Banff Museum today was officially opened as a Community Museum by local MSP Stewart Stevenson.  An agreement was signed with Aberdeenshire Council who manage the museum, Banffshire Maritime and Heritage Association, and Banff Preservation and Heritage Society in April 2010.  The museum which has changed very little for the past 20 years, has now been revitalised with displays form both community associations, and an exhibition area for changing exhibitions which currently hosts a Girl Guides display.  So if you haven't been to Banff Museum or haven't been for a while, get yourself down there.  Visitor numbers are now double what they were at this time last year.

As part of this years COAST Festival of the Visual Arts, we in association with Banff Museum and Banff Preservation and Heritage Society (BP&HS), had a display downstairs in Banff Museum, on both days 10.00am to 4.00pm.  The theme was Peter Anson, and BP&HS had on display five of his water-colour paintings.  We displayed 13 books of which 11 were original copies of his books, 1 was Back to the Sea our publication from 2009, and last was a book about his religious life by Michael Yelton.  Also on display were two of our display panels with historical information about Peter Anson and information regarding our proposed Peter Anson Memorial, which was refused planning permission earlier this week.

Two separate fires were visible at Tarlair, one adjacent to the access road, and one adjacent to the Lido.  Two fire engines were attending to the broom on fire adjacent to the road,  however, the broom on fire adjacent to the path from the Lido up to the 13th hole of the golf course was not accessable to the fire engines.  The fires didn't appear to be a threat to the category A listed Lido.

Seaway Marine of Macduff have completed a catamaran named the 'Bugofisk', this boat is for Norwegian owners and will be fishing in the Artic Circle for king crab and lobster.  King crab was introduced to Russian waters to feed the starving population, howver the crabs which can grow up to 6ft in size have munched their way westward to the Norwegian coast.  The Norwegain Government are now worried that the king crab is wiping out many of their indigenous species, and how far south the crabs have already spread.  Some of the fishing boats in Norwegian ports such as Hammerfest (The most northernly town in the world) make a good livng fishing for king crab, many of the steel creels are big enough for a man to fit inside.

Another new vessel has been added to the Banffshire fishing fleet - BF240 'Fruitful Vine' built by Macduff Shipyards.  It is owned by Nicol Fishing Ltd, and she will fish out of The Broch (Fraserburgh).  The boat is 21metres long and 191 GRT.

1^st March 1910, the original Duff House Golf Club was formally constituted to a plan by James Braid (1870 to 1950).   Braid was five times Open Champion.  

2010 is the centenary of the club, and to celebrate Sandy Chalmers of Banff has written a new book and Sandy the Snowman, came down to play a round, here he is at the 12th.

The new trawler PD17 'Favonius' sailed out of Macduff today.  She was built recently by Macduff Shipyards.  Presumably she's heading for a berth in Peterhead.

Not much of Banff Distillery at Inverboyndie can still be seen today, however up to now the sluice gates (excluding the wooden slats which have rotted away) were structurally intact.   All the recent rain and flooding has however caused part of the structure to collapse.  Photos show it as it is today (26th December 2009) and as it was 11th April 2006.  Banff Distillery closed in 1983.

The Hall Russell Shipbuilders exhibition officially opened at the Aberdeen Maritime Museum today.  Our chairman Stanley Bruce accompanied Adam Leiper author of 'A History of Hall Russell Shipbuilders'.  Stanley and Adam worked together in Hall Russell's in the 1980's.  Our latest title 'Hall Russell Remembered' 2nd edition ISBN 978-1-907234-02-6 was specifically published this week  to coincide with the exhibition and copies of the book can be bought in the Aberdeen Maritime Museum (Only £5.00).  Nearly all of the pictures in our book are different to those in Adam's book, with only about three the same, which couldn't be avoided. 

As part of Stanley Bruce's research into the history of Portsoy, he visited the Milton of Tillynaught on the 8th November 2009.  Stanley took a photograph of the category 'B' listed bridge over the 'Burn of the Boyne', which was built c1800.  The bridge had a huge crack on it, which had developed due to the recent heavy rainfall and flooding.  Stanley e-mailed his photograph to the Banffshire Journal and on 11th November 2009 it appeared on the front page of the newspaper.  A revisit to the bridge on the 14th November found that the bridge had collapsed since his last visit on the 8th November.  Photographs show the bridge with the crack (8th Nov) and the collapsed bridge (14th Nov).

