We use cookies to collect information about how you use the Police Scotland website We use this information to make the website work as well as possible and improve our services Road policing officers are continuing to appeal for information following a fatal crash in Aberdeenshire.The incident happened around 2pm on Tuesday on the B977 near Banchory and involved a grey Triumph motorcycle and a grey Toyota C-HR car.The rider of the motorcycle was taken to hospital He has been named as Nathan Few from the Kintore area.His family has asked for privacy and has released the following statement: "Nathan was a loving family man who loved spending time with his kids He lived life to the full."The occupants of the car and van were not injured.The road was closed to allow for a full collision investigation and reopened around 10pm.Officers are keen to speak with two drivers who were in the area at the time and may have witnessed the crash or the vehicles involved shortly before the crash said: "Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Mr Few at this very difficult time."We are continuing to appeal for anyone with information to come forward."In particular we would like to speak to the drivers of a small grey car and a blue van seen in the area around the time of the crash They may have seen the vehicles involved shortly beforehand and could hold information that is important to our enquiries."If you think you can help Police Scotland support those who wish to become police officers special constables or police staff by hosting various online and in-person recruitment events throughout the year supported victims and a thriving workforce Read about our 2030 vision and three-year plan Worried that your partner or the partner of someone you know might have an abusive past we'd appreciate your feedback on the service we provided Police Scotland has been working to make its websites more accessible - read our accessibility statement A driver has been arrested and charged following a late-night crash at a busy junction in Banchory The crash involving just one vehicle happened at 2.20am on Friday Emergency services attended the scene but there were no injuries sustained Police have now confirmed a 57-year-old man has been charged and is due to appear in court at a later date A spokesperson said: “Around 2.20am on Friday, 18 April, we received a report of a one-vehicle crash on High Street, Banchory has been arrested and charged in connection with a road traffic offence and released on an undertaking.” Comments are currently disabled as they require cookies and it appears you've opted out of cookies on this site. To participate in the conversation, please adjust your cookie preferences in order to enable comments Nathan Few died after a crash on the B977 near Banchory involving a motorcycle, car and van last month. Officers were called to the crash on the B977 near Banchory at around 2pm March 25 involving a grey Triumph motorcycle The occupants of the car and van were not injured A GoFundMe has been launched on behalf of Mr Few’s wife Anne-Marie and children Kylie-Marie and Kaiden to help their “pain and suffering” passed away in a tragic road accident leaving behind his beautiful family Nathan was a devoted husband to Anne-Marie whom he has been with since school and father to Kylie-Marie and Kaiden “No matter where in the world he was Nathan would always miss his family and wanted to be back home with them If he wasn’t with them he would be spending time with his three older brothers Kathleen who will also be in great pain losing her youngest son “For those that knew Nathan they would agree he was liked and loved by all a true loyal friend that will never be replaced “We can only imagine the pain and suffering they must feel So to help them at this difficult time I have set up this page so we can all show support All funds will go to Anne-Marie and her beautiful children “Any donation will be forever appreciated and remembered.” You can donate to the fundraiser here. Officers are keen to speak with two drivers who were in the area at the time and may have witnessed the crash or the vehicles involved shortly before the crash. Sergeant Alexander Bowser-Riley, from the Inverurie Road Policing Unit, said: “Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Mr Few at this very difficult time. “We are continuing to appeal for anyone with information to come forward. “In particular, we would like to speak to the drivers of a small grey car and a blue van seen in the area around the time of the crash. “They may have seen the vehicles involved shortly beforehand and could hold information that is important to our enquiries. “If you think you can help, please contact police on 101, quoting incident number 1778 of March 25, 2025.” STV News is now on WhatsAppGet all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Follow STV News on WhatsAppScan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country '+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text+' "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title+" "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text+" Situated 500m from the existing farmhouse the longhouse-style property has been designed by Fiddes Architects with the dual purpose of monitoring livestock Built 500m from the existing farmhouse for retirement succession the property is considered essential for the ongoing viability of farm operations the architects wrote: "The linear plan provides all necessary accommodation and living space and provide a strong relationship to the sites south westerly aspect whilst keeping the building footprint to a minimum." timber and corrugated cladding the dwelling is accessed by a sheltered entrance and vaulted stairway with a large open plan living area making the most of elevated views.   All comments are pre-moderated and must obey our house rules Craig Scott is the picture of health and happiness despite losing most of his upper arm through radical cancer surgery The Banchory photographer and amateur weightlifter is just weeks away from his wedding and is recovering from back-to-back fitness competitions when we talk But though there’s a twinkle in his eye at the mention of his fiance and a similar grin discussing his recent performance at Glasgow’s Hyrox event if we were having this conversation just two years ago the conversation would have been very different At 27 Craig was told a painless lump on his shoulder was a rare soft tissue cancer and the extreme surgery to remove it could put an end to his fitness career “They said they didn’t know to what extent I would ever be able to lift [weights] again “What I heard was ‘it can’t be done,'” he laughs Former Banchory Primary and Academy pupil Craig has been active since childhood Between the ages of six and 15 trampolining and field hockey were his sports but it wasn’t long before he developed a passion for rugby Playing for the academy team he then advanced to become a valued member of Deeside Rugby Club when he left school Craig enrolled at Gray’s School of Art Joining the university Sports Society was his first port of call; then came the opportunity to train in Olympic weightlifting “I loved the challenge of it – and the discipline aspect of it,” Craig As well as sports, Craig runs his own photography business and he’s also a keen musician “The thought of anything happening to my body affecting all of those things But all that changed when a colleague at the gym suggested he get a lump on his shoulder checked out so I never worried about it when it recurred “We think getting constant knocks from playing rugby somehow made it come back In March 2023 he visited his GP who took photos of the growth to send to orthopedic consultants you know there’s the possibility of it being cancer “It never occurred to me that it would be “I remember seeing an advert on TV that said one in two of us will get cancer had been dealt the news that the growing lump near his shoulder was soft-tissue sarcoma typically affecting more men than women “It was a heck of a shock,” Craig said “I’m quite pragmatic so I figured I had to be strong for Craig,” added dentist Debbie “because we both couldn’t be freaking out Talks began between orthopedic and plastic surgeons they had to take out a golf ball-sized mass “It would then be examined and that would determine if I needed chemo or radiotherapy.” His first surgery took place in October 2023 He then had to wait to hear if the four-to-five-inch circle around the lump was enough of a margin to remove all the cancer “We got the news that they hadn’t got it all “I just wanted it over and done with.” In February Craig went in for more surgery they took a substantial amount of my arm away I think I have quite a high pain threshold but it was mentally draining coping with a vacuum seal on the wound and the frustration of needing help to get dressed and being unable to drive was the shock of seeing what my arm looked like.” I wasn’t 100 percent sure what it would look like but what was in my head was nothing like the reality “They basically took a huge chunk of my shoulder I sometimes refer to it as a massive divot in my arm “Every day I would wake up to a very permanent reminder.” Up until he began his cancer treatment Craig was in peak physical condition He was competing – and had recently won – in a Scottish open competition and came second in a 96kg category weightlifting challenge “I remember asking what the surgery would mean [for my weightlifting] and I was told that they weren’t sure to what degree I could ever do weightlifting again “I wasn’t surprised in the slightest that he bounced back quickly,” said Debbie The couple got engaged in March last year and by April Craig was cleared to begin intense sports physiotherapy but I knew if I ever wanted that range of motion back I would have to get the ball rolling.” By November 2024 he was back to pre-surgery strength and fitness And in recent weeks he completed Hyrox Glasgow in 1 hour 28 minutes “I feel really proud of myself,” said Craig “Competing in Hyrox isn’t easy so I’m chuffed I finished in a decent time And really pleased with my Turf Games performance too “You can’t really compare cancer to training again except with both I had to just take it a day at a time.” Though he didn’t need chemo or radiotherapy Craig was offered further surgery for aesthetic purposes having a scar like I have is a fun story to tell isn’t it?” he laughs I felt the recovery wasn’t worth the effort again “I still have to have six-monthly scans and x-rays but I hope I’m done going under the knife.” are looking forward to starting their new life together as a married couple “She wasn’t just always there for the physical support She was a brilliant mental and spiritual support too.” But 29-year-old Debbie feels like she’s the lucky one Craig’s overcome so much at such a young age but hasn’t become bitter or jaded “Words can’t describe how happy I am that we’re out on the other side of this “It’s honestly a miracle.” Turriff gran takes on Hyrox: ‘I’m in better shape in my 70s than I was in my 30s’ Cash-strapped Banchory Legion could be in line for a windfall after winning a battle with neighbours over housing plans at a plot of land owned by the institution The proposals for three new homes to the rear of the hall have now been approved by Aberdeenshire Council – despite residents’ dismay at losing the patch of grass McCombie Builders will now be able to get started on plans for the four-bedroom-homes But the decision came despite almost 70 pages worth of objections – as miffed neighbours pleaded for councillors to turn down the proposals The recent committee meeting heard that the sale of the land would give the Banchory Legion some much-needed cash to repair its ageing HQ McCombie Builders have plans to build three identical homes on the green space behind the Banchory Legion These new houses would come with a garage and a spacious garden backing onto the clubhouse The land is currently an empty patch of grass which is maintained by the British Legion the current path from Grant Road to the clubhouse would be moved between the first two houses Plans for the site were withdrawn in December due to “safety concerns” about the footpath with residents also furiously protesting the loss of this green space Papers submitted to the council detail the reason behind the Legion selling up the empty plot of land Architects revealed that the charity social club needs to upgrade and repair the facility in order to “reduce the ever-increasing cost of running an old building” Agent John Wilkes Design argued that raising funds was of “significant importance to the local community when compared with the very minor detriment to the availability of local green space” But not everyone felt that the loss of the field was just a small inconvenience… Locals voiced their anger at the loss of the green space with one saying the developers have “overlooked” the “important historic access” Thomas Harpley argued: “The open space has been used daily by the community for decades “Green spaces are increasingly scarce and this development will exacerbate this problem.” Banchory local Stephen Thomson also begrudged the loss of the field He pleaded with councillors that the space has been an “amenity to children in the area since the building of Grant Road and Lawson Avenue over 50 years ago.” there was little opposition from elected members over the proposals McCombie Builders had laid out their case previously – addressing the green space issue by pointing out that there are other areas nearby for kids to play in Corsee Wood and Bellfield Park are both in walking distance of the British Legion councillors voted to approve the plans unanimously You can view the full meeting here A Banchory man is on a mission to bring the flavours of Japan to the north-east with his new business venture Former London chef Jonathan Hope has launched Slow Sauce after two years of planning The 35-year-old is to make miso and shoyu (soy sauce) using organic locally sourced ingredients and mature it in old whisky barrels The former Banchory Academy pupil has turned the former Macintosh and Steven funeral