It’s all very exciting. After over three years of detailed research, and much hard work by many volunteers, plus generous support from a number of funders, the Exhibition Spaces at St James have started to arrive. Yesterday, Monday 18th February 2019, a furniture van drew up full of the woodwork need to provide the display surfaces, and the panels, lighting and other equipment running all across the back of the Nave.
Once the joiner has completed the main stage of his work this week, we will start to put out all the historical artefacts that have been discovered and prepared. There will be seven Bibles and Prayer Books, the earliest dating from 1716, and one dated 1737 which was owned by a cousin of the bard, Robert Burns. They will be accompanied by explanations of their historical relevance, and over the next few months, much greater detail will be added on to the church’s website http://www.stjames-stonehaven.org.uk
You will also be able to see most of the beautiful silverware and pewterware, some dating from the 1600s, which have been used in the chapel and church, and which lain unseen in our cupboards for decades.
Our design contractor has done wonders with the texts, pictures and graphics to explain the long and fascinating history of the Episcopal Church in Stonehaven starting from 1688 and running through to the present day. There will also be an interactive Virtual Reality app for your smartphone, so that you can stroll round the church and hear details of some of the key features of the church in front of you.
The Exhibition Space devoted to the organ will have material from the John Wardle archive. John built the St James’ organ (which is still in use) and was Organist and Choirmaster for 58 years from 1882 to 1941. We are fortunate in receiving from John’s great-grandson a mantlepiece clock and vases given to John for 25 years’ service in 1907.
Further displays will explain how a church organ works, and why it is such an important musical instrument. John built over 150 church organs during his time in the North East and as the agent for Edward Wadsworth of Oldham, and details of all these installations (and others that John tuned and maintained) will be shown.
St James Church will remain open from morning to evening and entrance is free. All visitors will be most welcome.
The Stonehaven Town Centre Improvement Group are encouraging residents and businesses who have not signed up to the seagull egg and nest removal programme to return their forms by 28 February.
The response has been very low this year with only 39 property owners signing up to the scheme so far. The total cost of operating the scheme is £6450 with a contribution of £1500 from Aberdeenshire Council.
Therefore unless there is a significant increase in the number of people signing up to the initiative the work will not take place. To employ the services of a contractor to carry out the work on one property would cost in the region of £300 to cover three visits – so it is felt £50 is a reasonable sum to request.
Seagulls start to lay their eggs in late May and can continue into early July therefore three visits are undertaken to ensure as many eggs as possible are removed during the mating season.
Last year 328 eggs were removed from rooftops. If we are to see a significant reduction in the nuisance caused by seagulls in our town centre we need to keep up the work.
The featured artwork can be seen on the gable of Country Ways on Holburn St, Aberdeen
COMPANIES spend fortunes on media promotions – but one Stonehaven woman has achieved national coverage of her anti-litter campaign thanks to a simple idea, a great title and very appealing models.
Marion Montgomery founded Paws On Plastic to encouragae dog owners to pick up two pieces of plastic litter on their daily walks.
Launched just last November, her appeal to the nation’s pet owners has quickly attracted interest around the UK and overseas. The group already has over 2,500 members on Facebook and Twitter, 600 of whom live in the North East, including 200 in Stonehaven.
The Press and Journal, Evening Express and Scotsman newspaper along with many local papers such as The Mearns Leader have taken an interest and the campaign has been featured in several magazines, newspapers, radio and TV across the UK and beyond, including BBC Radio Cornwall, ‘Green Matters’, ‘Life & Soul Magazine’ and ‘Dogs Monthly’.
Paws for Plastic is also supported by Keep Scotland Beautiful, Keep Britain Tidy, Surfers Against Sewage, the Forestry Commission Scotland, the National Trust for Scotland and several local councils and national park authorities.
Marion told The Bellman, ”I am sure any campaign encouraging dog walkers to help keep our towns and countryside litter free is to be encouraged in these days when the dangers of plastic pollution are so evident.
”It would no doubt have the added benefit of reducing this burden for cash strapped local councils like ours and the many organisations responsible for looking after fragile areas of the country.”
STONEHAVEN Mountaineering and Hillwalking Club’s February walk was to be their annual ascent of Lochnagar to commemorate the Club’s first ever outing in February 1978, which was to this venue.
