Memories from a Grammar boy
Thank you for sending that excellent February issue of Leopard. Having been gone from Scotland for almost 60 years I am more or less out of touch with contemporary newspapers, magazines and other news. In fact all that reaches me annually is the Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine along with e-mails from Martin Jeffrey.
I think Leopard’s written pieces are articulate, the layout clean and flowing, while the ads front and back leave the copy uncluttered – something rare in publishing these days.
There was a letter referring to the Inverbervie Old Bridge and the flax mill at Pitcarry. I was born on a farm three miles north of St Cyrus and seem to recall that the flax mill was owned and/or managed by a Mr Burness whose daughter Marjorie was at Miss Oliver’s while I was at the Grammar. Pitcarry was also a farm owned by the well-respected Anderson family.
The item about His Majesty’s Theatre and the Donald family reminds me of an occasion when I was a ‘wee loon’ and my mother took me to see Peter Pan at HMT. Seated in the front row of the dress circle I was horrified when Captain Hook was quietly sneaking up behind Peter – intent on no good.
Apparently I stood up in the silent theatre and screamed, “Watch out behind you!”. I was later told that action on the stage paused and the audience roared with laughter.
My wife was interested in the reference to the Donalds as her great-grandfather, the Rev. Andrew Donald, came out from Scotland in the 1840s as the last missionary to Canada from the Church of Scotland. He started 12 churches in New Brunswick, riding to them on horseback in that thickly-wooded province to deliver his sermons.
My forebears were three brothers who came from Ireland in 1666 and settled in Aberdeenshire. I have the family tree from then until today, thanks to records kept by my mother and others who preceded her. The achievements of the descendents of the three brothers in politics, law and business are quite impressive given their modest roots.
George Stephen,
Toronto
No word for the tongue we spoke
Hardly a Leopard passes without one or more references to ‘Doric’, e.g. 12 times in Derrick McClure’s latest page. It also appears in newspapers and some books, and a Doric Festival.
Some may deem it heresy to criticise the use of this word, but I do so unhesitatingly. I’ve had enough of it.
When I was at school at Turriff in the 1930s and 40s, we schoolchildren never used the word, and I never heard it from indigenous folk. We had no word for the tongue we spoke, as is general among indigenous folk elsewhere in the world.
Since then, I have found that those keen to use the word are English speakers or what Aberdeen folk termed ‘panloaf’ speakers. Some were taken aback when I spoke to them in the indigenous tongue, and replied in English.
William Grant and David Murison, stalwart pioneers who produced the monumental Scottish National Dictionary, did not use the word when describing the geographical distribution of Scots dialects. I recall on several occasions visiting David Murison after he retired to the Broch, because he gave me invaluable help while I worked on a book on the place names of upper Deeside. I never heard him use the word when he spoke with me, and indeed he deplored the use of this term.
Adam Watson,
Crathes, Banchory
Keeping the view of the Howe of Cromar
There is rightly widespread support for the government’s intention to substantially increase Scotland’s generation of renewable energy. Does this mean we should support the proposals for a major wind energy development on Pressendye hill? Not necessarily! These intentions should part of an overall strategic plan indicating how much energy should be generated from which sources of renewable energy in different parts of the UK and what role is foreseen for improved energy conservation. Such a plan is lacking and government should not permit proposals with potentially damaging implications without the justification that only such a plan could supply.
The Pressendye proposal is perhaps a classic in the way it raises a full suit of landscape issues from three major perspectives.
The first of these is the impact on the vista from a classical northeast viewpoint of the Slack. Most residents and tourists in an area experience the landscape from the road. Surveys of tourists repeatedly show the importance of this perspective as central to the experience of car-borne tourists and it is also central to the experience of residents. A key component of this experience is the landscape from classical viewpoints on main roads, especially on significant tourist routes. These are often seen as iconic of an area. They leave an enduring imprint on the experience of visitors and have an important emotional role in forming an attachment to an area by local people. These key views need to be closely safeguarded as major assets.