A 28 year old Philipino crew member of the Banff registered BF500 'Osprey III' was lost overboard last night, 5 miles off Macduff.  He is reported as not wearing a lifejacket, and this tragedy has raised the question once again - should all fishermen wear lifejackets?

Constant rain on the 1st November and overnight to the 2nd November has led to extensive flooding at Banff.  Duff House came perilously close to being flooded.  Duff House Royal Golf Club however wasn't so lucky and the greens were almost completely flooded.

Our first ever annual outing was held.  We visited Fochabers Museum and Heritage Centre, and had tea in the Station Hotel Portsoy.  Fochabers Museum is packed with artefacts many of which we were allowed to photograph for use in Rosemary's new book 'A Woman's Place'.  We also discussed another new publication volume 3 of Along the Coast series from Burghead to Portknockie.  This book when publisjed in the Spring of 2010 will be on sale in Fochabers.

The digital files for our 2009 poetry anthology titled 'Coming Hame' was given to the printer.  We expect to receive the proof by 30th September and the book to be printed about a week to ten days after.  The new book will be on sale for £5.00 or £6.00 (still to be finalised) and if you'd like to order a copy contact us at banffshiremaritime@yahoo.co.uk

The digital file for our 2010 calendar was given to the printer, we expect a proof within one week, and printing about a week after.  The calendar will be on sale for £5.00 and if you'd like to order a copy contact us at banffshiremaritime@yahoo.co.uk

Renata Edge who kindly gave us two pictures for our Peter Anson book titled 'Back to the Sea', sent in some close up photo's of Peter's final resting place at Nunraw Abbey, East Lothian.

A vintage rally was held at Duff House Banff hosted by Banff Rotary Club.  Present were four beautifully restored steam driven traction engines and lorries owned by Alfred Cheyne, Montbletton Banff.  These machines have been lovingly restored at great expense.  These machines were a great sight slowly making there way from Duff House back to Montbletton, a couple of miles south of Banff. 

Work started on the demolition of the Mill at Portsoy about a week ago, and it won't be long before it's gone.  But when was it actually built?  In 1862 John Allan was the owner of the Mill, but who built it and when?  If you know the answer or anything else interesting about the mill, please get in touch banffshiremaritime@yahoo.co.uk

A small bottlenose dolphin was seen in Macduff Harbour's East Basin at 5.30pm on Saturday 1st August.  It was swimmimg around taking regular breathes - it seemed as if it didn't know the way out of the harbour.  At 8.00pm three lads in a small boat headed out of the harbour hoping the dolphin would follow, and it did follow them out of the East Basin into the West Basin .  All it needed to do from there was head north and it would have been free, but no it turned and went back into the East Basin.  We returned to the harbour at 9.30pm - and after checking all the basin's there was no sign of the dolphin.  Lets hope the young calf is safely reunited with the other dolphins. 

Public Feedback

Between 26^th and 28^th June approximately 200 people visited the exhibition / consultation.  At the exhibition / consultation a questionnaire was available for anyone to complete, and on display were artists’ impressions of how the sculpture would look at each proposed site. 

From the questionnaires which were completed the following feedback was provided by the public:

1. Do you think we should erect the sculpture in Macduff?     

YES             100%                                    NO      0%


If you chose YES:


2)      Please tick the box of the site which you think is best:

• To the east of the petrol station, Union Road           20%
• Maritime Garden, Crook o’ Ness Street           45%
• Near the Harbour Café.                                  5%
• Piece of ground adjacent to the Waterfront Hotel, Union Road.   5%
• At the east side of Banff Bridge.                       15%
• On a roundabout to be constructed in the new Industrial Estate.         0%
• At the A947 entrance to Macduff adjacent to the cemetery wall           0%
• I have no preference – anywhere as long as it is erected.       10%
• Anywhere else (Add below)

Nowhere else was suggested.

Other comments made by the public:

Good!