parlour in the High Street into a commercial kitchen Jonathan hopes to produce and sell five tonnes of miso in the first year of trading spent 10 years working as a chef in London During that time he was head of fermentation and it’s this which led him to the idea of making miso He said: “I was head of fermentation at the restaurant which involved making all sorts of things from sauerkraut and kimchi to kombucha “We started making miso and soy sauce and I thought it was something I could do so it took off from there “But we’re making it a different way using local ingredients “The Japanese use rice or barley when they’re making miso but we’ll be growing it on oats.” Slow Sauce recently won £10,000 from Scottish Edge which will be used to buy the last pieces of equipment for the new kitchen. plans to use his culinary experience to sell the products and eventually aims to target the Japanese market He said: “We have the capacity to produce 20 tonnes of miso a year but hope to sell five in the first year “The plan is to do online sales and I’ll be getting in touch with restaurants “Eventually we’d like to sell miso to the Japanese eventually and we’d like to sell soy sauce to the Chinese “They’re the biggest consumers of soy sauce but I think that’s a 10-year plan.” but not like the powder we may usually shake from jars This is a thick paste formed by usually fermenting soybeans with salt and the fungus aspergillus oryzae (or kōji) It’s known for being healthy and is slowly building popularity in the UK And shoyu is a type of soy sauce usually made from fermented soybeans, wheat, salt and water. However, again Slow Sauce won’t be using soybeans, instead opting for oats. Jonathan said: “A lot of people may have heard of miso but don’t really have a understanding of what it is “We want to show people how to use it and how to cook with it and what’s good about it “Since coming back to the north-east I feel people are quite adventurous in what they eat and they’re keen to try out new stuff.” Other north-east Scottish Edge winners included InGlaze Ltd An old railway shed that was once used as a repair facility for trains stopping at the historic Banchory station could soon be revived as playbarn with a cafe The building was erected on the Deeside Way just a stone’s throw from the station it served as a maintenance and repair shed for the steam locomotives passing through the north-east countryside it was shut when the station closed to passengers in 1966 It was later used as a storage unit for Aberdeenshire Council bin trucks and most recently was the headquarters of Banchory-based landscape gardening firm Roy Cowie Banchory Playbarn now wants to sublet it from the local authority and convert the building into a new Deeside Way destination for families The company has lodged proposals to create a cafe with designated play areas for children of all ages – from toddlers to young teenagers the cafe will give parents a place to sit down and enjoy a cuppa while their kids are having fun Part of the building will be segregated into smaller rooms which could be used for birthday parties and the like And there would be some outdoor seating available during the warmer months which could make it an ideal respite spot for anyone taking a walk down the Deeside Way Documents say the coffee shop will offer hot drinks And they add that the old railway shed was the most “suitable location for the facilities they envisaged” some internal works will still need to be carried out to convert the unit which was previously filled with all sort of landscape machinery and hand tools There will be spaces for about 20 cars and 20 bikes outside the playbarn You can see the plans for yourself here a care home manager and her husband Willie What: A former church hall which has been converted to a gorgeous ground floor apartment Here Michelle shares their renovation journey…  “We had been living in a new build detached house in Inverbervie but we decided to move to Banchory as our entire family worked in that area we were also keen to downsize so we started looking for properties in the area we had just finished viewing other properties Our daughter noticed the for sale sign and the rest is history It had been empty for years so it was cold the room sizes and the challenge of giving the property some tender loving care So we purchased and moved into the home in April 2019 and it has been an ongoing renovation since then The property was once a church hall before it was converted into a ground floor apartment with three bedrooms including one with an ensuite The property was granite and didn’t have any insulation so it was freezing the shower/bath didn’t work and the electric consumer board needed to be updated as it was condemned as unsafe to use the patio was hidden by trees and we didn’t know about the path round the house until we removed the trees Over the years we’ve also replaced the kitchen increased size of main bathroom and fitted a new bathroom replaced the windows and doors plus we replaced the ensuite All this work was carried out while trying to keep some original features of the house We wanted the property to keep its character and we feel we have achieved that I love wallpaper so I used Graham & Brown as they have some great styles and colours Garden Trading and Duncan’s of Banchory On reflection our greatest renovation challenge was sourcing and staining all the internal doors We wanted to fit traditional doors but stain them personally but the cost was quite high as was delivery as many companies don’t deliver to Banchory stain and seal the doors and the coldness of the house didn’t help the drying process either Covid also hit soon after we started this project our renovation project went mostly as planned despite the challenges posed by Covid Our home is just beautiful and we love how we’ve included our own ideas We get so much pleasure from sitting in the living room with glass of wine looking over Scolty Hill or we can watch the fireworks on a cold November night – we love it Our advice to anyone else who is undertaking a home renovation would be to work together It can be stressful but just focus on your idea but they show you that it really was worthwhile We say that now as we’ve completed this journey.” To arrange a viewing contact 01330 824646 or check out the website aspc.co.uk The owners of a Banchory hotel say they have captured on camera the moment a brazen thief tried to steal from them CCTV images provided to the Press and Journal by The Burnett Arms appear to show a man attempting to force open the till behind the bar He is wearing jeans and a hoodie and approaches the bar carrying a backpack with the hotel reporting that he was attempting to pry it open In the images the man is also wearing what look like black and white mittens The incident is said to have taken place on Saturday moments before the bar opened for business As the man in the hotel’s pictures crouches by the till a member of staff enters the bar area and challenges him before attempting to stop the individual from leaving the man can be seen pushing past the staff member He almost falls to the floor as he leaves the bar Staff at the Burnett Arms told the Press and Journal they would be reporting the matter to police In a statement on social media they wrote: “This morning some thieving b*****d tried to break into the Burnett Arms “We’re asking all nearby businesses to stay sharp “Don’t leave money in your tills overnight and keep a close eye on your premises.” “It is making an already tough business climate even harder.” “This is the first time someone from outside has tried something like this at our place — and we’re not taking it lightly “We’ll be reporting everything to the police “Stay safe and look out for each other.” Morrisons will make cuts at its Aberdeen and Banchory stores in a major shake-up The UK’s fifth-biggest supermarket is axing dozens of services across the country leaving hundreds of jobs at risk In-store services such as meat and fish counters This includes the florist and Market Kitchen at the King Street branch in Aberdeen The store underwent a major revamp just a few years ago to create the large counter for the fresh food takeaway Morrisons described the Market Kitchen as a “move from retail to hospitality” with a “real street food vibe” customers have been able to order dishes such as fish and chips said parts of the store set-up are “uneconomic” He said: “Market Street is a beacon of differentiation for Morrisons we are making some necessary changes to the areas of the model which are simply uneconomic.” Morrisons will also close 12 Scottish cafés due to “local challenges” This includes the café at the Banchory branch on North Deeside Road It has not yet been confirmed when the closures in Banchory and Aberdeen will take place 52 cafes and 17 convenience stores across the UK will be closed in an attempt to redirect cash to other parts of the business Mr Baitiéh added: “Morrisons Cafés are rightly famous for their great-quality and their appealing mix of traditional favourites alongside exciting new dishes but a minority have specific local challenges closure and reallocation of the space is the only sensible option.” this plush property near Banchory is nothing short of extraordinary Graeme and Jacqueline Davidson poured their blood sweat and tears into transforming the dilapidated steading and house into a serene countryside sanctuary with over 1.8 acres of beautifully landscaped garden grounds the home is a renovation masterpiece with an array of stunning features including five fabulous bedrooms a sleek open plan kitchen/diner and a lounge with a balcony overlooking Scolty Hill But after almost 30 years in the dream home they created together Jacqueline and Graeme have made the difficult decision to put their house on the market tough day when we leave Cruan,” says Jacqueline “It has been a labour of love converting Cruan and making it is what it is today but we know the time is right and we are ready to move on “We have created so many happy memories with our friends and family which will never fade nor be forgotten “It truly is a hidden gem and we hope that the new owners will love and enjoy the house and grounds as much as we have over the past 30 years.” It was back in 1995 when Jacqueline and Graeme bravely took on the challenge of renovating Cruan while juggling three children under the age of six “The renovation was a huge challenge with juggling three young children work and day to day life,” says Jacqueline “We stayed in the old house and renovated the steading first “On completion of these works we moved into steading area where all five of us slept in the lounge and used a shed with a makeshift toilet and shower “We then moved onto tearing down the house and converting it and finally works were complete on 24th May 2000.” the couple also worked their magic on the extensive garden grounds “The grounds were basically a bog filled with overgrown trees,” says Jacqueline “So we felled trees and we brought in  machinery to dig “Lorries carted rubbish off site and took in hundreds of tons of materials to strengthen and straighten out the grounds.” it’s instantly apparent the incredible amount of work Jacqueline and Graeme have poured into designing their dream home And after soaking up the wonderful views and the beautiful garden it’s time to head inside where contemporary interiors are sure to wow Opening up the handsome home is a stylish porch which flows through to the open plan kitchen and dining area the superb kitchen is sure to inspire even the most reluctant of cooks Also on the ground floor is an amazing master bedroom with a large bay window a walk-in wardrobe and a spa-like ensuite shower room Completing this floor is a fantastic family room with attractive views over the garden and a beautiful family bathroom there is an amazing formal lounge with a wood burning stove and a balcony where views over Scolty Hill can be savoured Also on this floor is three further double bedrooms a home office/fifth bedroom and a cloakroom the landscaped garden grounds are a horticultural haven there is also a detached garage with a cloakroom and a partially floored loft space And for those who love some alfresco dining there is a garden room complete with a wood burning stove Other outbuildings include a covered car port Reflecting on what they’ve enjoyed most about their home “The thing we have enjoyed most about living at Cruan is the private “It’s magical when we step out the door and into the garden privacy and peacefully surroundings is blissful.” Asked what she thinks will appeal most to buyers Jacqueline says it’s a mix of so many factors “I’d like to say everything really,” she says the countryside setting and the close proximity to Banchory which is a 20-minute walk on a quiet country road “A five-minute walk takes you to the Scolty “We are so close to the local amenities yet we seems so far away from all the hustle and bustle.” To arrange a viewing contact Aberdein Considine on 01330 824646 First-time buyer Charlotte gives Aberdeen flat an amazing makeover A pensioner convicted of possessing more than 2,000 indecent images of children has avoided a prison sentence was found unanimously guilty by a jury at Aberdeen Sheriff Court last month of downloading thousands of pictures of children on his home computer It was stated by Campbell that he had only used the computer when police raided the pensioner’s Banchory property they found a computer tower which was analysed and found to contain indecent images of children Campbell – who represented himself at trial – was convicted of downloading those images between July 24 2020 and December 12 2021 One detective who gave evidence at the trial told jurors that when they raided Campbell’s property cybercrime officers checked all the household devices and found one item “positive” for indecent content The detective said Campbell admitted that the computer tower identified by police belonged to him I don’t know what you’re on about – I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Campbell said he had no idea how thousands of images featuring child abuse material had been downloaded onto his device It was put to him that he had downloaded around 2,135 images of children Of the total number of images found on Campbell’s computer tower Around 161 images were considered to be Category B Campbell was found unanimously guilty by the jury repeated that he denied his guilt despite the verdict He told Sheriff Ian Wallace that he carried out caring duties for his wife and therefore would not be suitable for an electronic tag Stating that he had no previous convictions Campbell said: “I have nothing more to say,” before adding: “Only that I do not want to be incarcerated.” Sheriff Wallace told him that a report into his background had recommended programme work to “prevent you offending in this manner in future” The sheriff added that he was satisfied that an appropriate alternative to a custodial sentence could be imposed subject to a community payback order with supervision for two years and ordered him to carry out 280 hours of unpaid work He also placed Campbell on the sex offenders register for two years and ordered him to take part in a sex offenders programme “This is for you to address your offending – the specific type of offending you have been convicted of,” the sheriff added For all the latest court cases in Aberdeen as well as crime and breaking incidents, join our Facebook group.  