This annual event, subject to the vagaries of winter conditions, has met with varying degrees of success over the years. The forecast for the day was for 50+ mph winds. So as members gathered at Glen Muick car park those older members who had “been there got the T shirt” were casting doubt on the wisdom of proceeding with the original plan.
By the time the last car arrived it had been agreed to look for a lower alternative. The Coyles of Muick (601m) was eventually agreed as suitable but which unfortunately involved a drive back down the glen.
The proposed route commences a few kilometres west of Ballater on the South Deeside road close to Loch Ullachie. A landrover track climbs steadily south west through trees before breaking out onto the open moorland where it reduces to a well-used path, testimony to the popularity of this fine little hill, well seen from the A93 on the approach to Ballater from the east. The path more or less hugs the west edge of Alltcailleach Forest before the final climb to the summit and crosses Carn a’ Bhealaidh (456m) on the way.
A large herd of red deer was observed on the slopes of Glen Girnock as a short detour was taken on the way up to take in Meall Dubh (563m) which sports a well-constructed howff (shelter) on its south east flank. By now the strength of the southerly wind was beginning to manifest itself and many of the group took opportunity of the shelter provided by the howff and a nearby crag to take a comfort break while a few others headed down to the tree line to shelter there.
Interestingly a mountain biker cruised past and headed up to the summit and back down without dismounting. Finally, club members made the final quite steep ascent to the double summit of The Coyles of Muick, the higher of which supports a couple of large cairns. The wind by now was very strong making remaining erect quite difficult and reinforcing the decision to give Lochnagar a miss which, in any case, had been in clag all day.
After a short break a return by the way of ascent was made as far as the col between The Coyles and Meall Dubh before disappearing into the Forest where a modern “bothy” is located, presumably there for shooting parties, the guests of Balmoral Estate. Unfortunately, it was locked, but in a sheltered enough spot to take sustenance.
Resting before the final push!
Refreshed the group set off through the open woodland to ascend Craig of Loinmuie (540m) where once again the strength of the wind was felt. An attractive descent through open woodland followed to reach a landrover track contouring round a corrie before slowly descending through the trees to the start of the day which was rounded off with a high tea in the Station Hotel.
Mackie Academy is hosting a digital collection day on Saturday as part of a nationwide campaign, Lest We Forget, to preserve our memories of the First World War.
Do you have any items related to the 1914-1918 conflict? Are you willing to share these online as part of a national project to capture the objects and stories from the Great War?
Stonehaven residents are invited to bring diaries, letters, photographs, memoirs, object or stories about your family’s experience in the war, so they can be recorded and added to a freely-available online collection .
Senior pupils studying for Advanced Highers in History will be taking part on the day, along with members of the Mearns Camera Club, who will be assisting with photography.
The event has been organised on behalf of Lest We Forget by Peter Bellarby. Colin Johnston, an expert on WW1, will be in attendance to offer advice.
The event takes place at Mackie on Saturday February 23 from 10am to noon.
The Horizon group were doubly busy today – with work parties in both the Burns Memorial Garden, and down at the promenade.
Have you ever been in the Burns Garden? It’s a lovely wee spot though much under-used. It was once the site of a brewery that supplied the town’s pubs and inns of which there were many. Hidden below ground remain vaulted cellars and dungeons. There is one visible remnant of the 18th Century enterprise. – the base of its chimney in the back right corner of the garden. Why not pop in and have a look?
If anyone has any photographs of the brewery, please email them to news@thebellman.co.uk
Meanwhile, it only took an hour or so to make a big difference to how things looked down at the promenade once Horizon group began weeding and sweeping round the seat bays.
Here’s how one of the seating areas looked before they started. Good job satisfaction all round.
First published in Signal, November -December 1964
We are very grateful to Deputy Station Officer at Stonehaven Coastguard, Graham Mitchell, for the following article about Stonehaven Radio “GND” which closed on 30th June 2000.
In its day, it was famous around the world.
At the end of service, the station also controlled the following Coastal Stations: Wick Radio, Lands End Radio, Portpatrick Radio & Humber Radio.
