Homecoming Scotland - Aberchirder or Foggieloan, Aberdeenshire

Homecoming Scotland Advert

I don't know if you can see.
the changes that have come over me
In these last few days I've been afraid
I might drift away

So I've been telling old stories, singing songs
That make me think about where I came from.
That's the reason why I seem, so far away today.

Let me tell you that I love you, and I think about you all the time.
Caledonia, you're calling me, now I'm going home
now I'm going home.

From the song 'Caledonia'

Singer Amy Macdonald introduces the advert with the backdrop of majestic Glen Coe and Buachaille Etive Mor.

Triple Olympic medal winner Chris Hoy is in front of the Glasgow Science Centre (Great Scottish Minds and Innovators will be celebrated throughout 2009).

Actor Brian Cox is in front of the mystical standing stones that make up the Ring of Brodgar on Orkney (representing ancestry and culture).

Golfer Sam Torrance is at the 10th green of the Championship Golf Course at Turnberry, overlooking Ailsa Craig in the outer Firth of Clyde.

Singer Eddi Reader has the backdrop of Robbie Burns' statue in Dumfries - the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland's national Poet, Robert Burns, being the inspiration for this year of Homecoming.

Glasgow Warriors rugby players Tom Evans and Kelly Brown are shown at Strathisla Distillery in Keith, - May is whisky month during the Homecoming celebrations.

Singer Sandi Thom sings in front of the shores of Far Bay in Sutherland in the far north of Scotland.

Actor Sir Sean Connery in front of Edinburgh Castle.

Singer Lulu closes the advert at Castle Stalker in Argyll.

We would like to hear from people with Aberchirder connections who have, for whatever reason, moved away to other parts of Britain or overseas, or alternatively, whose ancestors or present family originate from the Marnoch area.

We would like to know if you intend coming 'home' to the Foggie area during 2009 and at what time of year that will be.

Whether or not you will be visiting the area, we would like you to send us your most striking memory of Aberchirder, any tale or point of interest or even people you recall from the area. Details of where you are now, what you are doing and photographs of yourself and where you are now would also be helpful.

Details received will be added to this page throughout 2009, so we hope all people with roots and connections with Foggieloan will participate.

Whether you are in Adelaide or Aberdeen, we want to hear from you

Contact us at: info@foggieloan.co.uk

My father was Bill Cameron and he owned the butcher's shop in North Street. My mother was the doctor's receptionist, firstly for Dr McBain then Dr Black. I left Foggie to join the RAF in 1969 - my parents and brother Alexander left in 1970 to move to Hereford in England. Sadly my brother was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1973 aged 18. We all missed home very much. I remember sledging down the fields in South Street trying to see who could get under the fence at the bottom (no health and safety in those days). Waiting at the bottom of the lane for Hector to come down on his horse and cart and give us a ride. Building dens up Foggie hill. I can never remember it raining in the summer. Going for long walks down the country lanes especially the drive down to Auchintoul House which I now see has been restored. It was supposed to be haunted by the green lady. Dances at the Memorial Hall and, when I was younger, the Christmas parties there with bugs bunny cartoons. The best fish and chips I have ever tasted. I could go on and on. Whilst in the RAF I met my husband Chris. He joined the Police Force shortly after we married and served for nearly thirty years. I trained as a welfare officer and worked for Local Government dealing with the mentally ill, domestic abuse and child abuse. I left when my husband retired. We had two daughters the eldest followed me and worked with the same vulnerable people and the youngest followed her father and studied law at university. I now have two beautiful grandchildren; a baby boy called Alexander after his uncle, and Libby. We have just returned to the UK after living in France for a few years and have moved back to Scotland where my heart has always been. We now live in Argyll and Bute in a small village. I do plan to come back this year and bring my family. Sadly both my parents died shortly after my brother so I feel strongly that I want my grandchildren to see their roots. I hope there is still someone up there who remembers Bill Cameron. Margaret Emmett, nee Cameron
		I am going home to Aberdeen in May 2009 – my great grandfather (William Smith) was born at Foggieloan – their name was Smith – they had a farm there which I think was run by his brother Geordie. Not sure on facts but would love to hear if anyone can help me as I intend to visit the area. Maureen McKenna, Australia

		My grandfather, William Calder, was born in Foggieloan in 1907. He moved to Elgin and was a piano tuner for a while (due to heart condition) then became a long distance lorry driver. I have been researching my family tree for over 10 years and know little of the area but hope to come and visit and immerse in this part of Scotland that is close to my heart. Fiona Calder, Rutland

My name is Marianne Yvonne Deal Yule. I was married for nine years to Davie Yule, son of James and Agnes Mitchell of Foggie and former caretakers of Kinnairdy Castle. We have three children, Emma Mairi Elsbeth Yule - 16 yrs, Heather Meagan Deal Yule - 13 yrs, and Calum David Mitchell Yule - 12 yrs. Davie and I were married in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A, which is where we both still live. We visited Davie's family in Aberchirder and other parts of Scotland three times as a family. The children love their Aberchirder Aunties Dorothy Brown and Margaret Mitchell, and their cousins Derek and Graham Brown, and Darren Mitchell. Though Davie and I are now divorced, our children are proud of their Scottish heritage and would be thrilled to visit again someday.