A desperate Banchory mum has revealed children have been left “terrified” of getting to school since the council axed lollipop men and women Worried parents have issued pleas for something to be done with concerns pupils at Banchory Primary are “playing jeopardy” with their lives They want to see action taken on the narrow Arbeadie Road after the local authority axed all of its school crossing posts to save cash last year They claim their children are “terrified” to cross the busy street themselves Councillors Eileen Durno and Ann Ross raised the issue at a recent meeting saying these concerns had persisted for years – but were made worse by the lollipop chop The two patrollers previously recruited were axed last summer Ann Ross started calling for a crossing to be created instead She said children have been “playing jeopardy” crossing the road despite the addition of a brightly coloured warning poster plastered across the school fence “The primary thing here is the children…we want to encourage them to walk to school,” she argued “Whilst it’s the parents’ responsibility we’ve lost the crossing patrollers but we need a safe crossing for the children.” She also thanked the school’s former lollipop man Alan Carnegie “who was out there in all weathers helping children and parents cross the road” said children are left feeling “terrified” as they try to cross the road on their own She added: “Unlike Banchory Academy and Hill of Banchory school we do not have a zebra crossing “It goes without saying that the safety of our children within the school grounds is paramount.” The mum said while there are various signs in place to get motorists to slow down she believes many don’t stick to the 20mph limit Officers confirmed that the roads service has agreed to create the crossing and it will be launched later this year – subject to budget talks next month Infrastructure chief Martin Hall revealed that while there was no exact timescale he believed the design work could be done by April with the crossing installed by October Working out of a back room at Banchory Business Centre Felicity Crone started her own business after borrowing money from her dad to buy a bench Fast-forward 12 years and the chiropractor has built her practice into a million-pound spine centre Banchory Spinal Health has since expanded its workforce to 19 drawing practitioners from around the world to treat patients in Aberdeenshire and beyond osteopaths and massage therapists all under one roof They have been pulled in from as far afield as California Felicity said: “Everyone thought I was a witchdoctor when I first started They didn’t know what I was all about.” Now operating out of larger premises at Tillybrake Estate more than 10,000 patients have been through its doors has joined the boom in firms transferring ownership to their employees And making the switch to an employee ownership trust model will give her team more buy-in fostering a “collaborative and sustainable workplace” Members of staff who work at the clinic for more than 12 months can be a part of the employee-owned trust and I wanted to make it a more inclusive structure,” said Felicity “I felt it was a nice opportunity to keep the clinic going long after I am gone “Just building something that would last is an important concept for me.” For Felicity continuing to expand remains the goal “But it is getting to the point where we are bursting at the seams a little bit.” Felicity says the only thing holding the clinic back from further expansion is finding suitable commercial property to move into “We are struggling to find somewhere bigger that we would really like to set up in,” she said “Commercial property is a bit of a challenge in Banchory “The NHS is massively overwhelmed by people with musculoskeletal conditions and it is becoming progressively more unable to do anything about it,” she said “We offer an alternative to drugs and surgery and living in pain with our chiropractic osteopathy and massage therapy that we do here “We are getting busier and busier because the NHS is becoming overwhelmed “It is just completely unable to offer any solutions to these problems.” A 4×4 driver has told how she escaped her car just before it burst into flames in Banchory said she was “shocked” after the vehicle suddenly “lost power” while driving near the Hill of Banchory Road on Saturday afternoon She then fled from her car as smoke began pouring from the bonnet before bursting into flames just before 1pm A fire crew was sent to the Banchory Business Park where a hose-reel jet and fire extinguishers were used Firefighters left the scene around 1.17pm but the front of the car was destroyed Ola has shared pictures showing true aftermath of the blaze She added she still “has no idea” what caused the fire A north-east charity has opened its first children’s boutique in Banchory Clan Cancer Support has described the new store as a “one-stop-shop” for youngster’s clothes and toys It aims to be the perfect spot for families to shop without breaking the bank – all the while supporting an important local charity Clan decided to open the boutique at 16A Bridge Street after spotting a gap in the market amid the growing popularity of pre-loved fashion The charity shop will sell a range of items for babies and children up to age 12 head of income generation and business development for Clan said: “It’s been a long-held ambition of ours to establish a boutique store “We are excited to expand our retail offering with a unique affordable and sustainable business for the local community in Banchory “As a charity we are very fortunate to receive high quality donations for children “And with families facing an ongoing cost of living crisis we thought a shop specialising in items for children was a natural choice.” The new boutique is the fifth retail business being operated by the charity Together, they generate about 20% of Clan’s required annual income of £2.6 million, which helps support people across the north-east and Northern Isles impacted by a cancer diagnosis The charity is appealing for further donations of children’s clothing and toys to be sold in Banchory They can be dropped off at the new store or at Clan House on Westburn Road in Aberdeen Lissa added: “All of the items on display are in excellent condition and some have never been used “With prices starting from less than £1 it’s a one-stop-shop for those looking to update a child’s wardrobe or buy a new toy without breaking the bank while giving something back to a local charity.” There are also volunteering opportunities within the store to support its full-time staff member and other volunteers The Clan children’s boutique will open from 10am to 4pm A road near Banchory has been closed to traffic following a two-vehicle crash The crash occurred on the A980 Torphins to Raemoir road at its junction with the B977 north of Banchory Two vehicles collided just after 2pm on Tuesday The crash has forced police to close the A980 road at Mill of Raemoir to traffic It is unclear if there were any injuries sustained due to the crash Police are advising motorists to avoid the area A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 11.59pm to attend a road traffic collision on the A980/B977 a trauma team and two special operations response teams (SORT) were dispatched to the scene.” Our reporters are working to bring you the latest updates on this developing story Please check back later for more and follow The Press and Journal on Facebook for breaking news A suspected meteor has been captured on camera passing over the Banchory area The streak of light was spotted in the sky above Aberdeenshire at about 10pm on Tuesday Residents took to social media to share their sightings near Banchory After seeing locals discussing the meteor sighting Craig Usher checked his home security camera footage “I checked the CCTV and saw the light pass at around the time mentioned,” he told The Press and Journal “I’d say it’s a meteor rather than a meteorite or anything else I’ve seen some people suggest it could have been a satellite “Anything human-made would break up in the sky but this was a single flash It was very small but quite bright.” The home security footage shows the beam of light quickly passing through the night sky While a meteor is a streak of light in the sky a meteorite is a piece of a meteor that reaches the ground Meteors can usually be seen most nights but move extremely fast and can be gone within “a flash” or a few seconds The Durris resident added it was not the first time he had spotted such an event in the area “I did a lot of astrophotography when I was younger and now live in an area with nice dark skies,” he added “It’s common to see meteors much smaller than this You could see two or three an hour unless there’s a meteor shower “They occur a few times a year and are not as common.” A spokesperson for UK Fireball Alliance said: “Unfortunately there are very few dedicated fireball cameras “This event highlights the need for more cameras in the region to help us observe and analyse future fireball sightings “UKFAll relies on citizen scientists to assist in capturing these events enabling us to recover more meteorites and conduct further valuable scientific research.” Big Mannys’ Pizza has officially opened its latest Aberdeenshire venue the Aberdeen-based pizza chain will run a branch out of The Stag Hotel in Banchory’s High Street Big Mannys’ Banchory is serving up burgers and loaded fries fans will now be able to order in or takeaway in-store and online Customers can also sit in and enjoy the food in the hotel’s restaurant The new-look hotel was officially opened today by Big Mannys’ bosses as well as Stag owners Scott and Bruce McCombie The partnership between the two was one of the first things on the brothers’ agenda after taking over the hotel back in July they took on a “day and night” renovation project in a bid to serve food there for the first time in 15 years they say it’s a huge day for the hotel Scott said: “Right from that start when we took over we wanted to get this kitchen working “So it’s great that we have finally got there “It has been a mad month getting all the different people together to get it done there’s all sorts of unexpected costs and delays associated with it “But everyone has pulled together and helped and that’s got us here much sooner than we anticipated Scott added: “This is what the Stag has been crying out for.” Big Mannys’ Pizza director added: “Our franchisee has done an excellent job of doing the place up “Also props to them for doing it in such a small space of time “It’s almost been a day and night project to get where we are today with The Stag The takeaway boss was already looking ahead to a busy opening night at their new Banchory branch He continued: “From the pre-orders we have got already it’s looking like it’s going to be busy “It’s crazy to think we were opening Stonehaven not long ago “We are just excited to get going in Banchory – there is a buzz about the town just now.” Scott and Bruce  McCombie recently took over the business with friends Mark Anderson and John Wink four friends said it was their “lifelong dream” to take over the High Street hotel They say they have spent “every weekend” of their adult years in the pub They snapped up the opportunity to run the hotel after the business went on the market last year A new owner has taken over production of Aberdeenshire’s Dark Matter rum after the company went into liquidation The popular spirit is now being made at Banchory’s Burnobennie Distillery after the brand was bought by Ardent Spirits Dark Matter Distillers was Aberdeenshire’s first rum distillery when it launched in 2015 it went in to liquidation in September before being saved a month later by Ardent Spirits Production is carried out at Burnobennie Distillery making sure the brand can continue its Banchory roots Burnobennie Distillery distribution manager said Ardent Spirits “felt compelled” to rescue the brand He said: “When we heard Dark Matter was liquidation we tried to help but it was to late “We felt compelled to rescue the brand “Up until about two months ago it was in every supermarket on every shelf “It was too good an opportunity at the time to let it slip in to the ether being the first rum distillery in Scotland we couldn’t let the brand disappear.” Mike Roberts, Dark Matter head distiller, is now working for Burnobennie Distillery and another job was created. Simon said: “The business was running at skeleton by the end but luckily head distiller Mike Roberts was able to be rescued and we created another role to head up the operation “Having already distilled and produced rum, our infrastructure is already in place, as a business we will continue to invest and get Dark Matter to the heights of the past “Dark Matter will stand alone but its new home is at Burnobennie.” The