Stonehaven Coastguard have a garage at Cowie where they keep their 4×4 vehicle and all rescue equipment. There are 10 in the team, all volunteers. Stonehaven Radio was run by BT, separate from the Coastguard.
On 17th May, 1942, to improve the distress coverage of the North Sea, a wartime station was opened about two miles south of Stonehaven, Kincardineshire. Situated 300 feet above sea level and immediately above the ruins of Dunnotar Castle, this station of temporary wooden huts, all carefully lashed down to withstand the N.E. gales of the Scottish winters, played its part throughout the war and continued to do so in the post war years.
The continual growth of commercial traffic then made it apparent that a larger, modern station was required and the present building was completed and opened in January, 1958. It is a long, low, flat-roofed building with the Operating Room at the southern end constructed almost entirely of glass. With its squat chimney at the northern end and its two 120 feet lattice steel masts, it bears a close resemblance to a vessel itself and is a conspicuous landmark from the sea. Equipped with three operating consoles, transmitters and associated radiotelephone, and landline equipments, the station provides services in the 2 Mc/s radio-telephony band and in the 2 Mc/s and medium frequency radiotelegraphy bands.
Eleven ex-marine radio officers, working on irregular shifts (a typical week consists of two day duties, two evening and two night duties), maintain a continuous watch on the 500 kc/s and 2182 kc/s distress frequencies. Three men are on duty during office hours, when a watch is also maintained on the ship/shore radiotelephony calling frequency of 2381 kc/s.
Naturally, distress working takes precedence over all other activities and on receipt of a distress or urgency call in our area, the details are immediately re-broadcast on full power on both W/T and R/T. At the same time the Sea Rescue authorities, which comprise Coastguard Aberdeen, Admiral Rosyth and if necessary, the Air Rescue Co-ordination Centre at Dunfermline are advised. Additionally, we inform Lloyds London and the local agent in Aberdeen. From then onwards, we act as the link between the casualty and the rescue authorities, relaying all reports on the development of the casualty and the progress of rescue operation. An international rescue co-ordination organisation exists and, if necessary, assistance from European counties bordering the North Sea can be quickly obtained by telex to supplement the help which our own rescue authorities are able to summon. watch is also kept on casualty cases handled by Farsund Radio, Kristiansand Syd and Thyboron Radio and our own rescue authorities are kept fully advised of progress so that should assistance from this county appear necessary, it can be speedily supplied. During the past 12 months, Stonehaven Radio has participated in27 distress or urgency cases.
The treatment of accidents and illness at sea are not nowadays solely dependent upon the medical skill and knowledge of the Mater or steward of the vessel. Today, we can connect the ship direct by telephone to the doctor on duty at Aberdeen’s large casualty hospital for advice and if necessary, arrangements can be made for the doctor to be taken out by lifeboat or helicopter.
Fortunately, however, the daily routine does not consist of a succession of casualties or emergencies. Shipping is kept advised by routine transmissions on W/T and R/T of the weather forecasts for the next 12 hours for Forth, Cromarty and Forties, of Gale Warnings, interrupts to Decca transmission and dangers to navigation in these sea areas. Information regarding floating obstructions, buoys out of position, lights extinguished, radio beacons not working, etc. should all be reported in order that remedial action can be taken and other shipping advised.
The major part of the operators’ duties is concerned with the handling of commercial traffic. Approximately 1,300 vessels communicate with Stonehaven each month; tankers from and to Grangemouth, cargo vessels, coasters and colliers for Aberdeen, Dundee and Leith, deep sea trawlers for White Sea, Greenland, etc., and today, and increasing number of the local inshore fishing vessels. Messages received on either W/T or R/T can if the addressee is a telex subscriber, be delivered direct within minutes of receipt at the station. For non-telex addresses, we have to utilise the inland telegraph network and forward the messages for disposal by telephone or messenger which naturally takes longer. Similarly, the delay on messages to ships is dependent upon whether the sender uses telex or the inland system.