Since Davie was raised in Foggie, I have submitted the photographs opposite to show our family. The first shows Emma, Davie, Heather, and Calum. The second photo shows Heather, Emma, Marianne, and Calum. The third photo shows my parents, James Edward Deal and Mary Ann Higbee Deal. They fell in love with Scotland while my father was attached to the RAF. They visited Scotland more than two dozen times, including a visit to Aberchirder to meet Davie's family. My mother, Mary Ann passed away in September of 2008. She always wished to see Scotland one more time.

Marianne Yule, Salt Lake City

Click images for larger view in new window.

I was brought up in Foggie and was part of a big family living in the Old Schoolhouse on South Street. Most of us were fostered there by James and Agnes Mitchell. In the house were Dot Mitchell, Meg Mitchell, Eleanor Mitchell (my foster sisters) and my real sister Rhoda Gault. My brothers were Anthony Mitchell, David Yule and Nicholas Munroe. Most of us are gone now. To my knowledge, Dot and Meg still live in Foggie.

Sadly we have lost contact with each other. I know Mr & Mrs Mitchell (mum and dad) are deceased. I think Eleanor lives in Fort William, Nicholas in England and Rhoda in Huntly. I was told David went to Salt Lake City.

I now live in Ellon and have four children; Paul who is 21, Gammon 19, Sophie 16, and Paige 12.

If any of my family reads this, please get in contact. You can reach me via MSN sandygault@msn.com . I am visiting Foggie on 14 March 2009 for a darts tournament which is to be held at the New Inn. If anyone who knows me reads this, please come and see me. It would be nice to see you all again.

Alexander Gault, Ellon

My mother and father got married at the church in Marnoch. I think it was in 1942. Dad was John Simpson Andrew and mum Christina Fyffe Munroe Gray.

I was born at Roseisle near Hopeman in 1954 and my sister still lives in Rothiemay near Huntly. When I was 10/11 we moved down to Sleaford in Lincolnshire for dad to work at a farm called Roxholm Estates and we have lived here ever since.

I still have connections with Scotland as I married a Scotsman from Lanark and my in-laws live in Dumfries and Galloway. Scotland is still my spiritual home and I hope to visit the area where I was born sometime soon.

Yvonne Hall (nee Andrew), Lioncolnshire

I was born at Mill of Kinnairdy and then moved into Foggie. We left for Canada when I was 8 years old. My Dad was James and Grandpa was James of Myreside. Dad was in the US between 1921 and 1931. He attended Coyne Electrical College in Chicago. On his return to Scotland, he had a garage next to Myreside and an electrical shop in Foggie. He purchased (or rented) the mill rights to Kinnairdy and installed a turbine which provided power to 5 or 6 homes. I think the deal was probably to provide free electricity. I know it extended to his garage and Grandpa's home at Myreside. I believe it was one of the oldest installations in the north of Scotland and remained in continuous use until recently. I visited in 1979 and it was electrically sound then but the woodwork was rotting away.

As a wee loon (boy), I remember that there fruit trees in the yard at the house but we seldom benefitted from the fruit. Apparently Dad "wired the tree" and that put a stop to the disappearing fruit, but apparently Dad was in trouble. During the war, Dad was in the Air Ministry at various airfields. Grandpa would open the dam and put the burn into spate, close the dam quickly, and we would harvest some fine salmon in the sand pools. There were also lots of rabbits and cushie-doos. I don't think we were badly off in the food department. There was no sugar, so I still have a sweet tooth today.

I had a bike and sometimes got permission to visit Jim Williamson at Damfolds, or Aunt Bella at Auldton of Carnousie. The fear of Kelpies kept me on the road. I had about 2 years at school in Foggie and was fully inculcated with William Wallace etc.. My younger sisters missed that. I had great problems learning to speak English when we got to Canada. After speech therapy and phonetics I lost my brogue.

I remember the times I got into trouble.......
On one of dad's visits home, as he was leaving, I sat on the rear bumper of his car. 10 miles or so down the road I fell off. Fortunately he saw me in the rear view mirror. I got my dock sconed (bottom smacked).
In Foggie, I don't remember the address, but our property had a large drop off at the rear. I had a toy electric car at the time. But I also sat on Dad's knees and drove the big car when he was home. I asked permission to put the car into the garage and permission was granted. I proceeded to drive the real car into our garage. I had no knowledge of how to stop a car but fortunately turned off the key. The car stopped a few inches from the wall and the drop off behind the garage. Got my dock sconed again.

I used to play with Christopher Strachan, the Minister's son. We played with matches for the first time and successfully set a haystack on fire. I shouldered the blame and Dad paid for the haystack. I have recently been in contact with Chris by e-mail. One of our neighbours turned out to be his cousin.

Hope to visit again soon.

Robby Copeland, Ottawa, Canada

To find out more about Homecoming Scotland, visit:
http://www.homecomingscotland2009.com

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