focus is currently on Dark Matter spiced but a coffee liqueur is also in the making Simon said: “The gap in between liquidation and activity is a vulnerable point for anything and people when they can’t get it they move on to another type of rum “My job has been to remind people that we are coming back “Since people have found out we have been swamped with encouraging messages and people desperate to know when Police were called to the crash on the B977 near Banchory involving a motorcycle, car and van last month. Officers were called to the crash on the B977 near Banchory at around 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25 involving a grey Triumph motorcycle, a grey Citroen Berlingo van, and a grey Toyota C-HR car. The rider of the motorcycle was taken to hospital, where he later died from his injuries. He has been named as Nathan Few from the Kintore area. His family has asked for privacy and has released the following statement: “Nathan was a loving family man who loved spending time with his kids. The occupants of the car and van were not injured. The road was closed to allow for a full collision investigation and reopened around 10pm. Former Banchory model Ashly Rae has launched a new clothing brand The 40-year-old is no stranger to the world of fashion having once modelled for Victoria Beckham and Harrods after stepping off the catwalk the former Banchory Academy pupil has developed her own label called Ashly Rae Her main product is the patent-pending bodysuit described as a wardrobe staple and a “world-first in comfort Ashly previously launched her first brand, Elswear in 2023 after getting fed up with high street sizing One of her best-sellers was bodysuits and it was this which prompted Ashly to then focus on making the product even better She said: “I wanted to create something that I would be proud of and it was always my intention to have a brand that I could grow with and would mean something to me and to other women because I’ve spent such a long time designing this new bodysuit with the new closure I wanted to start it under a new brand and create something more elevated “Through the first brand I sold a lot of bodysuits to women they wanted different shapes and I knew I could improve it “I listened to what the customers were saying and I spent a good six months just doing research.” Ashly says her patent-pending ComfiClose design is set to “revolutionise how people experience the bodysuit with an innovative closure that reimagines how the wardrobe staple should feel and fit” the ComfiClose clasp is located at the tailbone to avoid irritation said: “What struck me was how uncomfortable the poppers were at your intimate area And I remember thinking it looked like a torture device where is it going to be the most seamless place to put it And I realised that the best place to put it was actually at your tailbone “I am proud of what we are creating at Ashly Rae and the ComfiClose design is a real labour of love “My hope is that people will walk with more confidence because they feel good in our clothing and for those who find bodysuits uncomfortable I hope they develop a newfound love for this classic wardrobe item.” The bodysuit, which comes in black and heather grey Ashly is keen to open a store and expand her range of classic wardrobe staples She said: “I want to create pieces that women can wear to work can wear in their day and feel like it’s something they’re investing in “Timeless pieces that are comfortable and truly wearable “I would definitely love to be face-to-face with customers So whether that’s through a shop or whether that’s through pop-ups “I would love to get into some department stores like Harvey Nichols and Bloomingdale’s in the US.” A historic Church of Scotland kirk near Banchory has been listed for sale with a £78,000 price tag the picturesque Durris kirk replaced a medieval church where worship can be traced back to a 13th century roll by the papal-tax collector in Scotland its bargain price also includes a wooden hall located nearby It’s part of a large-scale sell-off by the Church of Scotland which is under pressure to downsize in response to dwindling congregations And it aims to sell 40% of its properties between 2017 and 2027 But it also has potential to be converted into a theatre Durris Church’s listing follows the sale of Braemar Kirk in November It was purchased by the same Swiss art dealers who transformed Fife Arms Hotel into an iconic five-star hotel Iwan and Manuela Wirth’s hospitality and development company Artfarm paid “well above” the £160,000 valuation for the B-listed Braemar Church Durris Church has a total floor space of 2,056 square feet Including a ground floor area with entrance vestibule the first floor gallery has stepped pews and storage A special condition of the sale is that the buyer must construct and maintain a stockproof fence between the land included in the sale and the remainder of the glebe field the brochure says the adjoining graveyard is owned and maintained by the local authority ground with a wooden hall that has been used as a meeting room Click here for the Durris Church listing and to see other Church of Scotland buildings available for sale Not many people can say their home comes with a bell tower But then again St Devenicks on the Hill is unlike any other property as William and Kay Thomson discovered after falling in love with the former church turned family home 21 years ago “We bought the property in 2003 and it was our first home as a married couple and the first home for our eldest daughter,” says Kay “We actually saw it featured for sale in a newspaper while we were living in France “The property is unique and beautiful – who else has a bell tower “You can clearly see the skills of those who built it nearly 200 years ago and the history in the carved wood “We love the soaring ceilings and volume of the space but it still feels very much like a home.” the former church was renovated in the 1990s to create an amazing family home “It was originally built as a Free Kirk and the previous owner renovated it in the 1990s,” says Kay “We have one set of the original stained-glass windows and the building retains many original features As well as the incredible period features, Kay and William, who have two daughters, Charlotte, 19, and Verity, 15, also fell in love with the home’s semi-rural location in the serene suburb of Banchory Devenick “We have really enjoyed the location of the property as it’s a couple of miles from the city but feels a million miles away,” says Kay stunning views and it’s close to nature so you can feel the seasons change and be totally relaxed and at peace it’s impossible not to be in awe of this otherworldly property But it’s over the threshold where the property’s charm and character can be fully appreciated Undoubtedly the beating heart of the home is the sleek and stylish dining kitchen a free-standing four-ring gas range cooker integrated appliances and space for dining sit-down family meals can be savoured in the attractive dining/family room with views over the back garden Also on the ground floor is a stylish shower room a spacious workshop/store and a large understairs storage cupboard there are four beautiful bedrooms including the master bedroom which has an array of stunning period features including a cathedral window a vaulted ceiling with original exposed ceiling beams as well as an en suite bathroom all of which have decorative ceiling beams It’s the space and number of bedrooms that Kay thinks will appeal most to buyers “It’s a large house and the bedrooms are huge,” say Kay “There is plenty of room for family members to each have their space but also to come together in the living areas.” Also on the upper floor is a charming formal lounge with a striking vaulted ceiling with decorative exposed beams cathedral windows and an inglenook fireplace with a wood burning stove a concealed staircase provides access to a study which would be perfect as a home office Completing the upper level is a mezzanine landing the garden offers plenty of space for children to burn off energy or for family barbecues in the summer will miss their home but are happy in the knowledge that it will bring so much joy to another family with the log burner heating the entire space and the warm tones of the wood lit up by the winter sun,” says Kay magical family home but it’s time to move on and let another family create memories in this house “The property will likely suit a family with children who are looking for their forever home.” To arrange a viewing contact Mackinnons on 01224 868687 or check out the website aspc.co.uk/ Banchory energy firm Subsea Micropiles is planning to grow its team following a seven-figure cash injection which specialises in marine anchor systems for offshore projects said the move will help reduce import requirements within the sector The Brathens Eco Business Park-based firm has received a £9.2 million investment led by £6.7m from the Scottish National Investment Bank and £2.5m funding from Marubeni Itochu Steel Inc The company was founded in 2017 by Derek Robertson who had previously served in the US Navy Around 100 jobs are expected to be created over the next five years as the firm looks to further develop its technology and expand operations in Scotland said: “There is so much potential in Scotland’s offshore wind market and we are excited to play our part in the supply chain with our lower cost system that “Our plan to manufacture anchors in Scotland will help reduce import requirements for key offshore components and our technology will give further flexibility and reliability to developers by using smaller and more readily available vessels along with remote seabed drilling systems.” A new manufacturing facility will be built but no further information has been revealed about its location The firm currently has nine employees at its Banchory base with another two members of staff joining in coming weeks Subsea Micropiles, headquartered in Dublin, said its marine anchor system is designed for industrialisation allowing large offshore construction projects to be completed at lower cost with reduced environmental impact The micropiles are suitable for a wider range of load requirements and soil conditions helping unlock opportunities in the floating offshore wind industry The technology is less carbon intensive due to the use of smaller vessels and is a low-noise and low-vibration alternative to driven piles reducing disturbances to marine ecosystems “Subsea Micropiles’ technology aligns to our net zero and innovation missions as an impact-led investment bank.” president & chief executive at Marubeni – Itochu Steel Inc said: “We recognise the pioneering spirit of Subsea Micropiles and are proud to join the round with investment in a leading innovator of scalable industrial offshore foundations “We are aligned in our vision of supporting the growth of global offshore wind and a more sustainable future.” Bridge of Bennie is a serene Banchory sanctuary the stunning four-bedroom property and two-bedroom cottage has been the perfect place for Alastair and Ruth Glegg to bring up their family “We are hoping that the new owners will enjoy staying here as much as we have,” says Alastair but after 44 years it’s time for us to move on and give a younger family a chance to enjoy making use of all the facilities and the benefits of living here.” the property was originally just a single-storey home before it was extended and doubled in size in the 1930s “It was later run as a small holding by a widow and her daughter,” says Ruth “Two Aberdeen brothers who were posties came to work in Banchory and after finishing early in the day went to help “One of them married the daughter and stayed in Bridge of Bennie until he needed full time care “In fact the original well supplying water to the house (now ornamental) features in the front garden of the property.” It was while expecting their first child that Ruth and Alastair moved from Aberdeen to Bridge of Bennie in 1981 “We decided that Banchory would be a wonderful place to stay and bring up a family,” says Ruth “It proved to be so as we still love the supportive and active community of Banchory which is why we’re downsizing locally.” who worked as a civil engineer in the water industry “We saw the potential of the then un-modernised property with its large plot of land,” says Alastair “So we renovated it and doubled the house size to accommodate our growing family.” Ruth and Alastair have made a marvellous job of restoring the historic home to its former glory the property really comes into its own inside where an attractive hallway opens up the home At the beating heart of the home is a stylish dining kitchen complete with a wood burning stove together with a large larder fridge and dishwasher welcoming kitchen fitted out by Ashley Ann Kitchens which is ideal for entertaining family and friends,” says Ruth “It also has a formal dining room which could also be a family snug featuring a window seat overlooking the garden.” there’s an elegant formal lounge with fantastic views over the garden “The sitting room is a delightful light room with double aspect windows overlooking the grounds and adjoining woods,” says Alastair there is a family bathroom plus four sumptuous double bedrooms there is also a fantastic cottage with a sun lounge two bedrooms – one with an ensuite cloakroom – and a shower room “In the late 1990s Ruth’s mother needed more assistance so we happily engaged with our neighbour and the award-winning builder Bruce McCombie to build a two-bedroom bungalow with easy access,” says Alastair “Ruth’s mother lived there happily with the support of the teenage family until she moved into residential care.” the couple operated the cottage as a self-catering property “For nearly twenty years the cottage has been very successfully let as a self-catering property,” says Alastair Many visitors came annually and have become friends “The cottage provides many alternative possibilities for future use.” An attractive paved courtyard separates the house from the cottage and each property has parking areas for several cars a workshop with