The Foggie Gossip

March 2007 Edition    Chicks

HUGH JOHNSTONE HAS THE AUDIENCE REELING

Macduff Strathspey and Reel Society recently staged their 30th annual Concert in Banff Academy Hall before a capacity audience of 400.  Guests were from neighbouring orchestras plus compere Robert Lovie, Fyvie Castle, conductor Colin Dempster, Garioch Fiddlers, singer Hugh Johnstone from Bridge of Marnoch and violinist Bill Brian from Elgin.

Hugh Johnstone in Song
Picture courtesy of Andy Taylor, Banff

Seen above with a section of the orchestra is Hugh who sang a number of solos accompanied by Steven Pratt on the piano.

16-year-old Hugh Johnstone  from Bridge of Marnoch, attends The Gordon Schools, Huntly, where he studies music, drama and art.  As a pupil of singing teacher Ann Munro, Whitehills, he passed his Grade 5 National Singing Exam and is now studying for grades 7 and 8.  Hugh is a member of the National Youth choir of Scotland training choir and with other chosen members of such, he sang at a dinner hosted by First Minister Jack McConnell, in Edinburgh.  He hopes to follow a singing career and has appeared locally with Inspire Choir at Fyvie Castle and Duff House Gallery.

NEW ARRIVALS

Animations can be stopped on most browsers by pressing the escape key.  Refresh will restart.
 

11th January 2007

Erin Helen MacFarlane was born at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital weighing 6lbs 3 3/4 oz.  Erin is the first child to Scott MacFarlane from Aberchirder and his wife Gillian (nee Allison) from Keith.  Living at New Aberdour, Scott works offshore for MI-SWACO as a Solids Control Engineer and Gillian is a Primary Teacher at St Andrews School in Fraserburgh.
 

Erin
 

Evan with Parents and Sister
 

27th February 2007

Evan Stephen Brown was born at Dr Gray's Hospital, Elgin weighing 8.13 lbs.  Baby Evan  is pictured here with parents Derek Brown and Stella Michie and big sister, Katie.

The family live in Harris Way, Aberchirder and Derek is an engineer with Black Gold Oil Tools in Huntly.
 

12 March 2007

New born baby girl Josie Ball is pictured here at only 14 hours old with parents Kate (nee Peden) and Jamie.  Born at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness at 1.30am on 12th March, Josie weighed in at 8 1/2lbs.

Kate, formerly of Causewayend Crescent, Aberchirder, is a manager at the Crannog Restaurant in Fort William and Jamie owns a signwriting and design business at Lochyside, Fort William.  The couple married in 2004.

Josie and Parents

LOCAL ARTIST TO EXHIBIT AT SCOTTISH SHOW

Donna Wilson from Turtory Farm, Bridge of Marnoch and now living in London, is working to complete her latest challenge in time for the start of the Scottish Show at Glasgow's Lighthouse Gallery in May.

Donna Wilson

Donna wanted to design something that sums up Scotland for her.  The weather was the first thing that sprung to mind. Coming from a farming background in the North East, she was brought up with the weather being a big part of conversation.  Seeing the seasons change in the countryside and sometimes experiencing all the seasons in one day, she decided to knit the weather.

The design will take the form of an installation.  Installation art uses sculptural materials or any other other media to modify the way we experience a particular space and can incorporate almost anything to create a conceptual experience in a particular environment.

Donna's installation will look like a strange glimpse into a knitted world where the sky is awash with soft lambswool clouds of various shapes, colours and sizes. Woollen rain will sprinkle from the clouds forming patches to weave in and out of and distorted cats and dogs will fall from the sky.

Our exclusive preview photograph left, shows Donna with some of her initial creations for the installation.  She is also holding one of her now famous knitted creatures which sell worldwide.

The Scottish Show runs from 17th May until 12th August 2007.

After graduating from Gray's School of Art in 1999, Donna began to specialise in knitting and following her Master's degree at the London Royal College of Art, started making her unusual range of woollen creatures.  To find out more about Donna and her work, visit her personal website here.

RED NOSE DAY

Staff of Aberchirder Pharmacy went into the red on Friday 16th March to raise money for Children in Need. 

Staff of the Pharmacy / Post Office

Pictured from left:  John Mitchell, Pharmacist & Shop Manager;  Alison Flett, Dispensing Assistant;  Arlene Milne, Counter Assistant;  Fiona Addison, Counter Assistant;  Jillian Shearer, Post Office;  Maureen Calder, Counter Assistant.

Staff organised a sales table, donation box and small competitions.  Through the generosity of customers  they raised £191.14 for Comic Relief.

The winner of 'Guess the Birthday' was Mary Pirie and Celia Cole won the 'Guess the Number of Sweets in the Jar'.
 