Northeast Scotland has few of these compared with, for example the northwest Highlands – in fact it has only three. One is on the most southerly side of the Lecht pass looking south over the headwaters of the Don – probably the least dramatic of the three. A second is the view south from the summit of the Cairn o Mount, over the lowlands of Scotland and demonstrating the dramatic impact of the Highland Boundary Fault.
The third is the view over the Howe of Cromar from the Slack. This last is notable for its diversity of typical Scottish landscape features, including a highly characteristic settled and cultivated ‘howe’ sweeping up towards the igneous intrusion that forms world famous Lochnagar with its striking ice-carved corries and the tundra of its high plateau. The eye turns towards Morven with its distinctive shape and colour due to its unique geology, and then to the clean-lined curve of Pressendye Hill stretched against the skyline. The uncluttered diversity of this overall view is one of its most valuable features.
Taking the second important perspective, from within the Howe, the entire skyeline is often visible, and in particular from the stone circle at Tomnaverie, which is now a much visited site. There are few stone circle sites in Scotland from which the surrounding view, and especially towards Tarland and beyond to Pressendye, communicate so strongly a sense of locale and community and shared humanity with our ancient predecessors that caused them to station this religious site here. As in most howes, the skyline is almost continuously visible, a constant part of the daily experience of inhabitants with an important psychological effect. It clearly defines the locale physically and thus strongly enhances the sense of place that is important to communities, but it also has a subtle but profound linked effect in defining the sense of community. A major intrusive element like huge windturbines on a dominating horizon disturbs and damages both these elements.
Lastly, taking the broadest perspective, Pressendye hill is relatively high and widely visible from several directions over a wide area of Aberdeenshire. While it is a relatively low-key component of that landscape it is a consistent and significant part of that broad scene. Windturbines on it would intrude dramatically into the skyline from many directions. Overall, the gains in renewable energy from this project are not worth the less tangible, but important losses.
Drennan Watson
Alford, Aberdeenshire
Sorry to be missing Madame’s 50th reunion
I am so sorry to miss out on Madame Murray’s Supper Dance. It’s a long way to come for an 84-year-old who, while game, might not last out the evening. So regretfully I’ll remain amid Toronto’s winter snow while recollecting those good times.
We boarders at Grammar School House lived almost directly across Queen’s Road from Madame Murray’s ballroom dancing ‘emporium’. Was it 3, 5 or 7 Queen’s Road? It was the first winter of the war and there was uncertainty about air raids and our safety after dark. Anyhow, Jimmy Edison, the House Master, was authorized to allow boys 15 and over to attend dancing classes across the road if parents permitted. Mine did. The room was large, perhaps a living and dining-room combined into one. The music was played on a wind-up gramophone with 78 records and Madame Murray and another lady (her sister perhaps?) conducted the 7 p.m. -8.30 p.m. lessons.
We were taught the waltz, foxtrot, slow foxtrot (wow!), quickstep and the old fashioned waltz. I can still remember M.M. saying, “Young men, you must not dance so closely with a partner in the slow foxtrot. There must be a separation!”
And then in 1941 she introducted the tango. What a blast! This, we innocents felt, was ballroom dancing at its best. I was once required by Madame Murray to demonstrate the steps with her. Great fun and applause until I learned afterwards that her decorative stocking garter had slipped down to her ankle. Passion? I think not.
Our girl partners were from The High, St. Megs and local schools. To the best of my recollection, Miss Oliver’s girls were not allowed to attend. I can remember the first, but not last names of some dancing partners. Joan, Molly, Bernice, Mary and Margaret – quite staid by today’s celebrity standards! I escorted Joan part of the way home for two winters. Up to Miss O’s, turn left, down one block, a hug, no kiss and home to 8 Queen’s Road within the 20 minutes. Ah, innocence in wartime. Unfortunately my real girl friend, St. Meg’s Head Girl, lived over near King’s College, too far away for Madame Murray’s classes.
