Sea Salt and Sole is an Aberdeen go-to when it comes to getting a brilliant haddock supper The Dyce takeaway is always queueing out the door with hungry customers keen to get their paws on the team’s fish and chips – or the hugely popular katsu chicken So it’s no surprise that chip shop founder Rikki Pirie wanted to open a space where folk can sit in and enjoy the food Based in Café 21 which adjoins the takeaway – and serves a café during the day – the new bistro opened on March 29 I visited on a sunny evening last week with my boyfriend We were intrigued to find out if the team can nail more than just chip shop favourites we are very tempted by the sunny outside seating area But I will definitely be returning for a meal outside in the sunshine this summer and are promptly directed to table number one – this too The huge windows facing the station allow in swathes of the evening glow and I felt like I was on holiday somewhere warm despite being beside Dyce train station You feel set apart from the hustle and bustle of commuters going about their day and can watch the world go by in the peace inside the modern bistro The menu at the sit-in bistro includes your usual suspects from the fryer – scampi North Sea haddock – and the well-loved katsu chicken and smash burgers It is a feat to divert Michael away from the katsu chicken – the sauce is mind blowing – but this isn’t about trying out our favourites We want to know if Sea Salt and Sole has successfully broadened its offering to bistro dining visits to the Broch where he enjoyed his grandma’s delicious homemade version Plunked in the middle of the soup is a cheese scone I go for the less heart-warming but equally droolworthy mac and cheese bites (£8) The panko crumbed morsels are topped with daubs of thick and creamy saffron aioli with what tastes like a pesto drizzle coating the bottom of the plate Macaroni and cheese is always a funny one for me – it can be sharp I am pleased to say these macaroni and cheese bites are the former and the soft macaroni and cheese insides are rich with the earthy flavour of truffle I would highly recommend giving this classy little starter a try and it’s nice to see Rikki interacting with customers across the bistro while we eat He’s clearly passionate about this new venture and it shows in the quality of the food Michael opts for a huge plateful of loaded dirty chips (£13) The thick chips are smothered in barbecue pulled pork shoulder and black pudding crumble PLUS a heaped portion of macaroni and cheese There’s also a generous drizzle of garlic mayo and a sprinkling of spring onion on top Dirty chips may not sound like classy bistro fair but the flavour bomb this plate provides truly elevates the dish and even with the heaping of pasta and meat over the top The crunch of the black pudding crumb adds a variety in texture and is incredibly moreish likely the most unhealthy salad known to man This is up there as one of the best I’ve had and it is excellent value for money as it is another huge portion There is a generous amount of croutons to find nestled amongst the lettuce not in the least bit slightly soggy or stale The lettuce itself is crisp and fresh tasting and there is a bounty of tasty maple-cured bacon lurking under every leaf I’ve never had prawns in a Caesar salad before but it is an excellent combination I will be trying again plentiful and the batter has such a satisfying crunch to it so it was a mistake for us to have ordered a side of mozzarella sticks (£5) I’d have preferred these with a gooier – who knew that was a word We had a bit of a wait before ordering our dessert a shared chocolate brownie (£7) with vanilla ice cream But this was delicious – extra points for being warmed – a soft We had a delightful meal at Sea Salt and Sole’s new bistro It is a perfect place to visit with family and friends understated décor works well as a transition from daytime café to evening bistro The food was brilliant and very affordable for a weeknight dinner The service was a wee bit on the slow side but small teething issues are expected – especially when we visited on what was only the restaurant’s third night open and would recommend it to anyone in Dyce or beyond looking for an affordable meal with reliable quality Sea Salt and Sole have proved they can nail not only those chipper favourites W: https://seasaltandsole.co.uk/dyce/ Read our other restaurant reviews online here 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 ‘I don’t enjoy listening [back] to the music I make,’ Floyd Dyce says with a laugh the songwriter and producer is delving into his discography for M including Baby D’s Let Me Be Your Fantasy he’s definitely in the minority in how he appraises his work ‘I realise it sounds confusing,’ Floyd continues ‘But I think sometimes you’re so critical of yourself that you just believe the next track you make will be better whose music career spans more than three decades Baby D’s biggest tracks — Let Me Be Your Fantasy So Pure and I Need Your Loving (Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime) — were born out of his lengthy affiliation with Production House Records a Motown-esque hit factory where Floyd worked as in-house producer for multiple acts including the House Crew and The Brothers Grimm These projects provided Floyd with a platform to perfect his marriage of bass with Let Me Be Your Fantasy a creative zenith ‘I just wanted it to do well in the underground scene — and it did!’ Floyd tells M its success all came from what it had done in the clubs Floyd’s passion for music was first ignited while he was at school in London Floyd used to study with the brother of Phil Fearon a music producer and linchpin behind numerous bands in the ‘70s and ‘80s (prime example being the post-disco outfit Galaxy) ‘The [Fearons] always had music gear at their house so we’d be able to mess about on instruments and make plenty of noise,’ Floyd recalls we became more refined and started recording our own tracks When we started making our own music in the ‘80s it was the beginning of that Britfunk sound All these different sounds and styles were swirling around us and our mission was to decipher and then bring them together so they made sense.’ Having forged such a strong musical connection it meant the more career success Phil enjoyed the more Floyd was able to hone his skills meet industry professionals and expand his network engineering and the technical side of the studio,’ Floyd explains I found myself sitting next to people like Pip Williams I would have to pinch myself and ask how I got there.’ Let Me Be Your Fantasy took on a life of its own.' When acid house crash-landed in the UK in the late ‘80s While it sparked a revolution in the country’s nightlife the opportunity to take his own music to the next level became more in tune with clubs such as Shoom and Future before outdoors raves such as Sunrise took over ‘Those raves offered me a light bulb moment,’ Floyd says now and the sounds of early house and acid house clicked with me and then everyone was wondering where I’d gone It was to that acid house club with all the electronic noise.’ Xstatic and the previously mentioned House Crew Baby D were one of the many different Production House projects Floyd was involved in thanks to his role as in-house studio head This was how he first met Dorothy ‘Dee’ Fearon vocalist on Let Me Be Your Fantasy and wife of Production House co-founder Phil Fearon ‘There was so much going on in the studio: everyone was working on their own projects,’ Floyd remembers we waited to see how [early single] Day Dreaming went down Our plan was to come up with music and then throw some of it out there to test the reaction We’d take influence from other producers ‘The raves of the late '80s and early '90s offered me a light bulb moment.' Floyd wrote Let Me Be Your Fantasy as a response to the clubs he was frequenting at the time where much of the music they played was sample-heavy He was initially inspired to write something similar but ended up following his own path ‘I had this idea for a sample in my head but it came out completely differently,’ he says ‘I got Dee to sing what I thought would be this burst of a sample there weren’t too many tracks with full-on vocals: it meant the label was unsure [about it] which was originally released by Production House 32 years ago on Saturday (26 October) fared well in the clubs but failed to make much of an impression in the singles chart Having continued to turn so many heads on dancefloors across the UK London Records re-released it through their Systematic imprint two years later no one considered the charts,’ says Floyd ‘The song went on to sell so many copies thanks to the scene that inspired it It was a real full-circle moment: it was a reaction to what was happening in the clubs literally inspired by the whole rave movement.’ Two more top five singles followed for Baby D (1995’s (Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime) I Need Your Loving and So Pure) Floyd had started falling out with Production House ‘There was a lot going on that I wasn’t happy about,’ he says now ‘With it came this loss of confidence where I fell out of love with music It’s only in the last few years where I’ve enjoyed making it again.’ 'Let Me Be Your Fantasy was a real full-circle moment: it was a reaction to what was happening in the clubs Little Dragon Music: ‘I’m a reluctant publisher but at the same time I’ve met some great people through it Life would have been very different if I hadn’t started working with [parent company] Bucks Music the more control you have over your music the better it definitely gives you more bargaining power.’ Speaking about his experience of being a PRS member Floyd recalls how the guiding hand of Phil Fearon helped convince him to join the society before he had any chart success ‘Joining PRS was one of the wisest things I did,’ he tells M ‘I know so many writers who weren’t members who missed out on royalties It’s one of the best bits of advice I received and meant I got paid when we did have big hits.’ Floyd is currently keeping busy by playing live as the House Crew while he’s also rebuilding his studio with a view to coming back with new productions he relishes how different generations are coming together to enjoy the music ‘It’s the same crowd you’d see back in the day but now they bring their kids!’ he laughs ‘It’s amazing to see the baton being passed on and this younger generation getting into writing and production ‘The only thing I can advise people wanting to make music is to follow their heart,’ he continues ‘Whether you’re making money or not there’s a lot of joy and love to be found in music rapping with Snoop Dogg at school and how his songwriting blazed an enduring trail Ahead of the reunited band’s new album ‘Beautiful Happening’ Mark Nevin delves into the songwriting story behind their BRIT-winning hit The multi-instrumentalist on the making of the beloved band's 1979 hit Madness' longevity and his top songwriting tips Six fire engines and around 60 firefighters were sent to Dyce Academy after a fire was reported on the first floor of the building on Tuesday. Six fire engines and around 60 firefighters were sent to Dyce Academy after a fire was reported on the first floor of the building around 11.56pm on Tuesday. The fire was extinguished, and no injuries were reported. Police are treating the blaze as wilful and say investigations are ongoing to trace those responsible. Aberdeen City Council confirmed the school was closed until Monday, February 24 with a small number of classrooms requiring extensive repairs. Staff are to return on Monday morning followed by a phased return of senior pupils on Monday afternoon and other year groups on Tuesday. Aberdeen City Council said: “A small number of classrooms require extensive repair but arrangements are being made to allow the school to re-open next week. “In order to allow pupils and staff time to familiarise themselves with changes to timetabled classes and associated evacuation routes to keep everyone safe, staff will return on the morning of Monday 24th, followed by a return for all Dyce Academy S5/S6 pupils on Monday afternoon. “We will then have a phased return for remaining year groups over Tuesday 25th so that all year groups can be inducted in the new arrangements. “Sport Aberdeen will update parents regarding swimming lessons due to take place over the weekend at Dyce Academy’s public swimming pool and it advises individuals to keep an eye on its social media channels for further updates.” Police Scotland is urging anyone with information regarding the incident to come forward. Detective Constable Alex Currie said: “Enquiries are ongoing, and the fire is being treated as wilful. “Anyone with information that may assist our investigation should contact 101 quoting incident number 0038 of February 19, 2025. “Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be maintained.” 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+" The smell of smoke continues to fill Dyce Academy classrooms nine days on from a deliberate fire at the school It comes as smoke and water damage has forced school staff to close “several” rooms in the Aberdeen academy’s top floor Repair work into the affected rooms continues and has forced a number of students to be displaced around the school in the meantime Despite a “sizeable” area of the school being partitioned off in the wake of the fire the smell of smoke can still be detected around the building Speaking at the Dyce and Stoneywood Community Council meeting on February 26 also confirmed that they have not received any word of progress into the hunt for the culprit The police report only covers crimes reported in the area for January which would disqualify the Dyce Academy attack from the given list a member did remark that “it would be nice” for a further update into the incident from local police it would be nice of course if somebody would come to talk to us about it.” said: “I haven’t heard about any progress into the investigation it’s still ongoing as far as I’m aware.” However, an update was given into the damage that has been caused to the interior of the building in wake of the deliberate attack. It comes after a spate of deliberate fires have been witnessed across Aberdeen. Local councillors confirmed that several rooms are still out of use and that a lingering smell of smoke can be felt within the building Councillor Lawrence said: “The affected bit has been partitioned off “The council and contractors hit the ground running and as soon as the police allowed them in there is still a lingering smell around the school.” said: “The damage has affected the further end of the top floor “The damage has affected a few rooms and some students in there have been displaced She added: “We are all back up and running now So it is back to normal as far as we are aware.” Dyce Academy reopened to pupils this week. 60 firefighters were forced to tackle an overnight deliberate fire which was caused within the school in the small hours of Wednesday February 19 The school was closed for the remainder of the week and online classes were held for pupils in the meantime A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 12.15am on Wednesday police were advised of a fire at Dyce Academy “A multi-agency response was initiated and the fire has since been extinguished “Enquiries are ongoing into the cause of the fire.” Police Scotland and Aberdeen City Council have been contacted for further comment While we all had teachers we liked and teachers we didn’t like I haven’t heard anyone say they didn’t love their school janitor Colin Morrice has been a janitor for 12 years, the last six at Dyce Primary School Our scheduled chat had been delayed while Colin dealt with the snow that covered the north-east during the first fortnight of the new year With his shovel and grit bin finally back in storage The first thing I learned was that when you drop your kids off at school the janny has already been there for two hours “Fortunately I live within a mile of the school “You’ve two or three jobs to do first thing in the morning before you can open a school “You’ve got to make sure the gas is working That there’s nothing that can stop a school from opening “Then I check the exterior of the school – I always walk around it when I first arrive “The school is right in the heart of Dyce and there’s public walkways through the school grounds which dog walkers use “Monday mornings can be my busiest morning depending on how the local ‘wildlife’ has been on Friday “You’ve then got to check the building’s secure no broken windows or break-ins or anything like that “The breakfast club comes in at 8am so I’ve to be ready for that You can’t have anyone in the building without the janitor being there.” I’ll just report the job and they’ll come out “It’s hard actually to put into words everything we do every day.” As is often the case with those who profess to love their job “I’ll give you a perfect example from yesterday “The children were outside for their lunch An older gentleman from the local community was struggling carrying shopping which may have been too heavy for him The PSAs had gone out to check on him and make sure he was okay “We took him into the school – we’re not just a school but a community centre as well – and gave him some dinner and gave him a good hour and a half until he’d got his breath back “We found out that he had Type 2 diabetes and hadn’t been eating properly everything and anything can and will happen.” I asked Colin if he ever finds himself doing anything people might not expect a school janitor to do Turns out he’s not just a dab hand with a screwdriver and brush “Every Christmas I take a half day to help the kitchen staff when it’s the children’s Christmas dinner “My daughter and I have done this every year since I started at Dyce Teachers often have to put up with jibes over their ‘long holidays’ but don’t ever say that to a ‘janny’ “Obviously I’ve been busy recently with the snow and having to clear all the paths so people can get into the school “But we’re just as busy in the summer because we’re then doing the grounds work and grounds work is probably the biggest part of your day just anything – grounds work is made up of so many things Colin didn’t have to think long when asked what the best part of being a school janitor is I often just go up and sit with the kids and draw with them and I have a good relationship with the teaching staff as well.” A fire at Dyce Academy that took 60 firefighters hours to extinguish is being treated as deliberate Several rooms on the first floor of the building have suffered “extensive water and smoke damage” The investigation into the fire is ongoing but police have now confirmed it is being treated as wilful Council officers and the headteacher have been unable to gain access to the school to fully assess the damage As a result, it will remain closed to all pupils and staff for the rest of the week convener of the council’s education committee described the incident as “nasty and vicious” He said: “The damage inflicted on the school is deeply hurtful The criminal behaviour is felt strongly by everyone who is connected with the school and the area “The incident is causing major disruption which is extremely unfair to the young people “The extent of the fire damage will be assessed and any further appropriate action will be taken to ensure the building is safe.” Mr Greig also encouraged anyone with information about the fire to come forward and highlighted the financial impact it could have He added: “The necessary remedial work will add huge additional pressures on the council’s very limited funds Having to pay for these repairs means we have less to invest in improving school buildings and amenities in the city “We have a long list of work that is needed to upgrade the school estate and this kind of nasty irresponsible offence reduces our ability to achieve the aims that everyone wants which is to provide better school buildings and learning facilities.” Detective Constable Alex Currie said: “Inquiries are ongoing and the fire is being treated as wilful “Anyone with information that may assist our investigation should contact 101 quoting incident number 0038 of February 19 “Alternatively Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111 A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson added: “We were alerted at 11.56pm on Tuesday to reports of a building on fire at Riverview Drive “Operations Control mobilised six fire appliances and one height vehicle and approximately 60 firefighters extinguished a fire affecting the first floor of a three-storey building “There were no reported casualties and crews left after ensuring the area was made safe.” A young girl from Dyce has been left questioning whether to continue learning Mandarin after being accused of racism by an Asian supply