It would give a point to the “Maritime Garden” name of the garden, and balance the fountain on the opposite side.

Maritime Garden – A fitting setting being near the harbour.

Congratulations on your concept and execution of this wonderful project.

Peter Anson sculpture is a good idea.

Once we have finalised the report on behalf of the BM&HA we will send it to Aberdeenshire Council for comment, once we have received any comments - we will then submit a Planning Application.

The new Banff registered trawler BF12 Ellorah is seen here in Macduff Harbour completed.

Banff registered fishing boat BF4 is seen in Macduff Harbour, virtually complete.

Mark Bragg of Aberdeen, a work collegue of Association Chairman Stanley Bruce, left Workington on the Scottish / English border with his canoe 16 days ago.  Stanley and his son Andrew Bruce caught up with Mark in Macduff.  Mark left Workington on the 20th June, and has made remarkable progress canoeing up the West Coast and along the Moray Firth.  Mark said "It's very lonely, and I'm very happy to see you, it's been a good day today".  Mark had paddled from his overnight stop just west of Spey Bay, with a stop at Portsoy, with a charge-up of his mobile phone at the pub before making it to Macduff.  After a bite to eat at the local Chinese takeaway Mark paddled off into the sunset heading for Gardenstown where he intends to make camp for the night on the beach at the west end of the village.  He said he then hopes to make it to Cruden Bay the day after.  Mark has had the best of the weather over the past 16 days and made fantastic progress, looking at the map he's well past the halfway mark, near 2/3rds and I'd guess within a week, he'll have done it!  Will this one be in the Guinness book of records?

Interested in his progress then follow this link: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=110010142729126523576.00046c8f8fc15e5f9dd69&ll=56.644147,-4.108887&spn=3.422116,2.585392&t=h&source=embed

Our newest title 'Back to the Sea' which celebrates the life of Peter Anson in the north east of Scotland is officially launched today.  The book was written jointly by Stanley Bruce (Association Chairman) and Tina Harris (Committee Member). Peter loved Scotland and in particular Macduff, it was a very special place to Peter, with fond memories.  This book will be greatly received by those who knew Peter, and it will bring him into the lives of those who didn't.  ISBN 978-1-907234-00-2, price £6.00.   Contact us at banffshiremaritime@yahoo.co.uk if you'd like to buy a copy.  The sculpture in the photograph is dedicated to Peter Anson and from the 26th to 28th June you can let us know where you'd like to see it sited in Macduff, all you need to do is visit us in Macduff Town Hall, and fill in a short form.

The Association's 2009 exhibition in Macduff Town Hall was the venue for our 2009 Painting and Poetry competition prize-giving.  The prizes were presented by Dr Eilidh Whiteford who lives in Macduff.  Eilidh was the ideal choice for our prize-giving since she lives locally and has a first class honours degree in English and Scottish literature from Glasgow University.  Eilidh also helped us with the judging of the poetry entries.

A brand new fishing vessel to the Macduff fleet was seen in Macduff harbour - the Banff registered BF800 Reliance II.  A fine looking addition to the fleet!

A Filipino crew member of the Fraserburgh registered FR29 Ajax died in the early hours of the 8^th June while attempting to board the 35 foot long trawler.  The man referred to as Sergio is said to have fallen into the harbour, he was rushed to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary but died later.

The Banff registered BF61 Transcend fishing trawler ran into difficulties on Wednesday night 3rd June 2009 while 100 miles off Shetland.  The alarm was raised at 22.00 hours, after the five man crew had made attempts to save the boat but failed.  All of the crew were rescued, with no loss of life.  The boat was skippered by Neil Robertson and the Engineer is Ian Rigby.

A yacht is seen stuck-fast in the silt in Banff Harbour.  The multi-milion pound marina development and deepening of the harbour in 2006-2007 was carried out so the harbour would be accessible at all tides, but Banff Harbour has historically had problems with silt, thought to be brought down by the Deveron River.  (It might be a good idea to dredge this outer basin completely to a decent depth).