Remember it's not too late to donate.
Click Here to visit Comic Relief

Post Office
Jillian Shearer serves Edith Durno at the Post Office
 

Sandra McCulloch
Sandra McCulloch

New shop Manager John Mitchell (top) replaces pharmacist Sandra McCulloch who sends this message and best wishes to all customers and friends:

"I'm genuinely sorry that my sojourn in Foggie was so short. It was action packed and, the shop refit aside, there never seemed to be a dull moment!
It has been my privilege to be at your service as your pharmacist and I have very much enjoyed getting to know folk and working with them.

I am working part-time now as I am hoping to follow up on a further education project which I had started before the Foggie Pharmacy changed hands.  However I may be back from time to time on a locum basis when the new and younger models need a day off! - I'm looking forward to that".

                             

Beavering about in the dark.
Whilst preparations for a concert were taking place in the Church hall, our local Beaver Scouts were taken on a ramble around Cleanhill at dusk complete with red noses, torches and glow sticks. 

Red Nosed Beavers

Beavering in the Dark

Accompanied by their leader Joyce Duncan together with Helen McNamee, Kerry Predell, Joyce Porter and Karen King, the excitement rose as darkness fell and they had great fun with their torches and glow sticks.

FOGGIE DARTERS HIT TOPS FOR 5th SUCCESSIVE YEAR

Dart

Aberchirder Bowling Club's darts team have won the
Turriff and District Darts League for the 5th year in a row.

Right:
Champion team members from L-R:
Graeme Cairns, Adam Michie, Tommy Willox, Mike McLellan and Frankie Stevenson.

 

Darts Team
 

Mike & Frankie
Mike McLellan and Frankie Stevenson were winners of the League Doubles.
 
Champion of Champions
Frankie Stevenson once again takes the cups for the Tennents Singles, Foggie Matchplay and Champion of Champions.

COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Flowers for 2007

Sandra Spackman and John Fittall have carried out a review of existing flower tubs and agreed changes in where some of them should be sited. In addition, six new larger tubs, purchased at £15 each from Fiddichside Flower Tubs, will be placed at strategic points to enhance the village’s floral display.

Hanging baskets this year will be limited to the Square, and supplied by Derek Innes of Newmill.  The possibility of purchasing baskets needing less watering is being discussed.

We need volunteers for filling and positioning the new tubs, as well as planting out the flowers. The more people who help, the less work each has to do. Please contact Sandra on 780256.

Aberdeenshire Council Elections

The voting system for the local elections on 3 May means Foggie will have three councillors in future. It is not clear how the winning candidates would plan to serve us, but we think they should be asked.

It is hoped to invite all candidates to a meeting open to the public, so that you can express any concerns and ask them for their opinions and plans.



Make sure you cast your votes on 3 May – the local polling station will be in the Community Pavilion.

   
COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

New Committee

There was a good turnout at the Association’s AGM on 22nd March, and a larger committee will be working for the community than has been the case recently.

The Members are:
Chairman
– Bob Peden
Vice-Chairman – Davie Chalmers
Secretary – Linda Farquhar
Treasurer – Brian King

Committee:
Jonny Barton
Les Chalmers
Ian Esslemont
Stephen Forrest
Donald Graham
Adrian Inglis
Bill Legge
Donald McKay
Helen McNamee
Jayne Michie
Debbie Ray
Jan  Skyner
Linda Wann

More volunteers are still needed, not necessarily to attend meetings but to help with activities.

Contact: Linda Farquhar on 780512

Festive Lights

Plans are being made to buy more festive lights for this year’s display. Some will replace existing ones which have reached the end of their useful lives.

Others will be used to complete the run of lights at the east end of Main Street, as well as at the east and west ends of South Street, to brighten these entrances to the town.

Impression of Additional Lights

Festive lights don’t come cheap!

Please make your donations in the boxes and bottles in the Co-op, Commercial Hotel and Bowling Club.

ADVERTISEMENTS

FOGGIE SHOPS PARTICIPATE IN 'HEALTHY START' SCHEME

Healthy Start

Aberchirder Pharmacy and the Co-op now both accept Healthy Start vouchers.

Families on certain benefits can get free milk, fresh fruit, vegetables and vitamins for their infant children

Healthy Start replaces the Welfare Food Scheme

Give your Kids the Best Start
To find out more or to see if you qualify for free weekly vouchers visit the Healthy Start website.

"Good with Food"

The following Special Offers are available at your local Aberchirder Co-op Store
from 26th March -  15th April  (whilst stocks last)


~ Easter Treats ~

Cadbury / Nestle Medium Easter Eggs
Buy 3 for £5
Cadbury / Nestle Small Easter Eggs
Buy 3 for £3
Quavers 12 pack
Buy 1 get 1 Free
Coke / Diet Coke - 2 litre
Buy 2 for £2
Easter Egg        Happy Easter to All Our Valued Customers        Easter Egg

EVENTS

Jumble

Coffee Morning

Saturday 31st March
Church Hall Main Street - St Marnans Football Club

Saturday 14th April
Church Hall Main Street - Foggie O.A.Ps.

Soup & Sweet
Saturday 28th April
Church Hall Main Street - Memorial Hall Committee

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