teacher Lola-Ann, 9, attends Brimmond Primary School in Bucksburn where learning a new language is encouraged and supported was proud of his daughter for taking on the difficult language but feared she might struggle due to her possibly being autistic but that has not stopped the enthusiastic and energetic girl from paving her own way Her father says she is a “very sociable person” and has no trouble making friends despite being at the school for only six months her confidence took a big knock due to a recent incident in her Mandarin language class Gary explained what happened in the primary 5 classroom While the incident left Lola-Ann “devastated” Gary made clear he in no way blamed the school for what happened and that they handled the situation well He said: “Her usual Mandarin teacher was off that day and so they had to get a supply teacher in “The supply teacher came into the classroom and Lola-Ann greeted her by saying ‘Ni hao’ (hello) in Mandarin “That hit Lola-Ann’s confidence to the point where she no longer wanted to carry on with Mandarin.” Gary said it upset Lola-Ann for the rest of the day She was so upset that her friends alerted her teacher He says that when Lola-Ann is passionate about something Gary believes the teacher “overreacted” given since she was tasked with teaching a Mandarin class questioning “So why wouldn’t the children speak Mandarin when possible?” “For a supply teacher to be fully trained and to accuse a nine-year-old of racism I just completely disagree with the situation,” he added Gary says that while Lola-Ann understood what the word “racist” meant she was brought up to see everyone equally and an open-minded attitude was normalised at home Lola-Ann has refused to continue learning Mandarin for fear of another mishap and the teacher has to keep speaking to her you are not going to get that reaction every time.’” He praised the school for its handling of the situation saying “they couldn’t have done more to support Lola-Ann” He called them immediately after to speak about what happened and the school said the situation had been “dealt with” Gary said the incident had “shattered” his daughter’s confidence he decided to speak up and raise awareness to hopefully help other children in similar situations The incident has prompted the family to try to get an official diagnosis for Lola-Ann you want to reach out and share it with others But to have that dismissed can be harmful.” The situation has shown Gary that he and his daughter are very similar He said: “Seeing the similarities in her made me jump into action I would rather get her referred so we can know for sure.” An Aberdeen City Council spokesperson said: “The school was made aware that a child was upset following making a greeting in Mandarin “The child’s parents have since been in discussions around the incident with the school and are happy that it had been dealt with in an appropriate manner.” Sea Salt and Sole are opening a new “family-orientated” bistro beside their Dyce takeaway this weekend co-owned by Sea Salt and Sole’s Rikki Pirie while the new bistro will open at the site in the evenings The new menu includes “tapas style” starters and a range of desserts plus popular dishes from the chipper itself Rikki told The P&J: “We’ve been a takeaway since we opened in 2014 so this will give customers the benefit of eating on site “I feel there’s definitely a demand for it “A lot of people who come say they wish they lived closer “Now if people know that they can come and sit in a nice environment and have their food on site The new Dyce bistro will be opening on Saturday Openings times going forward will be Thursday to Sunday so this is something a bit different,” adds Rikki “And there will be a relaxed family environment – a space where you can meet your friends and family “It’s a nice place to sit and watch the world go by – you can watch the planes taking off Rikki is also considering bringing DJs or live music into the bistro and utilising the garden area at the back of the café He adds: “It’s a real sun trap from lunchtime till about nine at night The bistro is coincidentally opening its doors on the same day Sea Salt and Sole reopened in 2017 following a devastating fire “It wasn’t until this morning I realised,” adds Rikki “The fire was 10 years ago this year “I feel that we’ve come a long way since then with the other shops that we’ve opened.” You’ll still be able to enjoy your favourites from the fryer at the sit-in Sea Salt and Sole North Sea haddock – battered or panko crumb – plus buttermilk chicken scampi and more will be available in the bistro The Katsu chicken which the takeaway is renowned for will of course be on the menu There are also a range of new mains to try The team will be serving up monkfish katsu curry A new Oklahoma burger will also appear on the menu This consists of a huge three smashed patties (3oz) American cheese and mustard on a toasted brioche bun Starters on the new bistro menu include truffle mac and cheese Cullen skink and black pudding Scotch eggs you can enjoy traditional sticky toffee pudding Sea Salt and Sole was recently named one of Britain’s 16 hidden gems by food writer Tom Parker-Bowles The Press and Journal also visited for a Taste Test in November last year It was the year James Blunt released his debut album Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince hit the bookshelves Star Wars: Episode III broke box office records and Dyce Academy class of 2005 enjoyed their prom Life as a school leaver in Aberdeen 20 years ago looked a little different to now If you didn’t spend study leave glued to an Xbox or DVD boxset hopefully you left with a brace of Highers and (now-defunct) Intermediate qualifications The class of 2005 everywhere were among the last of the pre-smartphone generation of schoolchildren where txt spk was necessary to cut down on characters to save precious phone credit But you weren’t a slave to social media Facebook was in its infancy in America and Instagram didn’t exist Social media use at the time probably extended to MSN Messenger (brb) or perhaps you still have Bebo or MySpace profiles floating around in cyberspace… There was no ChatGPT to help with coursework so it was a race against time to get your hands on them before your parents But before hanging up your school tie for good the pinnacle of sixth year was the school prom It was the last hurrah with classmates of six years before taking those first steps towards the rest of your life And it was no different for Dyce Academy pupils in spring of 2005 prom was an opportunity for pupils to take ownership of organising their final farewell Glamour and glitz were the order of the evening but in the days before dedicated prom dress shops or ASOS Debut at Debenhams or the outlets in John Lewis were the first stop for dress shopping Meanwhile the boys were smartly turned out for the dance in full Highland dress and hair gel Dyce Academy’s prom took place in the Crombie Suite at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre While the event may not have been plastered all over Facebook a few fuzzy digital camera photos may still exist And the Evening Express was invited along at the time to capture some prom photos for posterity Join us on a nostalgic look back at our archive photos of Dyce Academy pupils dressed to the nines for their sixth year leavers’ prom in 2005 Dyce Academy will remain closed for the rest of the week after a fire broke out overnight Several rooms on the first floor of the Aberdeen school have suffered “extensive water and smoke damage” following the deliberate blaze which started just before midnight and was put out by 60 firefighters Classes will be conducted online via Google Classroom and headteacher Katie Arthur is expected to update parents on Friday morning An investigation is ongoing but and meantime staff are unable to access the school grounds Aberdeen City Council’s chief education officer confirmed in a statement: “Council officers and the headteacher have not yet been able to gain access to the school building to fully assess the extent of the damage “They have been advised that the fire damage appears to be contained to a small number of rooms however they expect there to be extensive smoke and water damage and a need for repair work required before pupils and staff can return to the building “In order to fully assess and address the damage and to ensure that utilities are fully operational Council officers are working on the assumption that the school will be closed for the remainder of this week (Thursday 20 and February 21) “The situation will be reviewed tomorrow (Thursday 20 February) “The headteacher will provide a formal update to parents carers and school staff on the situation on Friday morning “All options to facilitate pupils’ learning from Monday are being considered “School Google Classrooms will be fully operational on Thursday 20 and Friday 21 February and work will be posted to allow for online learning activities over these two days “Overview information will also be shared on Year Group Classrooms Learners will be able to access this from their school Chromebook or from their own devices using the online app or via the school website.” Police have been pictured outside Dyce Academy as they work to investigate the cause of the fire Pictures taken at the scene show several open top-floor windows as officers stand guard outside A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 12.15am on Wednesday, February 19, police were advised of a fire at Dyce Academy, Riverview Drive, Aberdeen “A multi-agency response was initiated and the fire has since been extinguished “Enquiries are ongoing into the cause of the fire.” A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 11.56pm on Tuesday “Operations Control mobilised six fire appliances and one height vehicle and approximately 60 firefighters extinguished a fire affecting the first floor of a three-storey building “There were no reported casualties and crews left after ensuring the area was made safe.” Dyce Academy will reopen next week following a deliberate fire The Aberdeen secondary school was forced to close following the Tuesday night blaze, which was tackled by 60 firefighters. Several classrooms still require extensive repairs Staff will be able to access the school on Monday morning with S5 and S6 pupils attending classes in the afternoon The remaining students will have a phased return on Tuesday February 