Sitting on the quay at Macduff Harbour we spotted the newly built small ambulance boat named 'Good Hope' destined for Monkey Bay in central Malawi, which is located on the shore of Lake Nyasa.  The boat was constructed out of aluminium by Macduff Shipyards, and paid for by the Raven Trust a Christian Charity based in Argyll Scotland.  The new boat replaces an old lifeboat which is long past its best.  On the side of the boat stencilling reads ‘D.G. M. H. Marine Ambulance’, which stands for DGM Hospital in Livingstonia, Malawi.  The boat is to be partly dismantled and shipped to Malawi in a container.  This boat is not Macduff’s only connection with Malawi, Elizabeth Mantell (1941 to 1998) born in Africa but who lived in Macduff for a while before becoming a missionary nurse in Malawi is remembered in the stained glass windows of Macduff Parish Church which were erected in 2000.

The boundary wall at the Tarlair Lido has suffered once again, another panel has been vandalised on the south wall.  A further panel of the western wall has also been broken.  (See earlier photos below 8th April and 28th April 2009).

The second photo below taken in 2007 shows the intact south boundary wall and the gate which has recently disappeared.

The Bodie Fountain which was taken down from its site in Duff Street by monumental masons in Aberdeen, has now been cleaned up and re-erected at the recently declared Maritime Garden, Crook o' Ness Street, Macduff. 

The fountain was originally erected at Macduff Harbour by Dr. Walford Bodie and his wife in 1910 in remembrance of their daughter Jeannie who died at the very young age of eighteen in 1909. 

Due to harbour improvements the fountain was moved c1938 to a second location still at the harbour opposite the Market Arms.  In 1965 it was moved for a third time to Duff Street.  Crook o' Ness Street is the fountain's fourth site in the town and £15,000 was spent cleaning it up and moving it from Duff Street to this site.  The fountain is category C(S) listed by Historic Scotland.

The boundary wall has recently been painted which has brightened up the shaded corner tremendously, however the road signs still spoil the view, and if these could be altered in some way the transformation of this once unsightly corner would be complete.

The only downside of this project is that the moving of the fountain from Duff Street has left a rather empty hole in Duff Street.

Kevin West (43) skipper of the Fraserburgh registered trawler FR307 'Ryanwood' was reported missing at sea on Sunday afternoon when he fell overboard in the North Sea off Rattray Head, Aberdeenshire.  Fraserburgh lifeboat was called-out as the fishing boat crew frantically searched the sea.  A helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth and several other boats in the vicinity also came to assit, but Kevin couln't be found.  Kevin appeared in the recent BBC Trawlermen series.

For a photograph of Fraserburgh lifeboat and a rescue helicopter see  http://www.webhistorian.co.uk/pages/index.php?id=145

The Peter Anson Sculpture has been temporarily erected at the entrance to ACE Winches near Banff on the A947 Banff to Turriff road, and boy does it look ACE!  (Please note the bars at the base won't be seen when it's cemented in place; also the design of the base has been modified from the artist impression because due to having extra bars forming the net there was no access to get underneath to clean out any rubbish which may get blown in there, so the net has been raised).

At around 2.30pm a net box containing trawler nets located at the east end of Macduff Harbour near Macduff Aquarium caught fire.  The flames were 20 feet high and the box and its contents were completely destroyed.  A tender from the Macduff Fire Station attended the scene, extinguished the blaze, and made the site safe, but it was too late to save the fishing nets.  Local fishermen typically use these type of boxes (crates) to store their expensive fishing nets which cost thousands of pounds.  Once the blaze was completely extinguished it could be seen that at least four net boxes were destroyed, and the adjacent building was also damaged making the cost of the blaze tens of thousands of pounds.  (A. Bruce).

The boundary wall of the category 'A' listed Tarlair Lido, has suffered badly from vandalism attacks.  Damage to the wall was first noticed on the 29th March, and reported to the Banffshire Journal, however it couldn't be confirmed if it was actually vandalised or had just fallen down during bad weather.  However on the 8th April further damage was evident and it is clear that it was in fact vandalised.  Pictures show the damage found on the 28th March and on the 8th April.  On the 8th April it could be seen that a further three concrete slabs have been broken.