generous storage and a triple garage the beautiful garden grounds are a horticultural haven while there is more natural beauty just a stone’s throw away “We have enjoyed being situated in Royal Deeside and in the beautiful valley of the River Dee having easy access to several golf courses ski slopes and its beautiful countryside,” says Alastair “The Sports Village is within walking distance and boasts a swimming pool “There are also several very active churches “Not only that but there’s an Arts Centre nearby and an excellent library which serves the community and is a meeting place for many clubs.” To arrange a viewing contact Aberdein Considine on 01330 824646 or check out the website aspc.co.uk We have no upcoming listings for Banchory Town Hall Region: Scotland Aberdeen Breakneck Comedy Aberdeen His Majesty's Theatre Aberdeen Lemon Tree Aberdeen Music Hall Aberdeen P&J Live Aberdeen Tivoli Theatre Airdrie Town Hall Arbroath Abbey Theatre Arbroath Webster Theatre Ayr Gaiety Theatre Ayr Town Hall Ayr Venue38 Blairgowrie Town Hall Boat of Garten Community Hall Braemar Village Hall Buckie The Fishermen's Hall Carnoustie Comrie Hall Crieff Srathearn Arts Space Cumbernauld New Town Hall Dumbarton Denny Civic Hall Dumfries Easterbrook Hall Dumfries Theatre Royal Dunblane Victoria Hall Dundee Caird Hall Dundee Duck Slatterys Dundee Gardyne Theatre Dundee Rep Dundee Whitehall Theatre Dunfermline Alhambra Dunfermline Carnegie Hall Edinburgh Assembly Rooms Edinburgh Banshee Labyrinth Edinburgh EICC Edinburgh Festival Theatre Edinburgh Monkey Barrel Edinburgh Playhouse Edinburgh The Queens Hall Edinburgh Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh Stand Edinburgh Traverse Theatre Edinburgh Usher Hall Fort Augustus Public Hall Fort William Nevis Centre Galashiels MacArts Galashiels Volunteer Hall Glasgow Blackfriars Basement Glasgow Drygate Glasgow Eastwood Park Theatre Glasgow Garage Glasgow Glee Club Glasgow King's Theatre Glasgow O2 Academy Glasgow Old Fruitmarket Glasgow Old Hairdressers Glasgow Oran Mor Glasgow Ovo Hydro Glasgow Pavilion Theatre Glasgow Queen's Park Arena Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Glasgow SEC Armadillo Glasgow St Luke's Glasgow Stand Glasgow Theatre Royal Glasgow Tron Theatre Glenrothes Rothes Hall Greenock Beacon Arts Centre Greenock Town Hall Haddington Corn Exchange Hamilton The Town House Inverness Eden Court Theatre Inverness Kingsmill Hotel Inverness Town House Inverness Upstairs Inverness Inverurie Town Hall Isle of Skye LAS Portree Johnstone Kilbarchan Performing Arts Centre Kelso Tait Hall Kilmarnock CentreStage Kilmarnock The Park Hotel Kilmarnock Stewarton Area Centre Lanark Memorial Hall Larbert Dobbie Hall Largs Barrfields Theatre Markinch Town Hall Melrose Corn Exchange Mull Theatre Nairn Community and Arts Centre Perth Concert Hall & Theatre St Andrews Byre Theatre Stirling Albert Halls Stirling Tolbooth Stonehaven Station Hotel Stonehaven Town Hall Troon Concert Hall Wick Assembly Rooms Chortle had 173,000 unique visitors in April 2025 We are currently listing 20,981 upcoming comedy events Website and all original content copyright © Chortle 2000 - 2025 Chortle relies on advertisers to fund this website so it’s free for you so we would ask that you disable it for this site A stunning five-bedroom mansion near Banchory has been put on the market with an asking price of £895,000 north-west of Banchory is being sold by agents Aberdein Considine for the price of £895,000 which has been completed to an “exceptional standard” also “commands spectacular country views” from its elevated position Potential buyers will also find over two acres of ground which extends to the rear of the property the “substantial” house is finished with “smooth render larch cladding and granite stonework” that are easy on the eye a grand entrance hall leads into a “stunning” formal lounge with a wood-burning stove set inside a granite fireplace – the “perfect place to relax” there is an impressive combined kitchen and dining room with a variety of bespoke granite surfaces and wood cabinets A patio and utility room lead off the kitchen The rear hall gives access to one of the ground-floor bedrooms as well as the shower and sauna room The upstairs staircase then leads up to a combined office and “game” room which enjoys a “breathtaking” view the master bedroom includes a dressing area Across the landing the rest of the property’s bedrooms can be found an extensive gravel driveway provides ample turning space and there is a tarred area to the front of the double garage which is fitted with an electric door The detached oak framed triple car port provides further sheltered parking and storage The garden grounds are fully enclosed and mostly laid to lawn with a decorative rockery area and a path leads down to the stock proof paddock The property description reads: “An exciting opportunity has arisen to acquire this substantial five bedroom detached architect designed family home which has been completed to an exceptional standard and specification with attention to detail being evident throughout “Designed to complement the natural surroundings this property occupies an elevated position which commands spectacular country views and stands in two acres of ground “Hilltop has been constructed to the highest of standards and should be viewed to appreciate the high quality finish that is evident throughout together with the panoramic country views that this home enjoys.” Emergency services were called to the A980 at Banchory after reports of a crash involving a Toyota car, a Citroen Berlingo van and a Triumph motorbike. Emergency services were called to the B977 at Banchory after reports of a crash involving a Toyota car, a Citroen Berlingo van and a Triumph motorbike. The 35-year-old male rider of the motorbike was taken to hospital where he later died. The road was closed to allow for investigations to take place and re-opened around 10pm. Sergeant Alexander Bowser-Riley said: “Our thoughts are with the family of the man who died and our enquiries into the circumstances are ongoing. “I am appealing for anyone who saw the crash and who hasn’t already spoken to officers to get in touch. “I would also ask anyone who was in the area at the time and may have dash-cam footage which could assist to contact us.” Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 1778 of March 25, 2025. Calum Bowie loved cycling up past the Falls of Feugh and into the fields before sitting under his favourite tree to write songs nothing inspires Calum more than his hometown of Banchory “I find the open skies and winding roads are often what I picture when I’m writing my music,” says Calum especially when I’m down in London.” From busking out of his living room window to performing at Glastonbury the past few years have been a whirlwind for the 23-year-old Aberdeenshire singer But as this interview confirms, his feet are still firmly on the ground as he shares his deep love of Banchory and why he misses it so much What first springs to mind when you think of Banchory There’s something about people from your hometown Every time I come home it’s like I’ve never left and hearing what’s been happening makes me miss it even more I find the open skies and winding roads are often what I picture when I’m writing my music It’s always so nice coming back to my parents and getting some proper food Most memorable night you’ve had here but it’s always fun catching up with everyone who’s home for Christmas I feel like some of the fence-hopping we used to do when we were younger also has to get an honourable mention Best place in Banchory when you’re looking for inspiration There’s also a road that I used to cycle right by it There’s a small pond and a tree in one of the fields that I used to sit under to write some of my first songs Not sure if it’s my first memory but I remember the winter we had in 2008 pretty well Mainly because it was the first time I’d been snowed in and we all used to go sledging down the golf course I’ve put out my first music with a record label played lots of cool festivals – a lot of them for the first time – including Glastonbury I’m now gearing up for my own EU headline tour What are you up to with work at the moment I released my brand new song Edge Of The World on September 13 That’s been a lot of fun to get everything ready for which I’m probably biased about but is my favourite yet So hopefully I’ll get to share some of that soon And I’ll be back in Scotland for two headline shows in Edinburgh in December For more information about Calum Bowie, check out his website calumbowie.com or his Instagram @calumbowiemusic Couple Aimee McPherson and TJ Ludecke are the new owners of the Potarch Cafe near Banchory The pair worked together at the café for almost two years before taking the reins “I’ve always wanted to have my own place But I didn’t maybe think it would be quite this soon “It’s great to be able to do our own thing.” Aimee has worked in hospitality on and off since she was 14 She adds: “It’s been a little bit stressful “TJ and I really enjoy working together.” Working together is effortless for the duo “We almost don’t have to communicate “And we’ve got each other’s backs The couple hope to maintain the “gorgeous atmosphere” currently achieved in the café the café was busy as anything,” says Aimee who is studying midwifery at Robert Gordon University “And it was great to see the faces of locals who come in time and time again “I just want to keep having that constant flow and gorgeous atmosphere “I just want to continue that.” The duo are also planning to “make the café their own” “But we’re going to ease into it “We’ve got a slightly new look inside plus artwork done by one of TJ’s friends.” TJ adds: “We didn’t want to make any crazy changes off the bat because we want it to feel familiar to people that have been coming in.” The rest of the team at the café will be continuing on because we already have a really strong team in place “Being able to keep them on board is great.” The food menu will also be changing in time and offer something different on the menu,” says Aimee “A lot of places around here are your classic soup The couple will also be offering craft beers and natural wines at Potarch Cafe TJ adds: “We’ve got nice brunch dishes on we’ve got a pork belly dish with pommes anna [a layered potato dish] a creamy mushroom dish and some vegan options “I couldn’t put a defining term on the style of food it’s just stuff that we like to eat and cook but hopefully done properly – and it tastes good to us.” TJ says they might open the cafe outside of Banchory during some evenings in the winter months Though they are still “playing around with ideas” the evenings might include three of four course meals for diners Potarch Café near Banchory is open between 10am and 4pm between Thursday and Monday A 35-year-old motorcyclist has died after a three-vehicle crash near Banchory Officers were called to the B977 following a report of a collision involving a Seat Ibiza car a Citroen Berlingo van and a Triumph motorbike around 2:05pm on Tuesday Emergency services attended and the 35-year-old male rider of the motorbike was taken to hospital The road was closed to allow for investigations to take place and reopened after nearly eight hours Road Policing officers are appealing for information following the incident Sergeant Alexander Bowser-Riley said: “Our thoughts are with the family of the man who died and our enquiries into the circumstances are ongoing “I am appealing for anyone who saw the crash and who hasn’t already spoken to officers to get in touch Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 1778 of 25 March The 26-year-old from Banchory was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder in her final year of secondary school during the summer of 2020 when Covid was at its peak she was held in an ICU ward with life-threatening sepsis – an isolating and “alien” experience during which her only contact with her family was by phone when she’s offered the chance by cancer charities to do something she loves – like spend five magnificent days of the summer sailing around the west coast of Scotland – she jumps on it “And this is why — because there are things that I had to miss out on.” It is a unique experience — on a fleet of sail boats up to 44 feet in length the crew spend almost a week at sea zipping around the islands and living onboard It meant reconnecting with friends she made on the last trip But once again it allowed her to spend valuable time with people who have gone through similar experiences to her “There is a feeling of relief that it doesn’t matter bringing it up “There’s no issue going into the deep Jovi’s own diagnosis came when she was just 17 Friends at Banchory Academy started telling her she looked skinny and pale Her mum took her to get a blood test thinking she might be anemic The test was in the afternoon but just a few hours later “I didn’t sleep well that night,” she says with a wry laugh She was told her haemoglobins were low but she didn’t know what that meant Doctors took more blood and did a painful bone marrow biopsy she was diagnosed with something called paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria she could expect to live for another five years who was also told that the treatment was an intravenous injection into her hand every two weeks Her diagnosis came when Jovi’s life was about to hit top gear She’d already been accepted to study archeology at Aberdeen University and friends were making plans for gap years summer trips and all the other exciting things that happen to teens making the jump into adulthood all of that seemed to have been taken from her “Part of me was very much in denial for a long time,” she says because everybody else was living normal lives I didn’t get to go on a girls’ holiday and I spent a lot of my last few months of school either not there or kind of just dipping in and out and it wasn’t how I imagined that transition.” is extremely rare – just five people in a million have it It is a chronic and life-threatening blood disorder that causes the destruction of oxygen-carrying red blood cells Jovi suffered