25 The fire was one of four wilful fire-raising incidents over just five days. The worrying spike has led to pleas for the perpetrators to stop before someone dies An Aberdeen City Council spokesperson said: “An update letter has now been issued to all parents/carers from the Head Teacher “A small number of classrooms require extensive repair but arrangements are being made to allow the school to re-open next week “In order to allow pupils and staff time to familiarise themselves with changes to timetabled classes and associated evacuation routes to keep everyone safe staff will return on the morning of Monday 24th followed by a return for all Dyce Academy S5/S6 pupils on Monday afternoon “We will then have a phased return for remaining year groups over Tuesday 25th so that all year groups can be inducted in the new arrangements Plans for a solar farm and two battery storage facilities have been lodged on land between Bridge of Don and Dyce English firm Innova is behind plans for the Lower Bodachra Solar and Storage facility that would stretch across 212 acres – more than 15 times larger than Windsor Castle It would see a 72MW solar farm and 45MW battery energy storage system installed on land at Lower Bodachra Farm and Perwinnes Farm to the east of Dyce The development would connect to the grid and generate enough power for around 23,800 homes – which equates to nearly 20% of all properties in Aberdeen Developers claim the site would have a “key role” in the transition to renewable energy The renewable energy firm met with officers from Aberdeen City Council and the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit before lodging its planning application Scottish Ministers will ultimately determine the proposal the development would take around four months to build Both the solar and battery storage facilities would then operate for 40 years after which the land would be restored to its current state Source Galileo Limited has lodged plans to install a battery energy storage system on the outskirts of Dyce The proposed 49.9MW facility at Goval Farm would sit just metres away from the new housing development on the site of the former Cordyce School the proposed site would be the same size as a football pitch It would connect to the nearby substation through an underground cable the site would have a control building and switch room Developers have addressed any fire worries stating “perceived” risks such as thermal runaway and faulty systems would be “extremely unlikely to occur” with modern BESS units They have also confirmed that other monitoring measures will be included such as heat and smoke detection Planning documents also reveal that Source Galileo Limited is planning to reach out to local fire crews to inform them of any potential emergency procedures developers say construction could take around nine months The proposals come just weeks after councillors gave the green light to another battery storage site in Danestone You can view the Dyce BESS plans here The vacant Cordyce School site in Dyce is one of 65 pieces of vacant and derelict land highlighted in a new Scottish Government drive to spark development The full list includes various bulldozed businesses, along with many old schools and industrial complexes.  We had a look at how the amount of abandoned land in Aberdeen has grown over the past eight years There are 32 more recorded derelict or vacant spaces than in 2016. Aberdeen City Council announced that Dyce Academy has been shut after the fire on the first floor on Tuesday night. Emergency services were called to Dyce Academy at 11.56pm on Tuesday following reports of a blaze at the building. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service deployed six fire appliances and one height vehicle along with around 60 firefighters to extinguish the flames on the first floor. No one was injured and crews left the scene once the area was made safe. A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 11.56pm on Tuesday, February 18, to reports of a building on fire at Riverview Drive, Dyce, Aberdeen. “Operations Control mobilised six fire appliances and one height vehicle and approximately 60 firefighters extinguished a fire affecting the first floor of a three-storey building. An investigation is now under way to establish the cause of the fire A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 12.15am on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, police were advised of a fire at Dyce Academy, Riverview Drive, Aberdeen. “A multi-agency response was initiated and the fire has since been extinguished. “Enquiries are ongoing into the cause of the fire.” The local authority has advised that further updates will be provided to parents, carers and teachers throughout the day. An Aberdeen City Council social media post read: “Dyce Academy is closed today (Wednesday, February 19) following a fire overnight. “The school will provide updates to parents, carers and teachers during the day.” 50 litres of blue paint have been stolen by thieves from a Dyce builder’s yard in a weekend raid They broke into the north-east premises almost two weeks ago The thieves took 10 five-litre tins of blue paint Those include a Topcon Tp-16 Series Green beam pipe laser a Topcon RL-H5A laser level and a Bosch leveller were also stolen during the raid Police investigating the theft believe the items were taken sometime between 2pm on Saturday January 18 and 7am on Monday January 20 North-east motorists are being encouraged to check their dashcam footage to assist officers with their inquiries Constable Gemma Campbell said: “I am appealing to anyone who was in the Cordyce area to think back and consider if there was anything out of the ordinary or suspicious please review your footage as you could have images which could assist our investigation.” Anyone with information is  asked to call police on 101 quoting incident number 0527 of Monday January 20 Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 Hidden away in a Dyce industrial estate you’ll find the family-run food van Chef’s Shack It was bitterly cold on our visit – teeth chattering weather – but Billy Douglas who runs Chef’s Shack alongside his nephew Billy previously worked on a rig as a chef for 22 years but he started up the food van around three years ago The van on Wellheads Crescent has a decently sized menu Andy and I visited to try out a few different dishes including two of their most popular: the Chef’s Shack burger and Philly cheesesteak fries First up on our review of the Dyce food van had to be the namesake burger The Chef’s Shack burger (£5) is topped with a slice of tomato Monterey jack cheese and homemade pickled onion The flavourful patty inside the soft sesame bun provided a lovely warming bite mild cheese tasted great alongside the sharp pickled onion I’d have liked some fresh lettuce in the burger Next up is the most popular item on the menu: Philly cheesesteak loaded fries (£8.50) This mouth-watering plateful is packed with rump steak from Presly & Co butchers in Oldmeldrum Plus Billy’s homemade peppercorn sauce drizzled on top The meat was tender and there was plenty of it too The onions and peppers were nicely softened and for £8.50 – with such delicious steak – you are definitely getting bang for your buck Bear in mind the portions of the fries are usually double the size too I don’t think this needed the cheddar on top – the peppercorn sauce added enough flavour as it is We tried the salt and pepper chicken loaded fries (£6.50) at Chef’s Shack next The house barbecue sauce was the perfect combination of tangy and sweet The breaded chicken was perfectly crispy too we tried the luxury macaroni cheese (£4.50) warming dish is a favourite when the weather turns cold Billy’s macaroni and cheese is topped with spring onions I would have liked more cheese mixed through it and maybe a bit of mustard or additional seasoning to create some spice we were off to another winner with the katsu chicken loaded fries (£6.50) Having already fallen in love with the katsu chicken at another Dyce location – Sea Salt and Sole – we were keen to see how Billy’s version measured up Chef’s Shack is an ideal spot for Dyce workers on their lunch break but it is also worth the drive from further afield The friendly uncle and nephew duo behind the food van are clearly passionate about their dishes The fresh produce really levels up the dishes too I can’t wait to visit to try the Philly cheesesteak fries again Read our other Taste Tests here Dyce Women FC are facing the prospect of 17 players leaving the club A letter of complaint about the management team’s coaching methods was submitted by the players to the club But the Press and Journal understands the club has backed manager Cameron Hay and his backroom team Club president Syd Birnie has confirmed a letter with an ultimatum was received from the squad He said: “I can acknowledge we received a letter of concern but also a letter that said if we continued with the coaching staff we had then those players named in the letter would depart the club Despite the mass exodus of women’s players from Ian Mair Park the president has vowed the club plans on maintaining its support of the women’s game Birnie said: “We did have the opportunity to basically wind up the club because of the actions of the players and chose not to “We’re trying to recruit new replacement players.” Dyce beat Stonehaven 6-2 in their SWFL League Cup group match on Sunday The SWFL league campaign gets under way on September 24 against Grampian Ladies Emergency services were called to Dyce Academy just after midnight on Wednesday. Six fire engines and around 60 firefighters were sent to the Dyce Academy after a fire was reported on the first floor of the building around 11.56pm on Tuesday. Aberdeen City Council said the school will remain closed for the rest of the week while the damage is assessed. A council spokesperson said that while the fire damage appears to be contained in a small number of rooms, extensive smoke and water damage are expected. Repair work will need to be carried out before pupils and staff can return to the building. “In order to fully assess and address the damage, and to ensure that utilities are fully operational, Council officers are working on the assumption that the school will be closed for the remainder of this week,” they added. Parents, carers and staff are due to be updated on the situation by the headteacher on Friday