneurial skills.”

Stuart Heslop, director of commercial banking in Aberdeen for RBS, delivered the second key note address to those at the awards ceremony. He comments, “RBS has sponsored this prestigious event for five years now and we are proud to be associated with what has come to be recognised as a key event on the north east business calendar. The finalists and ultimate winners last night reflected the enterprising nature of the north east and this bodes well for the economic prospects of the region.”

All finalists received a certificate and category winners picked up a coveted enterprise award and a cheque for up to £5,000.

Forecourt Art Group Open Air Exhibition

The annual Forecourt Art Group Open Air Exhibition returns to Aberdeen again from Monday 19 June until Saturday 1 July. It will be held each day from 10am to 5pm at The St Nicholas House Underpass in Broad Street, Aberdeen.

The Forecourt Art Group Open Air Exhibition is the North East os Scotland’s longest established open air art exhibition. It was previously held in the forecourt of Langstane Kirk and returns with a new venue under St Nicholas House between Broad Street and the rear entrance to Marks and Spencer.

There will be more than 100 original works of art in oil, pastel, watercolour and mixed media on display each day. Prices of the artwork are from £30 to £150.

Grampian Transport Museum Time Travel Exhibition

Time Travelling Experience in Store for Aberdeen Shoppers

Shoppers in the Bon Accord St. Nicholas shopping centre will be treated to a taste of both the past and future next week, as the
Grampian Transport Museum Time Travel Exhibition makes a road show appearance in the lower mall of the central atrium for one week from Monday 12 June.

The mini exhibition will feature a Ford Thames light commercial van dating from 1950, as well as a Manx Norton racing motorcycle from 1952, thought to be the most valuable of its kind, and certainly the ultimate treat for the motorcycling connoisseur. A CD station aimed at youngsters will also form part of the exhibition, and allow budding time travellers to virtually navigate the Alford based transport museum, through the use of 360 degree panoramic photography.

Mike Ward, curator at the Grampian Transport Museum, explains: “This is an opportunity for the people of Aberdeen to get a taster of the time travel exhibition that is currently on display at our museum in Alford. The vehicles from the 1950s are in great condition, and we will be encouraging the public to interact with the exhibits as well as ask questions of our team, who are experts on time travel and have a good knowledge of local travel and transport history as well.”

Centre Manager Frank Sutherland says: “With the current popularity of shows such as Dr Who, the Grampian Transport Museum’s time travel exhibition is a must-see for fans, as well as a source of interesting facts and figures on the local history of travel and transport. I am very pleased to be hosting the exhibition in the Bon Accord St. Nicholas shopping centre, and helping to provide an unusual way for our shoppers to ‘pass the time’ between shops.”

Ascot Hat Competition

Shopping Centre Says ‘Last Call’ for Hat Design Competition Entries

Local students and school children have less than a week remaining to get their designs in for the Bon Accord St. Nicholas Shopping Centre’s ‘Hat’s Off for Ascot’ competition, if they are to be in with a chance of winning one of the fantastic prizes courtesy of Marks & Spencer and John Lewis, as the closing date is this Friday 9 June.

The hat design competition, which is being organised and judged by shopping centre staff and is open to all local children from nursery to secondary age, as well as to college and university students in the area.

Entrants are asked to think of a hat they would like to wear to a day at the races, and put down their design ideas on paper, in the form of a sketch, painting or graphic design, and send their entries, complete with name, age and daytime contact details to Hat Design Competition, Tricker PR, 9 Victoria St, Aberdeen AB10 1XB, by 5pm on Friday 9June 2006. There will be separate categories for the various age groups and the winners in each category will receive a prize donated by Marks & Spencer and John Lewis.

Grade Athon Aberdeen

Photoshoot Opportunity with Miss Commonwealth Scotland on Friday 2nd June @ 10.15am at the North East of Scotland Music School, 21 Huntly Street, Aberdeen

Grade-♪-Athon Comes to Aberdeen

Gifted musicians from the north east of Scotland will hopefully be making sweet music throughout the winter, to raise funds for two Scottish organisations. CHILDREN 1ST and the North East of Scotland Music School Ltd (NESMS) will benefit from music scholars battling their wits against instruments unknown to them.

The Grade-♪-Athon Aberdeen will see individuals who are at least Grade 7 in any instrument undertake a Grade 1 exam in an instrument in which they have little or no experience. Participants will have one group lesson in the new instrument (proposed date – Saturday 9th September) and then be given 8 weeks to practice before culminating in a one day Grade 1 examination (proposed date – Sunday 19th November).

Miss Commonwealth Scotland, Amanda-Jane Taylor
will be launching the event on Friday 2nd June at the North East of Scotland Music School. Amanda-Jane Taylor said “I’m delighted to have been asked to launch this musical challenge. Learning a new instrument is a challenge in itself but completing a Grade 1 in only 10 weeks is inspirational! I wish all those participating in the Grade-♪-Athon Aberdeen the very best of luck and I hope that everybody succeeds in passing their Grade 1 exam.”

Nicola Bradford, Board Member of CHILDREN 1ST and Council of Management at the NESMS, added “as a music teacher I understand fully the challenge of taking up a new instrument but we are sure that many gifted musicians throughout the north east will rise to it. I’m delighted that sponsorship raised through this event will raise funds for two such worthwhile causes and I look forward to hearing music resonating throughout Aberdeen.”

Anybody interested in taking part should contact the North East of Scotland Music School on 01224 649685.

CHILDREN 1ST is one of Scotland’s leading child welfare charities, helping children and families in the North and across Scotland while its sister organisation, the NSPCC, supports children in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Every one of us can play a part in keeping children safe. Find out what YOUR part could be. View their TV and cinema advert and meet Mairi, the mascot of the CHILDREN 1ST Public Awareness Campaign at
www.children1st.org.uk

Banffshire Coast Photography Prizes Have Been Snapped Up

Banffshire Coast Photography Competition Winners

The Banffshire Coast Photography Competition has recently been snapped up by keen amateur photographers from throughout Scotland, capturing the natural beauty of the area on film. The competition was expertly judged by the Scottish Professional Photographic Association and the prize giving will take place at 3pm on Thursday 8 June at Duff House in Banffshire.

The competition was judged in two categories, open to all and a specific category for under 16’s. Top snapper Graeme McHardy of Keith managed to capture the essence of the area and has won the £400 first prize for the open to all category. Runner up Ian Flory of Edinburgh will receive the second prize of £200, and Morton Gillespie of Nairn receives £150 for third.

The under 16’s prize was snapped up by Erin Wesmorland of Stirling who will become the proud owner of a state of the art Fuji camera to the value of £250.

Town co-ordinator for Banff and Macduff, Michael Roy says, “We were very happy with the response to the competition, receiving entries for as far afield as Malmesbury in Wiltshire, England and from entrants of all ages. The success was not only in the fine photographic art that we have received, but also the number of visitors the competition has brought to the Banffshire area.”

“Entries came in many different forms and everyone who entered the competition managed to capture some of the ‘essence of the Banffshire Coast’. The winners should be very proud of their achievements, as there was stiff competition, but they truly managed to capture the rugged beauty of the area.”

The Banffshire coast has a lot to offer and more details on the area can be found at www.banffshirecoast.com or by calling 08708030251.