bouts of extreme fatigue that left her unable to think clearly she was often unable to read or write and everything seemed to take her longer to complete than everyone else She eventually suffered an extremely dangerous septic shock a dramatic drop in blood pressure that only three or four people out of 10 survive What made everything worse was Jovi’s timing It was summer 2020 – the height of the Covid pandemic — and the ICUs were full of severely ill Covid patients Jovi was put in a separate ICU with non-Covid patients but the protocols at the time meant she could have no contact with her family Her only means of communicating with them was Facetiming them on her phone Even the hospital staff were distanced from her The Covid rules meant staff had to change their scrubs every time they went into a different ward doctors and nurses that needed to speak to Jovi resorted to simply writing a message on a bit of paper and holding it up against the window Jovi is on a new medication that is more efficient and has improved her symptoms I’m living a bit more of a normal life now.” That life includes studying for a PhD in archeology at Aberdeen University and her by now almost regular summer sailing trips After loving the adventure last year she couldn’t wait to do it again the excitement building until the moment she stepped back aboard “I knew from experience what an amazing week it was going to be And I just couldn’t wait to get started.” It also gave her lots of new photos for her Instagram page The page has another use — helping other young people living through their own PNH diagnoses And every time someone gets in touch to thank Jovi for talking about it she’s reminded that those life moments she missed out on because of her condition haven’t all been in vain “If I had the chance to take away the experiences I’ve had with my health over the last eight years An armed robber has been jailed for breaking into a flat three weeks before he carried out a terrifying knifepoint raid at a Banchory Co-op Ben Kelbie raided the home in Arbroath shortly before his acquisitive offending escalated significantly Kelbie appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court by videolink from prison to admit breaking into the flat in the town’s Glenesk Place on February 2 last year He pled guilty to stealing a games console and cash from inside the property Kelbie went on to hold staff at the Co-op in Banchory at knifepoint stating he would not hesitate to hurt them cocaine and valium when he walked into the store wielding a large kitchen knife and terrified the teenage staff He made off with £250 from the till and said he felt “invincible” at the time For that offence, 25-year-old Kelbie, of Bloomfield Gardens, Arbroath, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years imprisonment and will be subject to a supervised release order when he is liberated In connection with the latest offence for which he appeared in court solicitor Nick Markowski said his client had a crack cocaine problem at the time “He’s doing well in the prison estate,” the lawyer said “He’s hoping to move to open conditions next year “The complainer is somebody who was known to him.” Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown commended Kelbie’s progress in jail and imposed a two month concurrent sentence Pranee’s Thai Kitchen started out as a private Facebook group for Pranee Marsh to “share food with close friends” she had made through Hill of Banchory School Born and raised in Surin – a rural province of Eastern Thailand – the now 42-year-old taught Thai language to foreign students in Bangkok before uprooting to the north-east of Scotland in 2016 due to her husband’s job Despite having “no formal food industry background” Pranee has always had a love for authentic Thai cooking And this passion became a way to connect with people and make friends in her new home in Banchory “The group [Pranee’s Thai Kitchen] started in 2017 and quickly grew I had to formalise things with the council in order to serve more people,” she tells me “I got my kitchen certified in 2022 and that was when the business really started.” Pranee’s Thai Kitchen offers a weekly catering service Orders can be made at any point through the week and collected from her home on Friday afternoons All the food is cooked fresh on the day of collection and vegetarian panang curry are just some of the flavour-packed dishes to expect but Pranee also makes three types of cooking sauces – stir fry pad ka-pao and pad Thai – that retail locally (in 14 locations) and online for £4.99 “The dishes and sauces I make are the same ones I grew up with and know the best,” says Pranee “I love sharing Thailand’s cuisine with people who are not too familiar with it “The average cost of a cooked-to-order dish is around £9 “I also cater for parties and events (on request) and they are costed to the customer’s requirements.” While the entrepreneur runs Pranee’s Thai Kitchen as a one-woman band – and is “engaged with the business every day” – she is assisted with label design and advertising by her husband Thomas Pranee also attends the monthly Banchory Farmers’ Market The business owner has three main influences when it comes to her cooking and Pranee said: “My dishes are inspired by my mum’s cooking and the importance of cooking in Thai culture “It’s something that runs very deep within Thai people we always connect with others through our food “I can find almost everything I need locally as there are some great Aberdeenshire shops that sell specialist Asian ingredients “The only thing I get sent individually from Thailand is the tamarind I use to make my pad Thai sauce My mum grows them on our family smallholding and I think they are just the best!” Since Pranee’s Thai Kitchen was established she has made many friends in Banchory and beyond and has loved living in the north-east “The only downside is the weather,” says Pranee I was welcomed into the community immediately “I’ve also made so many new friends and that’s been wonderful “Sharing my recipes and dishes with the local community and getting such a good reaction to them has been fantastic “I would like to thank everyone who has supported me and my small business so far especially Barry Florence at H M Sheridan [Butchers] and David Ritchie of Banchory Farmers’ Market I wouldn’t have been able to get the business this far!” The 42-year-old is currently looking into stocking her sauces in more retailers “I really believe in these products and I’m always trying to get the word out about how versatile they are They are an easy way to add delicious flavour I’d like for them to become a kitchen staple.” To make an order or find out more information, visit the business’ Facebook page or  www.praneesthaikitchen.co.uk Four friends have taken over The Stag Hotel on Banchory’s High Street in what they call a “dream move.” Local brothers Scott and Bruce McCombie along with friends Mark Anderson and John Wink are the new owners of the iconic Deeside establishment which was run by the previous landlords for more than 20 years The foursome have spent “every weekend” of their adult years in the pub – and they are so excited to take the venture on Speaking exclusively to The Press and Journal they also revealed that they are teaming up with popular Aberdeen pizza chain to bring food to The Stag for the first time in more than 15 years It will offer both sit-in and takeaway pizzas and smash burgers from mid-September Big Manny’s will also be helping to renovate the kitchen in the coming weeks The new venture follows in the footsteps of Big Manny’s successful Holburn Street enterprise, The Adam Lounge. Scott, Bruce, Mark and John told us how they visit the pub “every weekend” and are hardened veterans of the Royal Deeside inn. They snapped up the opportunity to run the hotel a few weeks ago after the business went on the market last year Previous owner James Rooney – who ran The Stag with his wife Kathleen – sadly died in 2021. When his funeral cortege drove past the Stag hundreds of people lined the streets to applaud said: “We’re local lads and we spent our weekends here when we were growing up “We are all very excited about the opportunity “The place is always busy so we didn’t want to change too much about it and lose the clientele But we’ve been trying to make it better “Bringing in the food was the first thing on the list we had to do “We saw the potential in the kitchen and we phoned Calum from Big Manny’s straight away.” The group have no prior hospitality experience but they say their experience in joinery will prepare them for the months ahead as they tweak The Stag Calum Wright said the space on Banchory’s High Street was perfect for a new partnership He said a lot of people from the area travel into Aberdeen to visit Adam’s Lounge He added that the response to the announcement “has been huge.” “We’ve been keen to expand further into Aberdeenshire and Scott got in touch a few months ago about that,” he said we know this type of co-habitation works quite well “This will be our sixth or seventh location in total but this is the first time we are expanding the burger operation and a pint setup works quite well for this type of establishment – sometimes it’s more manageable than a large pizza “It’s probably the busiest pub in Banchory – we are anticipating to serve a lot of food in- house but we will also have our own delivery drivers as well “Some already thought we were open last weekend they’ve been calling up for pizzas already!” Co-owner Scott added: “Big Manny’s was our first port of call when we were thinking of adding food to the hotel “The place has been missing food for a good few years.” Banchory became a blur of colour today as scores of people took part in the town’s annual Boxing Day fun run First taking place in 1981 the event has become a tradition for both residents and visitors alike and sees participants make a circuit of the town over the course of the morning This year, funds raised from the event were earmarked for the Kincardine and Deeside Befriending Group Our photographer Kami Thomson ventured out to the run to capture just some of the action from the day Can you spot yourself or your loved ones in his images below Banchory Lodge Caravan Park is demolishing a house to make way for more Deeside tourists the new owner of a £1.2 million Aberdeen mansion has unveiled home improvement plans and a historic gate lodge at Inverurie is in line for a refurbishment All these and more feature in this week’s Planning Ahead our weekly round-up of the latest proposals being pondered across the north-east Every week we bring readers a selection of the most interesting applications submitted to our councils to form changes big and small in our communities let’s celebrate our recent warm weather with some appropriately refreshing plans… but summer has finally arrived in the north-east over the past week or so And what better way to celebrate than with an ice cream Building papers reveal plans to turn an empty unit at 230 Holburn Street in Aberdeen into a new parlour and coffee shop The site had been put up for sale for offers of more than £40,000 These new plans have been put forward by Harish Maliekkal 230 Holburn Street had been the home of Deeside Cleaners for years before being turned into a barber shop latterly The store is just along from the Sera Mediterranean restaurant and New York Pizza, and across from a former Co-op which could soon become a cake shop some might argue that Marischal College isn’t all that often associated with bright ideas one illuminating concept for the building has now been given the green light by historians Officials plan to brighten up the quadrangle at the heart of the A-listed venue with 11 floodlights Historians have now given the plans their backing saying they wouldn’t adversely affect the famous granite landmark It comes after we revealed that pesky seagulls are causing problems at the site by clogging up guttering There are now plans to ensure they can get a good clearing out, and Aberdeen’s largest granite building can be safe from harm. Marischal College isn’t the only city centre building to be getting a bit of a glow-up… The beloved Exodus club is getting a 90s makeover as it becomes a Popworld venue Exodus marked its last night with an emotional bash a few weeks ago, as punters belted out Proud Mary one final time.  the owners have lodged plans for some changes to the exterior as they look to refurbish and reopen the place as soon as possible They want to install two illuminated lanterns at the doorway on Belmont Street along with 12 floodlights all around the A-listed building new window vinyls will be plastered over the panes showcasing Popworld’s colourful logo The plans have been put forward by pub kingpins the Stonegate Group who already owned Triplekirks and also run the Popworld chain Popworld describes itself as “cheese with style” specialising in guilty pleasures and chart toppers from across the decades The changes come amid moves to attract older revellers across the nightlife sector. The huge home at 15 Rubislaw Den North in Aberdeen’s plush west end sold for a whopping £1.21 million in April is seeking permission for a few internal changes at the listed property She wants to remove a utility room to make way for a bigger kitchen while turning the adjoining sitting room into a dining room Rubislaw Den North is known as Aberdeen’s “Millionaire’s Row” A few weeks ago, Planning Ahead covered proposals for the nearby Braco Lodge, at number 11, after its sale for £1.3m. dates back to 1663 when the land was taken over by the 1st Earl of Kintore was renamed Keithhall House around that time It was converted to 14 houses and flats in the 1980s Various other buildings have been added to the Donside expanse over time Three gate lodges were built at entrances to the estate in the 1800s the North Lodge designed by Aberdeen architect William Ramage and erected in 1854 is at the heart of freshly formed revamp plans This comes after it was sold for £200,000 last April Owners Jack Leonard and Cheryl Rogerson now want to spruce up the C-listed building Conservation architect Deborah Anderson has compiled a report on what the North Lodge is like just now – and its history Documents sent to the council state: “Gate lodges can be referred to as small houses at the gates of the grounds of a large house “It would usually be occupied by a gatekeeper gardener or other employee of the estate.” She explains that the “decorative style” was designed to “show off” landowners’ prosperity to passers-by The report adds: “It created a positive first impression to the visitor before viewing the impressive main house.” The architect says the unoccupied North Lodge is “starting to show signs of decay due to no heating” She adds: “The best way forward would be to bring it back into use as a family dwellinghouse by repairs and restoring it.” This will include various measures to enhance energy efficiency a “dilapidated” garage would be demolished and replaced and an extension will be torn down and replaced The report further explains that the building within the “beautiful setting” at Donside has attracted anti-social behaviour while lying in a “state of disrepair” It states: “While the design phase has taken place the site has suffered from a spate of vandalism and the lodge has been broken into three times “It is our client’s aim to now prioritise the upgrading works to allow the building to be fit for habitation and reduce the chance of vandalism.” Aberdeen’s most famous architect, Archibald Simpson, pops up quite often in our planning round-up – most recently with regard to the bank building/Wetherspoon pub named after him and ultimately took over Simpson’s his practice following his death in 1847 and is buried at St Clement’s Church next to Fittie About two years ago, Planning Ahead documented similar proposals to do up the East Lodge at Keithhall Estate.  