morning. “School Google Classrooms will be fully operational on Thursday, 20, and Friday, February 21, and work will be posted to allow for online learning activities over these two days,” Aberdeen City Council said. “Overview information will also be shared on Year Group Classrooms. Learners will be able to access this from their school Chromebook, or from their own devices using the online app or via the school website.” “Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be maintained.” Dyce Gala Week was an annual institution where the community got together to celebrate and have fun at the start of summer With a full week of activities for everyone from pets to pre-schoolers to pensioners there was truly something for all to enjoy the Dyce Gala Week’s action-packed schedule even included free-fall parachutists The village’s position on the outskirts of Aberdeen meant hundreds of people attended from surrounding rural communities like Kinmuck the Scottish weather didn’t always play ball attendees on the third day of Dyce Gala Week in June 1975 faced “lashing sleet” But there was still a cracking turn out at the pet show Some of the winning pets included Scamp the dog belonging to Aileen Clark; Spot the cat belonging to Kathrine Booth; Toots the lamb Those who attended between the 1970s and ’90s will recall gala stalwart Ron Clark then chairman of Dyce Development and Amenities Committee Dyce Gala Week wouldn’t have continued beyond 1975 when he made a desperate plea for the community to save the event volunteers did come forward and some of the best years were yet to come The community might remember the annual gala queens who undertook duties throughout the week-long celebration For the gala week had an overflowing programme of competitions at the Pitmedden Road field From running races to football tournaments all ages and demographics were catered for who won with a truly unique outfit by dressing up as an ‘ASDA smart price’ While the young ones enjoyed a marquee dance to local band Bash Street Kids (who are still on the go) and the even younger ones enjoyed a toddlers’ disco there was also a ‘pensioners shindig’ Lots of laughs were had at Dyce Gala Week over the years although in recent years became a gala day due to dwindling volunteers and numbers But we’ve opened our archives to look back at the gala in its glory days ALL IMAGES IN THIS ARTICLE ARE COPYRIGHT OF DC THOMSON UNAUTHORISED REPRODUCTION IS NOT PERMITTED To purchase archive photos, contact archives@dcthomson.co.uk 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. © Aberdeen Journals Ltd 2025. All Rights Reserved. Win HappyPremiumSearch RayonorthsoundlocalnewsDyce Academy fire being treated as deliberate as school to remain closed for rest of weekEmergency crews were called to the school shortly after midnight on Wednesday 19 February Police are treating a fire which broke out at Dyce Academy overnight as deliberate Emergency crews were called to the school shortly after midnight on Wednesday 19 February Six fire appliances were sent to the scene and crews left the scene at around 5.30am after the flames were put out Enquiries remain ongoing however the fire is being treated as wilful Officers are now appealing for anyone who may have relevant information to come forward Detective Constable Alex Currie said: “Enquiries are ongoing and the fire is being treated as wilful “Anyone with information that may assist our investigation should contact 101 quoting incident number 0038 of 19 February 2025 "Alternatively Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111 Aberdeen city council says Dyce Academy will be closed for the rest of the week The local authority adds the blaze has been contained to a small number of rooms however extensive smoke and water damage is expected Dyce Academy's headteacher will provide a formal update to parents The council also says work will be posted to School Google Classrooms tomorrow and Friday and that pupils will be able to gain access from their school Chromebook or from their own devices using the online app or via the school website An Aberdeen City Council spokesperson said: “Dyce Academy remains closed to pupils and staff following a fire overnight “Council officers and the headteacher have not yet been able to gain access to the school building to fully assess the extent of the damage “They have been advised that the fire damage appears to be contained to a small number of rooms Council officers are working on the assumption that the school will be closed for the remainder of this week (Thursday 20 and Friday 21 February) “The situation will be reviewed tomorrow (Thursday 20 February) “The headteacher will provide a formal update to parents “All options to facilitate pupils’ learning from Monday are being considered “Overview information will also be shared on Year Group Classrooms “Learners will be able to access this from their school Chromebook Hear all the latest news from the North East of Scotland on Northsound 1. Listen on FM, via our Rayo app, DAB, or smart speaker. Company number 01176085; Bauer Radio Limited Company number: 1394141Registered office: Media House Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing Company number: LP003328; Registered office: The Lantern London NW1 2PL All registered in England and Wales VAT no 918 5617 01H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No: 845898) A suspected drugs mule from Aberdeen could be held in a South American jail – described as “like hell” – for a year awaiting trial We reported earlier today that Ricky Courage was arrested in north-western Colombia after being accused of trying to smuggle almost 2kg of cocaine out of the country and into Scotland we can reveal more detail about the case – and what lies in store for the 32-year-old who is being held in custody at a facility where violence is a daily occurrence travelled from the UK to South America in September as a tourist He spent a few days in the city of Cartagena – a tourist hub known for its fortress Courage went to the city’s Rafael Nunez International Airport and checked in a suitcase Courage then passed through airport security and was set to take a 10-hour KLM flight to Amsterdam where he planned to transfer to Scotland sniffer dogs allegedly flagged a problem with his check-in suitcase they found just shy of 2kg of cocaine wrapped in black plastic Authorities are yet to put a value on the drugs According to a lawyer with knowledge of the case a three-stage court process is underway in Courage’s case who is one of a handful of criminal lawyers approved by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to assist Brits abroad He said: “The first stage came right after his arrest “Mr Courage was taken by police to what is called a Judge of Guarantees “That judge decided in a primary court hearing that the arrest was well made and decided that Mr Courage should be put in custody while prosecutors continue with their investigation “The second stage is for the case to be referred to a Judge of Knowledge.” Courage has said he “does not accept responsibility” this does not amount to a ‘not guilty’ plea Mr Fuentes added: “The judge will consider the case – whether there is a plea whether there is not and whether it results in a conviction “And if there is a conviction it goes to a third judge “How long all this takes depends on the court backlog and this can be quite high due to the number of drugs cases within Colombia “It will be at least a year before his case progresses “It is possible that he can be bailed somewhere in the meantime but that depends on the charges against him and his legal representation “But at the moment he will be in custody for a while.” Courage is being held at San Sebastian Temera Prison in Cartegena Some prisoners wait up to two years there before they are freed or are sentenced However it is understood that Courage’s case would be unlikely to take that long as Courage is a foreign national Mr Fuentes described the prison as “a kind of hell” He added: “These prisons are overcrowded and you have to pay for everything there – even for breathing “But if you don’t have problems with anyone you quickly learn the codes of conduct and you can get away with a trouble-free life.” According to local media reports inmates are kept in numbered “pavilions” – each of which hold 172 detainees Prisoners are kept four to a cell and each cell measures just 4sq m The prison houses members of two rival gangs – the Clan del Golfo and the Heroica – who are at war over trafficking routes in the city’s ports Gangs have shot two guards from the jail on the street twice this year It was one of the most overcrowded jails in the country before Covid but is now less strained The government built space for 516 more prisoners in 2021 and there are now 1,980 detainees – down from 2,800 before the pandemic problems with water supply and sanitisation remain Inmates must get up at 5.30am and stay out in the yard until mid-afternoon – but they are forbidden from sleeping until the evening Many prisoners complain of getting sunstroke due to being exposed to direct sunlight for hours on end which cannot interfere with the legal case but can ensure detainees are treated humanely and alert government officials if there are problems An FCDO spokesperson said: “We are in contact with the local authorities following the arrest of a British national in Colombia.” RayonorthsoundlocalnewsAberdeen's Dyce Academy to welcome back staff and pupilsThe school has been closed since Wednesday following a deliberate fire Dyce Academy will open to staff and senior pupils on Monday afternoon The centre has been closed since Wednesday after a deliberate fire Staff and S5/S6 pupils are being welcomed back on Monday afternoon There will then be a phased return for remaining year groups over the course of Tuesday An Aberdeen City Council spokesperson said: "An update letter has now been issued to all parents/carers from the Head Teacher “A small number of classrooms require extensive repair but arrangements are being made to allow the school to re-open next week "In order to allow pupils and staff time to familiarise themselves with changes to timetabled classes and associated evacuation routes to keep everyone safe “We will then have a phased return for remaining year groups over Tuesday 25th so that all year groups can be inducted in the new arrangements "Sport Aberdeen will update parents regarding swimming lessons due to take