Born Samuel Murphy Bodie in Aberdeen on 11th June 1869.  Bodie an electrician living in Macduff with his wife Jeannie Henry (Princess Rubie) developed an illusionist act using electricity which he performed in many halls in the UK.  He was also assisted by his wife’s sisters Mary (Mystic Marie) and Isabella (La Belle Electra).  The mystique surrounding electricity at the time made his illusions all the more believable . His claim to fame was that he could pass 30,000 volts through his body, lighting up the lightbulbs that he held in his hands. He boasted that he was the ‘Master of Electricity’ and, self-effacingly, the ‘Most Remarkable Man On Earth’.  He also claimed to be the ‘Bloodless Surgeon’ because he would call ill people on to the stage, zap them with a few thousand volts from an electric chair returning them to their seats apparently cured.  He used the title MD after his name, but this became so unpopular that in 1909 medical students from Glasgow University stopped one of his shows by rioting and pelting him with missiles.  When questioned about his use of MD, he maintained that it stood for Merry Devil.     Being the local celebrity of his time Bodie officially opened Tarlair golf club 4th August 1926 and is seen here taking the first swing.  Bodie also built the Manor House in Skene Street, Macduff, and made major improvements to the baths on the High Shore (Now a complete ruin).  In 1919 he erected a fountain in memory of his daughter Jeannie who died young.  This fountain first stood at the harbour at the bottom of Duff Street, however it was later moved a little eastward, and again to a new site in Duff Street.  Plans are afoot for it to be moved once again!  Bodie died in a Blackpool theatre in 1939.  (S. Bruce).

George Duff was born in Banff 1st February 1764 son of Banff Sheriff Clerk James Duff.  He went to sea at the age of thirteen alongside his uncle Captain (Later Admiral) Robert Duff.  With his family connections in the navy he rose quickly through the ranks and was commissioned lieutenant at sixteen.   By 1790 he had served in thirteen battles on both sides of the Atlantic and he was promoted to Commander.  In 1793 he was promoted to Captain and in the next ten years he went on to captain the following ships: ‘HMS Duke’, ‘HMS Vengeance’ and ‘HMS Glenmore’.  In 1804 he became Captain of ‘HMS Mars’ which was a 74 gun ship built in 1794.  He captained ‘HMS Mars’ at the ‘Battle of Trafalgar’; she was the second ship to come under the fire of Napoleon’s  ‘Franco-Spanish’ fleet.  Unfortunately for George he had his head blown off by a cannon-ball in the opening shots of the battle.  His thirteen year old son Norwich Duff was serving alongside him at the battle as a midshipsman.  A memorial to George Duff was erected in the grounds of Banff Castle in 2005 on the bi-centenary of his death.  (S. Bruce).