a few have given Ballater Community Council their permission to enhance paths around Monaltrie Park Sections of the stretch belong to Aberdeenshire Council, the Invercauld Estate and interior designer Mikhail Pietranek – who owns a mansion there The local volunteers say it needs widened and resurfaced in order to better serve locals and visitors A selection of proposed “before and after” images show how the path will be improved: It’s the time of year for folk to get away from it all with a bit of a holiday More and more families are embracing the idea of caravan stays with living costs meaning that many are holidaying in Scotland rather than abroad And the owners of the Banchory Lodge Caravan Park are planning an expansion of their Dee Street site to accommodate more campers This will mean demolishing a large home at the entrance which is deemed to be “in poor condition” The property was once used as accommodation for site managers but was later let out to tenants before falling empty in the last few years Documents sent to Aberdeenshire Council explain that many renters don’t fancy living in a caravan park They state: “Given the location and condition of the property the applicant has found it difficult to tenant the property “It is felt that the site’s location within the caravan park would be better utilized as part of the caravan park business providing pitches for touring camper vans.” there are more than 100 static caravans at the Banchory Lodge park just now The local authority’s planning department has now endorsed the proposals They say the idea is an “acceptable” way “to extend the established tourism business and meet its demands” We finish this week’s round-up with news from another north-east caravan park… Nia Roo Park at Newmachar is a retirement park with units mainly used for permanent occupation bosses decided that the short-term let side of the business was “no longer viable” They asked Aberdeenshire Council for permission to turn these caravans into permanent homes to meet rising demand for this side of things Management argued there was a growing waiting list of folk wanting to reside at the peaceful spot But decision-makers said the units in question were not suitable to properly live in And the 19 caravans that had been earmarked for this purpose have been “cleared from the site” since that blow Miller Parks Ltd now want to put in 14 new units at the spot instead designating them as second/holiday homes rather than short-term holiday lets Some of these new units would be of the high-end Kensington variety: These would be sold strictly as holiday homes bosses are keen for the council to relax a rule which limits stays to a maximum period of six weeks The application is currently being considered Holburn Street ice cream shop Marischal College lighting latest Popworld plans Rubislaw Den North home Keithhall North Lodge  Ballater path plan Banchory Lodge Caravan Park proposal  Newmachar caravan park changes We’re here to support you with our services Download and order a range of resources to help you manage your condition. Read the inspiring stories of the amazing people who are living life to the full with a long-term health condition. confidential advice and support from our Advice Line practitioners Advice Line Every day people in Scotland are leaving hospital feeling scared and alone Join Scotland’s Fundraising Heroes by getting involved with one of our exciting events or challenges! Use our Store Finder to find your local shop or boutique and pop in to see us today. You can make sure stroke survivors in Scotland like Tim get the support they need after returning home from hospital We are Scotland’s largest health charity working to help people with chest heart and stroke conditions live life to the full Find out about the incredible impact your support is having and the amazing things you’re helping to achieve. Search our current job opportunities to find a new role that’s rewarding exciting and allows you to make a real difference every day Work With Us Brave the epic 10km obstacle course race at Knockburn Loch and tackle over 30 amazing obstacles take a dip in the icy loch and wade through thick mud This year is set to be bigger and better than ever before with new and upgraded obstacles to tackle unexpected new challenges around the event base the legendary beast warm up is going up a notch and there will be great music and awesome street food all day whether you’re taking on a personal challenge or braving the Beast as a team atmospheric obstacle race with plenty of mud fancy dress and camaraderie is perfect for you Have a muddy good time and raise vital funds to make sure the 1 in 5 people in Scotland living with chest heart and stroke conditions get the support they need to live life to the full To secure your free charity place, contact [email protected] Charity places for the event are free and we’re asking all our fundraising heroes to promise to raise at least £150 in sponsorship We will provide all the support you need to help you meet and beat your fundraising goal Every penny you raise will go towards helping someone in Scotland rebuild their life and get back to doing the things that matter to them when they return home from hospital with a chest whose life completely changed when he suffered a serious stroke in 2020 not knowing if I would see my family again.” I was a footballer and a football coach but stroke has left me paralysed on my left-hand side and now I have to use a wheelchair “But I haven’t had to go through all of this on my own When I got out of hospital after nine months Gillian from Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland was there for me and she did so much to help me adapt to my new life “A stroke is a scary thing to happen to anyone but being supported by Gillian and a charity like CHSS takes a lot of that fear away Everyone needs a Gillian in their life after stroke.” you’ll be helping fund our vital support services so more people across Scotland can get the support they need when they return home from hospital If you need any support to make your fantastic fundraising ideas really fly Email – [email protected] Or send a message directly using this form Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" © Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland 2025 Telephone: 0131 225 6963 General enquiries [email protected] Media enquiries [email protected] amazing might not be the first word that springs to mind she had such a positive experience when giving birth to her daughter Sunny that she is now on a mission to help other women experience the same “Yes it does get painful at points but you know that’s going to end and that you’re stronger than the pain.” So how did Rebecca feel so strong both mentally and physically good during her childbirth The 34-year-old from Banchory says it was all down to hypnobirthing a technique that uses practical ways to make giving birth a more peaceful and calm experience pain and things going wrong,” says Rebecca “The only reason I had an amazing birth with Sunny is because I blocked out the noise When Rebecca first discovered she was pregnant she admits that she felt completely out of her depth until she discovered hypnobirthing it was a surprise – it wasn’t something that my partner and I planned at all,” says Rebecca “At the time I was very focused on my career as we were living in London “I felt very unprepared as I realised that I didn’t know anything about being pregnant or childbirth or what I wanted “So I knew that I needed to get control over what was happening and that’s when I found hypnobirthing.” From self-relaxation and pain management techniques to empowering women to know their rights and make informed decisions when it comes to the birth Rebecca says hypnobirthing helped her on so many levels people just assume hypnobirthing is airy-fairy but it’s not “It’s about self-relaxation and pain management through practices like self-hypnosis which can help you get into a very deep state of relaxation “And when you’re in this deep state of relaxation you tend to feel less pain because you’re more relaxed as there’s less adrenalin in your body and more oxytocin so it’s perfect for childbirth and labour.” Rebecca says hypnobirthing also gave her confidence in the decision-making process people were asking me about what kind of birth I wanted and I was like ‘oh I’ll just go to the hospital and will do as I’m told’,” says Rebecca I decided to have a home birth and it was amazing “So it’s about how to do it in a way that you’ll still maintain a good relationship with your midwife while having the power to say ‘well I don’t think that’s right for me’.” Rebecca says her childbirth experience was nothing but positive “We were staying in a really tiny flat in Hammersmith but we put up a pool in the living room and I actually asked the midwife to wait in the spare bedroom because I felt so confident,” says Rebecca “Everything that I’d learned through hypnobirthing and the positive affirmations I’d practiced about trusting myself and my body just made me feel so relaxed “It was exciting and I was able to relax and enjoy it Inspired by her positive birthing experience Rebecca has now become a hypnobirthing instructor and has launched The Sunny Birth Club named after her two-year-old daughter Sunny “I’m still at the early stages with The Sunny Birth Club but I ran a free class during the summer and it was amazing,” says Rebecca “It was a great turn-out with women who were all at different stages of their pregnancy “Some of the women were on their second or third child so they had previous experiences that they wanted to change.” Rebecca, who works part-time with the Aberdeen charity Instant Neighbour also does one-to-one courses with couples in their homes “One lady I worked with had a very traumatic first birth and she felt very out of control so the second time round she wanted to tailor the experience to how she wanted it,” says Rebecca Rebecca says it’s also important to support their birthing partners too “Quite often birthing partners are left out of antenatal education,” says Rebecca “But there’s a huge part that the birthing partner can do to help whether it’s just creating the right environment or advocating for their partner “Birthing partners can quite often feel terrified due to what they’ve seen on TV or what they’ve heard so it’s important to teach them relaxation techniques and ways to find a bit of control and to be as useful as possible.” Next month, Rebecca is hosting another free hypnobirthing class at the Deeside Wellbeing Collective in Banchory on Saturday December 7 at 10am “I’m super excited about this as it’s in a new wellbeing studio,” says Rebecca For more information about the free session, go to Rebecca’s website sunnybirthclub.com or check out her Instagram page @sunnybirthclub A BIKER has died after a horror three car crash on a Scots road His Triumph motorbike was involved in the collision with a Seat Ibiza car and a Citroen Berlingo van yesterday around 2.05pm at Banchory, Aberdeenshire. The 35-year-old male rider was raced to hospital where he later died The people in the van and car were not injured in the smash on the A980 Cops locked down the road for around eight hours as they began probing the tragic smash Traffic officers have urged anyone with information to come forward officers received a report of a crash involving a Seat Ibiza car a Citroen Berlingo van and a Triumph motorbike "Emergency services attended and the 35 year-old male rider of the motorbike was taken to hospital where he later died "The occupants of the car and van were not injured "The road was closed to allow for investigations to take place and re-opened around 10pm." For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Scottish Sun Thescottishsun.co.uk is your go to destination for the best celebrity news Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thescottishsun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheScottishSun Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click here The incident occurred on North Deeside Road between Kincardine O'Neil and Banchory on Sunday afternoon. Emergency services were called to the scene on North Deeside Road between Kincardine O’Neil and Banchory around 3pm on Sunday. It is not known if there any any injuries as a result of the crash at this time. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 3pm on Sunday, 4 August, 2024, we were called to a report of a road crash on the A93 near Banchory. “Officers are at the scene and the road is closed.” When Ann McRobb and her cousin Kevin Thomson put their minds to something the dynamic duo have been pounding the streets in preparation for the Manchester Marathon the pair are determined to raise as much money as they can for the Banchory dementia charity the Forget Me Not Club It’s a cause particularly close to Ann’s heart as her beloved father-in-law Tom McRobb bravely faced vascular dementia before he sadly died Not only that but Ann’s mum Helen Copland was also diagnosed with dementia last year “Every step I take in this marathon is for Tom and for everyone impacted by dementia,” says Ann “Dementia doesn’t just affect the person living with it; it touches entire families “That’s why we’re running to support Forget Me Not and support for families navigating this journey and I want to do my part to help them continue their vital mission.” who runs an Aberdeen-based training and competency consultancy is no stranger to going the extra mile for good causes half marathons and even a marathon for local charities,” says Ann “Last year I did the Brighton Marathon for the VSA (Voluntary Services Aberdeen) because my late father-in-law was cared for at Ruthrieston House and it was really good for him I said I would never do a marathon again but when my mum was diagnosed with vascular dementia last May we knew that we were then going through the same situation again “So I knew I wanted to do something for the Forget Me Not Club as it’s an amazing local charity which doesn’t get the recognition that it deserves.” Joining Ann on her marathon mission is her cousin Kevin who is determined to push himself out of his comfort zone to help raise as much money as he can for the local charity “When I initially signed up for the marathon I was quite daunted as I’ve never ran a marathon before so it’s a big challenge,” says Kevin “But I’ve actually enjoyed the training more than I thought I would “It was hard during that cold spell between the end of December and January but we kept going “It sounds weird but I love being outside pounding the pavements at 8am.” who travels extensively as part of her job “Running gives me something to focus on outwith my working life and being away “It’s been great to train with Kevin as we both motivate each other Kevin will motivate me to run and vice versa.” Ahead of the Manchester Marathon on Sunday April 27 Ann and Kevin visited the Forget Me Not Club in Banchory to see how the money they raise will make a difference the charity supports people living with dementia by providing social interaction physical activities and mental stimulation while offering families and carers a well-earned break says they simply wouldn’t exist without the stellar support they receive from fundraisers like Ann and Kevin not us as people but what it does for our members and their families,” says Eunice “What we do is to try and make their lives as happy and enjoyable as we can “We help them to live with dignity and purpose “We’re all about having fun and focusing on what they can still do not what they can’t do anymore it gives families a respite break to enable them to continue in their caring role.” Equally as delighted by Ann and Kevin’s efforts is Emily Clark the fundraising and events co-ordinator at the charity “We can’t overstate how much we appreciate the support,” says Emily “We’re so immensely grateful to Ann and her cousin Kevin and all our supporters for championing the charity and people with dementia in general “It’s a challenging financial climate for everybody and people with dementia are often forgotten about To witness at first hand the incredible support the charity provides local people has inspired Ann and Kevin to give the marathon their all “It will be emotional,” says Ann “I’m sure we’ll be crying our eyes out at the end because we’ve done it.” Cheering for them on the day will be Kevin’s wife Kelly and their children Rhianna and Blake Ann’s four friends will also be there to spur them on during the 26.2 mile run “My best friend Lisa Durward’s mum had dementia so she has been my biggest supporter and savour,” says Ann Rooting for them back home will be Ann’s husband Gary son Patrick as well as her stepdaughter Carrie and stepson Clarke Anyone who would like to donate can do so via Ann’s Just Giving page at justgiving.com/page/ann-mcrobb-8?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL or Kevin’s page justgiving.com/page/kevin-thomson-1?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL Or for more information about the Forget Me Not Club check out their website forgetmenotclub.co.uk or their Facebook page The 25 best running events in 2025 – from Aberdeen to the Highlands and Islands Colour analysis has been on my radar for a while now but I had never worked up the courage to get it done for myself thanks to an incredible woman from Banchory Rosee Elliott has been a stylist and colour analyst for House of Colour ever since she retired from teaching 10 years ago She works in her studio in Banchory to help people feel and look their best using colour analysis and personal styling First Rosee talked me through the colour wheel and how the colour seasons work Each person can be assigned a “season” of colours that suits them best “Colour analysis is a process based on figuring out which colours are going to suit you best The concept is the ‘right’ colours will give you a glow.” “There’s a whole spectrum of those magical colours out there for you and colour analysis will help you find them.” “The ‘wrong’ colours will make you look tired That is definitely a look that you want to avoid.” being sustainable with our choices of clothes is no longer an option “Understanding the colours and styles that suit you makes this whole process easier and faster it will also save you time and money!” She started bringing out the ‘drapes’; square sample fabrics in the same shades as the colour wheel She covered my hair and clothes and asked me to take off any make-up so she could analyse based on my face alone What if all my favourite colours to wear are suddenly written off after I’m told they aren’t in my season What if I have to overhaul my entire wardrobe after this My worries soon dissolved once Rosee took me through each colour in front of the mirror She determined that I suited blue-based shades after wrapping me in two drapes – an icy white and then a warm cream It took me a second to see the difference it made to my features but after a second something clicked in my head The white made my eyes pop and the cream made the redness in my cheeks a little too noticeable Seeing the two shades back-to-back made the difference obvious to me I could see how the shade of white brightened my features From there she ruled out autumn and spring seasons since the shades in those seasons are primarily yellow-based we went through the summer and winter shades one after the other The summer drapes are soft and muted and the winter shades are icy and bright I could see the subtle difference the colours make to my skin the summer colours washed me out compared to the striking shades of winter “You’re a Winter – there’s absolutely no doubt about it!” Rosee said comparing the summer pink to the winter pink The bold winter colours complimented my eyes and made my imperfections – the ones I feel quite insecure about – much less noticeable “The right colours make you feel confident about yourself.” Rosee tells me “You look healthy and vibrant which means people are more likely to buy into that confidence – giving you a competitive edge wherever and whatever you are doing with your life “I simply love seeing clients go through that transformation … it’s about that caterpillar evolving into that gorgeous butterfly She gave me a foundation to even out my completion and began picking out lipsticks Rosee explains: “A woman only needs three lipsticks.” After deciding I’m in the winter season I have had plenty of lipsticks over the years but my red and burgundy shades are the ones I gravitate towards Pink lipstick has always been tricky for me I have tried plenty of shades but I don’t seem to like any of them – despite pink being my favourite colour The pink Rosee picked out for me was brighter than I would normally use so I’m not entirely convinced The whole experience was incredibly interesting to me – I’m the first to admit that I’m a fashion nerd Learning about the science behind fashion has given me a different lens to view my own wardrobe There were some shades Rosee recommended to me that I probably wouldn’t have considered before Electric blue and magenta are among those colours I’m not sure I can part with some pieces in my closet that aren’t in my season but I’ll be keeping the winter palette in mind on my next shopping trip This gives me an excuse to experiment with my wardrobe and introduce new colours to my closet – ones that complement my features and make me look my best fashion is all about experimentation and having fun so if I get to look great while doing that – that makes it even better A 10ft snake had to be rescued from a Banchory art gallery after it managed to get into a vent and into the building lives at a flat above Studio 1 in the Aberdeenshire town’s Scott Skinner Square the gallery and shop’s manager Viv Kerridge said: “She managed to get into a vent and fell through our bathroom roof.” The snake’s owner Martin Wolski discovered his pet was missing and thought it may be downstairs in Studio 1 Mrs Kerridge explained: “After a frantic morning trying to find where she had managed to get to he could see a lot of the merchandise was on the floor and he knew that we weren’t usually that messy so he was pretty certain that she was in the shop.” Bodhi knocked down a number of things from the shop’s displays and Mrs Kerridge said she got a message from her boss explaining the situation “She and I rushed down to get the shop open so that Martin could go in and rescue her safely “We figured the best thing to do was let Martin in with his snake handling tools and let him pick her up.” The python was there and Mr Wolski managed to rescue his beloved pet and has now blocked the vent in his Banchory flat so there is no repeat incident the two-hour ordeal turned out to be a “positive story” She added: “Nothing irreplaceable had been broken nobody was hurt and we’re glad the beautiful snake managed to get back to her home.” Aberdeenshire Council is expanding opportunities for reuse at household recycling centres so that more pre-loved items can be rehomed by a local charity.  Additional reuse containers are now in place at Banchory and Stonehaven household recycling centres to complement the containers already in place at Ellon and Peterhead.  Pre-loved items donated through the containers are safety and function checked then upcycled or processed by a local charity for resale This creates more opportunities for people to access affordable high-quality products with far less carbon impact than buying new.    The following cared-for items are now accepted for local charities via the reuse containers:  Electrical items with all parts and plug    Bric-a-brac/general household items    Garden furniture and equipment      The charities that will service and benefit from the containers are Stella’s Voice for Ellon and Stonehaven household recycling centres and Magpie for Banchory and Laurencekirk.  Chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee Cllr Alan Turner said: “By extending the lifecycle of these items we support a shift towards a more circular economy but it is even better to rehome our pre-loved items so that they can be reused again and again.   “Initiatives of this kind reduce the need to extract new raw materials for new products—and avoid the emissions generated from doing so—while also preventing goods from needlessly ending up in landfill or being incinerated.”  Sustainability Committee (SC) Chair Cllr Sarah Dickinson who was nominated to be a champion for re-use at the time of the project’s feasibility study said: “None of this would be possible without the charities I am grateful for their help in providing more and more opportunities for reuse across Aberdeenshire.   “Choosing to reuse quality pre-loved items is an effective way to protect natural resources It is estimated that the reuse containers will save around 293 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) per year. That is the equivalent of taking 156 cars off the road for a full 12 months or growing around 14,000 trees for a year.  Aberdeenshire Council welcomed £37,095 in funding for the new containers through the Scottish Government’s Recycling Improvement Fund Small Grant Scheme administered by Zero Waste Scotland.  Recycling Improvement Fund Manager at Zero Waste Scotland said:  “It’s fantastic to see improved reuse infrastructure now in place in Aberdeenshire and donating goods once they’re no longer needed is a great way for residents and visitors to protect the environment and support local good causes at the same time.  “A total of 40 projects across Scotland have now benefitted from Recycling Improvement Fund grants helping hundreds of thousands of people to live more sustainably and create Scotland’s circular economy We are proud to work with Aberdeenshire Council to successfully embed reuse at its recycling centres benefitting both people and planet.”  Scotland’s ambitious climate change legislation sets a target date for net zero emissions of all greenhouse gases by 2045.   Aberdeenshire Council was the first local authority in Scotland to develop and approve a carbon budget aligning itself with the Scottish Government’s ambitious targets.  The council supported this effort through the creation of a carbon toolkit that analyses the potential costs and savings to be made through its various carbon reduction projects ensuring that emissions are reduced in the most cost-effective manner.  For more information about Aberdeenshire Council’s Household Recycling Centres opening times to access the reuse containers, please visit aberdeenshire.gov.uk/RecyclingCentres