place over the weekend at Dyce Academy’s public swimming pool and it advises individuals to keep an eye on its social media channels for further updates.” Six fire appliances were sent to the scene just after midnight on Wednesday and crews left around 5.30am after the flames were put out The local authority previously said the blaze has affected a small number of rooms Katsu chicken isn’t something I usually expect to find on a chipper menu but it’s on offer at Sea Salt and Sole in Dyce A lover of Katsu ever since I tried it at Wagamama – a basic order I know – I was intrigued when I found out Aberdeen fish and chip shop Sea Salt and Sole serve this I couldn’t resist heading along to give their Katsu chicken a try You can find Sea Salt and Sole ideally located next to the Dyce train station Although it opens at 4pm (when my colleague Andy and I head along) it’s not long before there are customers aplenty we couldn’t visit Sea Salt and Sole without trying the chipper staple: a battered haddock supper (£11.30) served alongside a generous portion of thick vinegar-soaked chips – just how we like them So often these days at fish and chip shops the chips taste no better than basic oven chips They’re crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside I also noticed that there weren’t too many of the really wee Next up, we tasted the legendary Katsu chicken (£7) available at this Aberdeen chipper I have heard a lot of good things about the Sea Salt and Sole Katsu chicken Colleagues told me that they visit the chipper just for the Katsu chicken So did this dish live up to my high expectations I can tell you that it is a resounding yes The Katsu chicken was even better than I expected The panko breading on the chicken had an excellent crunch The breading didn’t get soggy in the sauce either And the sauce itself was incredibly moreish The chunks of green onion on top added a nice flavourful crunch to every bite I can see what all the fuss is about with Sea Salt and Sole’s Katsu chicken While you might be used to seeing a pie on the menu at your local chipper The Mac ‘n’ pulled pork pie (£4.20) is packed with creamy macaroni and cheese and topped with chunks of pulled pork and crispy onions I’m not the biggest fan of macaroni and cheese but the crispy meat and crunchy pie crust added great variety in texture It didn’t completely fall apart when we cut into it Sea Salt and Sole are also known for having very tasty burgers – not what you really expect from a chipper either The chip shop does offer more traditional options too But we went for the Buffalo chicken burger (£6.70) and I wasn’t expecting something so big – or tasty The brioche bun overflowed with a huge piece of chicken The heat of the sauce was mellowed by the slice of mild cheese My only complaint is that I would have liked for the chicken to be coated in the sauce so we could taste the spice in every bite We had a great trip to Sea Salt and Sole in Dyce It’s not what you expect from a chipper A bin shelter has been burnt out in a fire near Aberdeen Airport The blaze broke out in the car park of the former Aberdeen Airport Dyce Hotel on Farburn Terrace on Friday afternoon It appears to have been contained to a bin shelter which has been damaged by the flames The remaining shell of the shelter is full of piles of charred rubbish Large plumes of dark smoke could be seen rising above the buildings earlier this afternoon Photos shared on social media also show flames coming from the bin shelter The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they attended the scene but described the incident as a “false alarm” The blaze does not appear to have spread to any nearby buildings The Dyce hotel which was previously operated by Best Western A spokesperson for Aberdeen Airport confirmed the fire and smoke did not have any impact on flights An Aberdeen man held on cocaine smuggling charges in Colombia is back in the Granite City Ricky Courage was arrested at a South American airport last September and accused of trying to smuggle almost 2kg of cocaine into Scotland However we can today reveal that the 32-year-old has returned to his Bucksburn home – under mysterious circumstances How he managed to return to the UK in the wake of such serious charges is unclear – and no British authorities were willing to comment on why he is back on UK shores It is understood that Courage was being held under house arrest in the north-west of Colombia pending court proceedings it is not known if the charges were dropped and he was authorised to leave the country legitimately It is understood Courage arrived back in the UK in early March Several sources have confirmed that Courage – who was once convicted of firebombing a police station – has been spotted in Dyce and Bucksburn in recent weeks Commonwealth and Development Office previously said in October that it was in contact with Colombian authorities following the arrest of a British national We asked the FCDO on multiple occasions this week if they were aware of Courage’s return to the UK the department’s staff have not provided a statement on the matter after we gave them two days to comment two sources have provided background on the case The first said: “Everyone around here knows exactly what’s happened “Ricky was not the mastermind of the cocaine operation “The authorities will have wanted to know who they are “It’s not possible in this day and age for someone to travel from South America to the UK without a passport or undetected – especially if you’re under the eye of the state “So he could only have travelled legally – with the full blessing of the authorities.” said: “Ricky is out and about in Bucksburn and Dyce “He hangs around with the same close group of people “The magnitude of the crime is what’s making people see funny sides to it “People in his line of work with the reputation he has generated need to be seen.” The source suggested Courage was revelling in the notoriety of making it out of a South American jail unscathed It is not known if the Columbian authorities returned Courage’s passport he has been telling associates in the north-east that he made it out of South America via multiple boats and planes He added: “Those around him are comparing him to Pablo Escobar because of the Colombian link and they are nicknaming someone he knows Griselda Blanco “It may well be that he was cleared of any wrongdoing in Colombia “It would be easy for that to happen and then someone has come home and added their own tales to gain more reputation “One of the stories is that he escaped and made passage via Ireland He spent a few days in the city of Cartagena – a tourist hub known for its fortress Courage then passed through airport security and was set to take a 10-hour KLM flight to Amsterdam Authorities have yet to put a value on the drugs According to the Colombian authorities speaking in October Courage was first held at San Sebastian Temera Prison in Cartegena before being allowed out and transferred to house arrest A SCOTS secondary school has been forced to close after a fire erupted overnight Aberdeen City Council announced that Dyce Academy is shut to pupils and staff today Emergency crews raced to the scene at around 12am this morning Around 60 firefighters tackled the blaze on the first floor of a three-storey building Six fire appliances and one height vehicle were also sent to the school The local authority said the school will provide parents, carers and teachers with updates during the day. Aberdeen City Council posted on social media: "Dyce Academy is closed today (Wednesday 19 February) following a fire overnight. "The school will provide updates to parents, carers and teachers during the day." "A multi-agency response was initiated and the fire has since been extinguished "Enquiries are ongoing into the cause of the fire." A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 11.56pm on Tuesday February 18 to reports of a building on fire at Riverview Drive 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 Not many siblings would choose to work together let alone quit their stable jobs and buy a food van But it seems to have worked for brother and sister Seven years after their risky purchase and sitting in the warmth of the four walls of Cloggy House in Dyce – their latest business venture – they said they have no regrets said: “We can safely say we’ve never really had a family feud Alex quickly adds: “Touch wood.” Josh continued: “I think it just works well ‘How can you work with your sister?’ “I think we’re a unique family we’re genuinely very close friends.” when asked if they ever thought they would be running a business together it was a quick and firm ‘No’ “We used to fight like there was no tomorrow back then no way would I have worked with you,” said Alex looking at her brother “And that’s funny in itself to think that we’ve come from that to working together.” the 29-year-old said their family bond is a strength I think it’s a lot easier to talk it through because we are related “And also because we’re related we tend to know when something’s wrong the former Aboyne Academy pupils decided to leave their jobs in retail and launch into the world of catering after buying a burger van Alex was working for Norvite Farm and Company in Aboyne while Josh was a section manager at John Lewis in Aberdeen’s City centre They said they were both grateful for their jobs but it reached a point where they needed something new So when their dad Steve heard about a food van on Wellheads Crescent going up for sale Alex said: “He knew that we were unhappy in our jobs “He got in touch with her then we got in touch and it just spiralled from that.” When asked what inspired the move into the culinary landscape it seemed to be a mix of watching their dad with his business and music festivals Growing up going to gigs and festivals like T in the Park from as young as 14 years old Alex and Josh were well-acquainted with often expensive festival scran Josh said they would see food vans at the festivals and added: “We liked the idea of doing that but also we thought we could do it a lot better and there was an opportunity to do it for a more reasonable price.” Alex added watching their dad running his business McKenzie Printing was always inspiring “Our dad works the other side of the airport and he’s self-employed So we’ve always had that drive and want to be our own boss and I suppose like him “I was only in retail… but Josh was a manager so