In the early days after the war, the number of radio telegrams handled far exceeded the number of radiotelephone calls. It was not uncommon for homeward bound Hull and Grimsby trawlers to send batches of 20 or more telegrams advising friends and relatives of their ETA. Nowadays, like everyone ashore, the trawler men prefer to telephone. Foreign going vessels too, are turning increasingly towards the radiotelephone as being a so much more convenient, speedy and satisfactory method of conducting their business with owners and agents. In the last ten years, the number of radiotelephone calls handled has more than doubled and now number approximately 12,000 a year. During office hours, one man is almost continuously engaged at this radiotelephone position and with our direct connections to the Aberdeen Trunk Exchange, the ship is connected to the Shore subscriber with the minimum of delay. Calls vary from the purely business call of the Master to those covering every kind of social activity and greetings from all members of the crew. Nor are they confined to subscribers in the United Kingdom alone, extension can now be given to most of the European countries and several Extra-European ones – services which are gradually becoming more popular.
Until a few years ago, the vast fleet of inshore fishing vessels which operate off the Scottish coasts made little use of their radio-telephone equipment for business purposes, but more and more, realising the great advantage it gave them to know the state often market at each port and to have shore staff ready for their landings, are now regular communicators. This increasing interest is encouraged by the staff at Stonehaven by periodic visits to the main fishing ports to discuss the difficulties encountered by the Skippers and to help them improve their radio knowledge. Serious interference to our link call service has so often in the past been caused by the mis-use of the ship/shore frequencies for internship working by a minority of these men.
From Monday the 25th of February to Sunday 10th of March 2019 Fairtrade Fortnight is taking place. Fairtrade Fortnight is an annual promotional campaign which happens once every year, organised and funded by the Fairtrade Foundation to increase awareness of Fairtrade products. It makes use of volunteers who support the goals of Fairtrade but who may also be committed to the more general concepts of fair trade, ethical trading or concerned by development issues.
Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. By requiring companies to pay sustainable prices (which must never fall lower than the market price), Fairtrade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers.
Many readers might not know that Stonehaven as a town is known as Fairtrade town and first gained this status in 2014. The town got this award in recognition of the ongoing commitment to promote Fairtrade principles and the achievement of the five qualifying goals which include wide availability of Fairtrade products in local shops and food outlets, and high levels of support from local people, businesses, Aberdeenshire Council, faith groups and schools. Stonehaven in 2017 recently got the Fairtrade town status renewed for another two years and has a Fairtrade steering group.
Please any reader go into your local shop or supermarket between 25th of February to 10th of March 2019 and buy Fairtrade. Tea,Coffee,Bananas or Flowers plus other products are available.
To end Fairtrade Fortnight is also the most important time of the year for everyone to celebrate Fairtrade achievements and the Fairtrade foundation commitment to making trade fair. It’s when schools, town groups and places of worship come together to make our voices stronger against unfair trade.
This morning students from Robert Gordon’s University were in town filming a promotional video for ‘The Croft House’. Choosing a sunny but cold day, on the Shorehead slipway, the young movie makers were filming for a Peterhead online e-commerce shop that specialises in the manufacture of its own brand of knitwear.
IT looks as though the Council may have done a u-turn on proposals for a combined depot at East Newtonleys.
Back in 2015, there was local outcry when Aberdeenshire Council drew up proposals for a new base at East Newtonleys, including a salt barn and a waste transfer station.
Now, consultation is underway for Aberdeenshire Council’s latest Local Development Plan, LDP, that identifies land in our towns and villages to be allocated for housing or business development.
And at this week’s meeting of Stonehaven and District Community Council, Paul Lindop ran through the string of bids for development around Stonehaven.
He said, “None of the bids are surprises. They have all been tried before.”
And the eagle-eyed Mr Lindop added, “But the site where the combined depot was going to go, looks to be dropped, which will be a considerable relief.”
So, if the council have shelved their plans for a depot at East Newtonleys, where now for the facility?
A spokesman for Aberdeenshire Council said, “The depot programme is under review, as such all projects within the agreed depot strategy are subject to ongoing appraisal in respect of site availability and Service requirements.
“Once completed, the review will be presented in a report currently being prepared for elected members.”
He added, “The Main Issues Report for the emerging Local Development Plan (LDP) is a consultation document and outlines what it is felt needs to change following on from the current LDP 2017 – it is designed to create debate and comment.
“Anyone can take part online, or view related documents at a local library until Monday, April 8.”
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