The Peter Anson Sculpture returned from the galvanisers in Elgin.  The silver galvanising looks really great.  Unfortunately we have a small problem, some of the finishing brackets on the base weren't welded prior to be sent away, so a little bit of rework is needed.  It is important that these are fully welded to prevent them rusting in the future.  Luckily we have plenty time before it's erection; the public consultation is pencilled in for the 26th to 28th June in Macduff Town Hall, so we have plenty time to get it fixed before then.

Stan Bruce and Malcolm Smith added 12 steel triangular brackets to strengthen the base of the sculpture (Provided by A&B Welding Services, Aberdeen).  3 further steel rods were also added to the bottom for securing into the concrete.  The sculpture is now basically complete, and will be heading off to the galvanisers in Elgin on Monday 30th March, the next time we see it - hopefully the end of next week it will be all silver and shiney.

For more info on the sculpture and Peter Anson  http://www.webhistorian.co.uk/pages/index.php?id=138

The newest Banff registered fishing boat BF515 Endeavour IV returns from being painted in Peterhead and berths in Macduff Harbour.

Stan Bruce and Malcolm Smith put the finishing pieces on the Peter Anson Sculpture.  This included fitting the rest of the herrings, fitting the base, and fitting the cap to the net; and finally the steam drfiter on top.  There still is a little bit of welding do do - otherwise it's finished.  This week in the Fraserburgh Herald in the 'Ten Years Ago' section it tells of the net sculpture being erected in Fraserburgh in 1999 at a cost of £45,000, which would be circa £70,000 to £75,000 in todays money.  Alike the £150,000 RNLI sculpture commissioned recently it is clear that these items are very expensive, however thanks to the local companies who donated the parts and time, we have so far built this sculpture at no cost, showing what can be acheived with the support of the local community, and it is thanks to them that we have got this far.  The finished sculpture will be fully galvanised and will be silver in colour.  The third picture down from here is the Fraserburgh Net.

The newest Banff registered fishing boat BF515 'Endeavour IV' nears completion.  Pictured here in Peterhead Harbour.

Below is a photograph of the net fully welded.  During the nightshift of Sunday night a welder at ACE Winches, Banff, welded all the rods together for us.  So a big thanks to ACE Winches for that.

14th March 2009 - Peter Anson Sculpture Week 4 - The Peter Anson Sculpture suffered a set-back this week when a forklift driver reversed into it and damaged it.  Several of the tack welds burst and one of the main side bars had to be replaced.  There now seems to be a bit of a bend to the net, however it gives it a bit more character.

Stan and Malcolm then finished off the third side of the net.  Four more fish have been requested, and one of these will have 'Stella Maris' cut in it.  Once the horizontal and vertical bars forming the net have all been welded together the fish can then be placed inside.  All that needs to be done after that is to add the tubes and bar to the base for attachment inside the concrete base, and place on top the steam drifter.  A dip in the galvanising tank will then finish it.

Work continues on the sculpture - Stanley Bruce and Malcolm Smith made good progress - the two sides of the net are now complete, and the fish inside the net have been welded to their pole.  Duncan Brown photographer for the Press and Journal came down and took a photograph, so there should be a piece in the Press and Journal this coming week.  We have six fish in the net, but there is space for another two, so we will endeavour to get another two cut.

And the sculpture has inspired our Nick to be poetic:

The sculpture's standing on the Bray,
'Cos Stanley's out there everyday,
Welding, scraping come what may,
And he's doing it for love, not pay.

Nick Dolphin

For more information on this sculpture see http://www.webhistorian.co.uk/pages/index.php?id=138

28th February 2009 - Work continues on the Peter Anson Sculpture - the vertical rods are completed on side one and on side two, and the fitting of the horizontal rods has started on side one.  Looks like another two Saturday mornings will be needed to finish it.

The fishing boat 'Endeavour IV' gets towed out of Macduff Harbour by the tug 'Intrepid' it is believed she is heading for the dry-dock in Peterhead.  (Photographs by Andrew Bruce (15) taken from across the bay in Banff Harbour).

ACE Winches, Banff provided use of their fabrication workshop and an employee, and fabrication of the Peter Anson Sculpture commenced.  The work was done on Saturday morning and it is expected that it will take another two or three Saturday mornings to complete the work.