he had a lot more to lose Some of Josh’s colleagues encouraged him to go for it while others suggested caution “I felt like I needed a change but it was really “There’s a slight stigma around burger vans They’re often not great environments to work in but that spurred us on… because we want to change that “You just look at the beach and how much that’s growing Aged 21 and 23, Alex and Josh started running Amanda’s Kitchen in October 2017 before rebranding to Skoff in April 2018 It was a huge lifestyle change particularly when it came to the admin side of the business and the duo would often pull in family or friends to help on the busier days Especially since the van was only owned by one person before but now two people had to live off the earnings Alex said: “So we had a massive drive and pressure to double the numbers which we did “There were some days where it was really quiet and we were like ‘What have we done “Looking back now some days we were sitting twiddling our thumbs.” Josh said: “When you broke it down it was £7 an hour total sales and it was like how are we going to take a wage from that?” Alex added: “We need to change that asap Josh and Alex used social media to widen their customer base and after the first year managed to buy a bigger van They started doing events in and around Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire before tackling the larger ones like the Kilt Walk and Aboyne Highland Games Eventually quadrupling their sales within three years they became known – as quoted by a long-term customer – for their “outstanding quality Seven years after catering numerous weddings, markets and events, the chance came up to buy the Dyce stalwart Cloggy House The family-run “no-frills cafe” is a staple in the area and has been a much-loved part of many people’s lives Their dad used to take them for lunch as a treat when they were kids when they helped out at his work Alex said: “My highlight is taking this on “When we first started Skoff something like this was never on the cards so to think that we’ve managed to get from a small wee box to this some warmth and not being battered around in the wind Now having nine staff and four solid walls the siblings said their work-life balance has definitely improved But they could not have done it without the support of family and friends their aunty Karen Craigmile and Josh’s partner Rachel O’Shaunghessy as well as close friends Alex said they were so grateful for their support Even if they are at times banned from talking about work at family get-togethers Being able to finally switch off a bit more when they leave for the day looking back they said they have “no regrets” Alex added: “I think if anybody had the opportunity they should definitely take it Spider’s Web is a well-loved pub in the heart of Dyce ideally situated next to the train station This makes it very popular for the first – or last – drink of the night before or after a trip into Aberdeen friends and couples enjoying drinks or food together in the cosy space the staff are friendly and seem pleased to see us They don’t know we’re there for a review so this greeting has me thinking they’re like this with all their customers There’s a buzz about the place when we arrive in the early evening The tellies are showing a football game – about which I am clueless – but it’s clearly entertaining many of the pubgoers This adds to the feeling that I’m eating in someone’s living room (in a good way) There’s also a woman selling raffle tickets a wholesome addition to our visit which makes it clear that Spider’s Web is a real part of the Dyce community The laid-back attitude from the waiting staff who act like we’re old friends is very welcome too After experiencing this casual atmosphere and venue But some other options are a bit more upmarket served with crusty bread and homemade chutney creamy and tangy camembert melted until it has become a more-ish molten delight A few garlic cloves and some rosemary have been baked with the cheese I think this could have been elevated a little with some chopped veg on the side to dip into the cheese but apart from that I couldn’t fault the simple starter He goes for the crab and shrimp tian (£7.25) The creamy starter combines flaky crab with chunks of shrimp There’s a citrus flavour going through this which makes it both refreshing and flavourful The service is prompt but we don’t feel rushed either as we move onto our mains The dipping steak is one of the more pricy options on the menu at £19.75 but it has come recommended so I can’t resist ordering it It is certainly a sizeable portion for the price Layers of thinly-sliced rump steak fill up the plate which also features three different sauces to accompany it but also barbecue bourbon and bacon and stilton I’ve always been a fan of peppercorn sauce with steak so I didn’t think anything could beat it But the bacon and stilton sauce is excellent Spider’s Web – I’d like you to sell this by the bottle please Michael had the macaroni and cheese with black pudding (£13.25) and trying it here some years ago has inspired his family to recreate the dish several times at home I was expecting great things from the macaroni and cheese at Spider’s Web This dish lived up to those high expectations strong taste of flour in the sauce that usually makes me wary of ordering this dish myself The amount of black pudding is generous too Our dinner at Spider’s Web was lovely with spot-on food and notably friendly service There’s a really nice welcoming atmosphere in the place and it’s great for a quick bite or some catch-up drinks The décor is perhaps in need of a slight update in places But that is part of the atmosphere you expect at a local pub W: https://www.spiderswebpub.co.uk/ though they have plans to include this in a refurbishment next year “The Northern Belle has been voted one of the best train trips in the world by readers of  Condé Nast magazine for the second year in a row.” But then I found myself stepping aboard Northern Belle from a red carpet and entering the world of enchantment that makes passengers fall in love with her It’s hard to overstate the impact on board The tables sparkle with crystal and porcelain settings The chairs are fully upholstered and look fat and comfortable Each carriage is individually decorated with murals and marquetry and the lighting is soft An instant wave of relaxation came over me especially when it was announced that a mimosa would shortly be on its way But we need to take a step back out of the magic for a second Northern Belle’s progress to this departure had not been easy In fact it had been so hard I might have been aboard her very last journey to the north-east to take us to the Highlands and back Operated by West Coast Railways (WCR) since 2017 the charter train is low on the list of Network Rail’s priorities Track maintenance work has made scheduling the trip from Aberdeen to Dunrobin Castle and back exceptionally difficult for WCR It had taken two cancellations, five amendments and 13 months to get to this point, not to mention a last-minute rescheduling to depart from Dyce Apparently Network Rail gave the go-ahead to the latest route timing without checking that Aberdeen station would actually be open In common with many of her 150 passengers that day we had to taxi over to leave from the somewhat humdrum surroundings of Dyce station rather than glide out of the spotlessly refurbished grandeur of Aberdeen But any inconvenience was soon forgotten as we sank into our seats took in our surroundings and watched the early autumn beauty of Aberdeenshire float past us for he is one and this trip was the highlight of a long obsession with train travel which meant nothing to me but excited him enormously The thing about Northern Belle is she is a bit of a pastiche We were travelling in 1930s Pullman style luxury but in fact the diesel loco and the carriages are of much later date There are Mark 1s, 2s and 3s on Northern Belle and we were hauled by a Class 57 built by British Rail and now owned by WCR Mr TN listened attentively to the engine sound and marvelled that we couldn’t actually hear it What we did hear were such evocative wheel sounds that I asked Mr TN to record them even placing his phone on the floor for best effect For technical reasons which Mr TN can describe in granular detail modern trains don’t make the clickety-clack sounds of my youth The Belle’s carriages are named after castles and stately homes We were in Belvoir with its delicate marquetry motif of honeybees and flowers inlaid with Indian rosewood A trip on the Northern Belle is all about the food and drink We were to fit in a three-course brunch that morning And needless to say copious amounts of bubbles liqueurs and everything in between were at your beck and call throughout turning the fields and their neat butterball bales pale gold We flashed through stations and waved at trainspotters Brunch started with an apple cinnamon yoghurt dome It looked extraordinary and tasted exquisite What a great start to the day’s indulgence This was followed by a tartlet ‘Arnold Bennet’ eggy concoction served with hot smoked salmon Gladys Cheyne and her daughter-in-law Sheena Cheyne They had already done Northern Belle’s trip to Dumfries with the family and were determined to savour every moment of the trip to Dunrobin Lorraine and Stephen Findlay were across the way It turned out the couple are bridge fiends somehow finding room for artisan bread and croissants and pastries Northern Belle has her two resident musicians trombonist Pete Ackerley and guitar/vocals Tony McLaughlin half of a Cheshire-based four-man jazz band called Casablanca Steps They moved down the carriage serenading each group with their very own song Gladys reminded Tony that she had danced with him on the last trip more entertainment with the appearance of  John Harding sleight of hand and disarming patter — we loved it How he got that hanky into Mr TN’s breast pocket is still the subject of mystification People who work on the Northern Belle love it He had made his way over from Liverpool via Glasgow to join the train at Muir of Ord to entertain us for a couple of hours He would make his way back on the sleeper later that night The on-board team deserve a huge shout-out for their attentiveness to a bunch of very relaxed Who wouldn’t want to work in an office like Northern Belle We approached Inverness where we had to wait for a while on the loop line avoiding the actual station