In 1941-2 there were air raid alerts and, when the sirens sounded during dancing class, we were directed to the basement. Madame Murray’s directives – “Girls here, boys there” – were ignored in the darkness and it turned out to be the best part of our dancing lessons!
We were allowed twenty minutes to report in at the House after 8.30 p.m., which indicates the humanitarian approach Jimmy Edison had to his boys.
The Cowdray Hall classes were, of course, far after my time, but over the years I really did appreciate Madame’s devotion to the grace of ballroom dancing.
I wish everyone well in the 50th Reunion. Remember that the ‘Bug-House’ young men were the pioneers!
George Stephen,
Toronto, Canada
Calling all Davidsons
The Clan Davidson Association is returning to Huntly for its AGM and Gathering over the weekend of 26-28 September. We would welcome contributions from any of your readers who might like to share any aspect of their Davidson history.
For example, we have recently been researching the inscribed heraldic arms of William Davidson at St Mary’s Church, Auchendoir near Rhynie, which are dated 1638. This project is part of a major review of Davidson heraldry being carried out by the association.
We are collecting a wide range of material which we hope to use on our website: www.clandavidson.org.uk , and would welcome information and photographs of Davidson historical and modern references.
The Clan Davidson Association welcomes any Davidsons or descendants to come and meet us at The Gordon Arms at Huntly during the weekend of 26-28 September.
Nick Hide
Hon. Membership Secretary, 58 Chandos Avenue, Whetstone, London, N20 9DX
The Doric as she is spoke!
One of the aspects of Leopard that I like is the frequency with which – not surprisingly – references in the Doric appear. Not that I can claim to be fluent in the dialect – after all I left Aberdeen in 1960 and I was a ‘toonser’! However I always had a soft spot for the works of Charles Murray, reflected in the fact that my Sassenach home is called Hamewith.
During the war years (’39 to ’45 that is) my mother had the foresight to arrange extended summer holiday accommodation for us in Tarves and there I did a ‘hairst’ at a local farm. I retained some of the rich vocabulary of the farm staff – as well as learning how to drive a pair of handsome Clydesdale horses, Prince and Donal, in a four-wheeled lorry.
One particular bit of Doric which I have never forgotten arose elsewhere. My late brother Gordon was an officer in the Boys Brigade company of Holborn Central Church and I was lucky enough to be co-opted in as an honorary NCO during the week or two weeks the company went on summer camp. (I did time in the army cadets at school.) This particular year it was at Kemnay and our C.O. lost no time in arranging that we play the local football team on the Saturday afternoon.
We had been advised that they would be powerful opponents and I was interested to see the player whom I would be directly marking. I immediately assumed that he was the son of the local blacksmith. He was a large strapping loon with more than his share of well-honed muscles; I figured I was in for a tough game.
After a few minutes I was intrigued to observe that this wonderful specimen of masculinity was wearing a hair net! Such an adornment I had never seen on a football field before, but discretion was demanded and I curbed my curiosity. After several close encounters of a football kind, I could contain my curiosity no longer and enquired, “What’s with the hair net?” to which he replied, quite unabashed,“Och weel ye see, Ah wisnae needin tae blaad my shade.”
Garth Jessamine
Wokingham
Memories of Mile End primary
The photo above is of my primary class at Mile End School, Aberdeen. I think the year would be 1947. Three of us on the photo are still in touch. I would enjoy hearing from any others who are in the photo, or relatives who can give us names to go with faces. I am in the back row of girls, with the light coloured dress and two bows in my hair, second from the right.
Your words on looking over at Bennachie left me quite teary. My son and his family lived in Old Rayne for a few years and the view from their bedroom window was Bennachie. Among my little granddaughter’s first words were, “Good morning, Bennachie”. She is nine-and-a-half now and they live on Salt Spring Island, one of the Gulf Islands in British Columbia.
Christine Ross
Victoria BC, Canada
The Scots influence on Hudson’s Bay people
I recall reading a Leopard about a year ago, asking for information on Hudson’s Bay Stores in Canada. I visited stores in Sugluk, on the Hudson Straits and Fort Chimo on the south end of Ungava Bay in 1956 and 1957.
The photo (above) of the Hudson’s Bay store at Fort Chimo shows the profound influence Scottish managers had on the Eskimo (Innuit) people. Not only in the dress of the women, but also in their music and dancing. Dances included the Eightsome Reel, Lancers, Gay Gordons and the music was all Scottish tunes played on accordion by Eskimo men. Most H.B. managers, I believe, came from N-E Scotland.
At Sugluk all the locals rushed down to greet us as we arrived on our Norseman float plane or helicopter. Again a lot of tartan to be seen on ladies’ dresses. I appear with the Eskimos in front of the Fort Chimo Store and also in the inquisitive group admiring our helicopter at Sugluk.
About five years ago, I visited an agricultural museum (an old iron shed full of equipment from farming in the good old days) in Alford. I was fascinated by the exquisite album with photographs taken by poet Charles Murray during his esteemed career in South Africa. Adjacent to the album was what appeared to be a very valuable Cape of Good Hope Bank (Kimberley Branch) cheque for £5,338,650 and signed by Cecil Rhodes! The payment was By De Beers Consolidated Mines to purchase assets of Kimberley Central Mines which went into liquidation. De Beers has never looked back with this acquisition of fabulous rich Kimberley diamond pipes and mines.
I am most impressed with the quality of the magazine. Keep up the good work! Much better than The Press & Journal and Buckie Squeak.
I was brought up near Buckie, and graduated in Geology from Aberdeen University (1956) My mother’s side of the family was the Cruickshanks who hailed from Brunthall, Turriff. I spent 14 years in Canada, and the past 38 years in Australia. Hope you find this to be of interest to your readers.
Norman Shepherd
shepnc@optusnet.com.au
What happened to our fords?
Continuing power please to the creative elbow of Mark Chalmers: I thoroughly enjoyed his story of the Cairn o Mounth (_Leopard_, November 2007), though he does not mention the fords of my youth.
There used to be two on the Cairn o Mounth route, one crossing the road at Bogendriep, with the second not far away. Each added adventure and lustre on cycling expeditions on this colourful road, but both were swept away in the early 1980s by a zealous roads engineer.
We have few fords left across all Scotland now, almost all having been bridged by the Elf’n’Safety brigade. The few left include a watery crossing through the Langton burn at Gavinton, Duns, in Berwickshire; through the Tweed at Lyne Station in Peeblesshire; and through the Water of Leith above Balerno. I can think of none in Leopardland.
Gordon Casely
45 Beaconsfield Place, Aberdeen AB15 4AB
Investigating the Wells of Poldhu
With the help of the Council for Scottish Archaeology’s Adopt-a-Monument scheme, the Victorian mineral springs known as The Wells of Poldhu are being restored to their former glory. Near Logie Coldstone, neglect and rampant rhododendron had removed from view both of the granite-dressed wells, but in their heyday they were much-visited in search of an alleged cure for ‘gravellish disorders and scrofula’.
Months of work have cleared the site, revealed the old culverts and restored the path connecting the two wells. With generous funding from the Cairngorm National Park Authority and other sources, the restoration of the site (complete with footbridge) should be completed by June 2008.
In my role as project leader I am compiling an oral history of the Wells of Poldhu and would be most grateful for any tales, photographs, facts or recollections of the Wells which can be added to the information which I am pulling together. Did you visit them, picnic there, or have you been told about them? All and any material which you pass on to me will be accredited in a published leaflet and will enhance knowledge of our local heritage.
Fred Bull,
Birkens, Logie Coldstone AB34 5PQ; email: bullsorbus@AOL.com