Far from a fine view of the Highland capital had to admire a yard full of blue and yellow skips But the scenery was soon restored as we raced north on the Highland line and were deposited at the Duke of Sutherland’s own private station with more than two hours to explore the stunning castle and its grounds we were distinctly peckish and it wasn’t long before dinner was served starting with champagne accompanied by caviar on a blini with sour cream and a quail’s egg The main was honey-glazed breast of duck with perfect potato puree and veg and a mini spicy duck pie Then a blackcurrant and sloe gin éclair with a tiny hint of crumble followed by a generous cheeseboard of fabulous British cheeses with port We all wondered how on earth such delicious and perfectly presented food could be produced for so many passengers on a long thin tube racing through the countryside with occasional judders so you know exactly what you’re preparing unlike fine dining with 21 items on the menu and 180 covers per hour “I’m on my own doing 82 covers and this was his first season on Northern Belle I imagined this level of dining would be advancement in his career James opened his first restaurant at 21 in Ingleton before being approached by Daniel Thwaites to train chefs for rosettes Cooking on Northern Belle was actually a step down for him “The hardest thing on the train is finding your legs when the train is throwing you from side to side all the time “Until you find your legs it’s quite difficult and you know to hold the gravy for five seconds.” All too soon we were deposited in Aberdeen in the haze of wellbeing induced by alcohol and fine dining If you want to experience the magic of Northern Belle Check out the full range here, including the Christmas lunch trip from Edinburgh and Glasgow on December 1st. The ‘Railway Duke’: Celebrating 150 years of the Golspie to Helmsdale line 1940s weekend: Journey to the past with the glorious Keith and Dufftown Railway A man and a woman have avoided going to prison after they carried out a brutal stabbing during a violent street fight in Dyce Jordan Argo, 25, and Leah Mackenzie, 24, appeared in the dock at Aberdeen Sheriff Court where they each admitted attacking the man with a knife during a fight on Wellheads Avenue, Dyce, Aberdeen.  Argo struck the man on the head with the knife Mackenzie picked up the knife from the ground and stabbed the same man in the stomach Sheriff Andrew Miller told the pair they were “fortunate” their victim’s injuries were not more serious It was stated that at around 8pm on June 4 2022 a group of males were coming back from the pub when they saw Argo and Mackenzie standing in the window of a nearby flat The pair and the group then began to exchange verbal insults with Argo and Mackenzie stating they would come down to which the complainer replied: “Go on then.” Argo and Mackenzie exited the block of flats with Argo in possession of a large kitchen knife The man asked Argo what he was going to do with the knife and Argo replied that he was going to stab him It was then that Argo moved toward the man with the knife and a fight ensued involving a number of people which provoked Argo who ran at the man and struck him to the head with the knife causing him to fall over and drop the knife A friend of the man then picked up the knife and threw it away The fight continued with the man and his friends running after Argo they dragged him to the ground and assaulted him Mackenzie picked the knife up from the ground and ran over where she stabbed the man once to the stomach before throwing the knife to the ground She was grabbed and dragged to the ground by the man before the two became separated The victim was seen to be bleeding heavily from his head and torso and his ex-partner took him to her home address where she and his friends administered first aid Argo and Mackenzie walked back to the block of flats where Argo was heard to say he “stabbed him to the head” and Mackenzie said: “I stabbed him” Police were dispatched and attended the scene where they found a broken knife blade Their victim was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where he was examined and found to have a laceration to his head and a puncture wound to his torso that required stitches and will leave a permanent scar Argo and Mackenzie pleaded guilty to one charge of assault with a knife to severe injury and permanent disfigurement Argo admitted a further charge of being in possession of a knife told the court that his client had acted in a “particularly stupid manner” on the night in question the lawyer said Argo was disputing that it was he who brought the knife to the fight and claims that he had picked it up off the ground Mr Monro said: “He maintains that those involved and who were with the other man were in possession of the knife “But my client is not disputing that during the altercation he picked up the blade and went towards the complainer and inflicted the injury to him.” stated that it was her client’s position that she only became involved after Argo was on the ground She also claimed it was the other party who turned up to the altercation with the knife Sheriff Andrew Miller told the pair: “I do not think either of you has a clear explanation why you got involved and went outside which resulted in this very serious matter “It is fortunate that this person’s injuries were not more serious.” The sheriff added that both Argo and Mackenzie had previous convictions but had “moved on in life” since this incident to a community payback order with supervision for 12 months and ordered each of them to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work For all the latest court cases in Aberdeen as well as crime and breaking incidents, join our Facebook group.  Home   News   Article Police Scotland has confirmed the death of a 37-year-old man in Inverness Prison who was involved in a three-and-a-half hour stand-off with police officers in April had been due to appear for sentencing at Inverness Sheriff Court today he admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner threatening to shoot and stab police with a knife he was brandishing smashing windows and throwing shards of glass out the window He was remanded in custody until sentencing • Inverness man threatened to shoot and stab police during stand-off A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "On Thursday we were made aware of the death of a 37-year-old man within HMP Inverness “The death is not being treated as suspicious and his family have been made aware “A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal." During the stand-off with police on April 18 Dyce claimed he would kill officers with a 9mm handgun he had in his flat He also threatened to stab anyone who managed to enter his home in Madras Street The drama began after a fire alarm was activated in the block of flats The fire service attended called the police to ensure the welfare of Dyce A further six officers were called to assist with the cordon and four further police negotiators were also called he agreed that the police could enter and he would cause them no harm Inverness Sheriff Court was told that the 37-year-old had just been released on licence from a sentence at Inverness Prison two weeks before the incident Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald said although it was not required she wanted a background report on Dyce and it had to also include a supervised release assessment to protect the public A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: “Every death whether in prison custody or in our communities is a tragedy for all those who knew and supported the individual “Following the death of someone in our care and the matter reported to the Procurator Fiscal Fatal Accident Inquiries are held in due course.” A huge disused site in Aberdeen could soon be transformed into modern offices Hurstwood Estates want to plough £10 million into bringing the former Craigievar House office complex in Dyce back to life took over the 12-acre site on the Kirkhill Industrial Estate about a year ago The three-storey building there previously homed offshore firm Aker Solutions and was most recently a base for local children’s charity AberNecessities Government officials this month listed the vacant spot as one with great potential for redevelopment have lifted the lid on their proposals to revive it and bring more employment to the area The company wants to create a “major business and industrial development” comprising industrial units storage and distribution buildings and offices Owners say this is to meet “prevailing” market demand for high-quality business parks each with its own loading docks and parking spaces The design of the units is still to be finalised with the firm hoping to submit a formal planning application for the project by the end of this year Arrowmere Capital director Sam Ashworth says the units would be suitable for all sorts of businesses – whether that would be a barber’s shop or an offshore firm He adds: “We have about 1,200 tenants across the country so we do have a wealth of experience when it comes to picking the right location and the right use for it “It’s not about slapping the biggest unit you possibly can on a piece of land and expecting it to work but creating a good-quality environment for people to work in “This is not a development we plan to build cheap and chuck it away further down the line We built these schemes to retain them and invest in them long-term.” Mr Ashworth explains the new £10m development will be hugely beneficial with the potential of six new businesses coming to the area and bringing more employment Planning consultant Michael Lorimer adds that given that the complex would be built within an industrial area there wouldn’t be any significant impact on nearby residents the team are keen to get feedback from the local community prior to finalising the plans and will be holding a public consultation on October 24 Mr Ashworth adds: “Regenerating disused land is obviously the creme of the crop – this is what we should be aiming for as responsible developers and what we like to do “That is one benefit of our proposals “But we want people to feel involved in all of this so we encourage anyone who wants to know more about the project to get in touch or come to our drop-in event this month.” The former Craigievar House office complex is just one of many among a growing epidemic of vacant and derelict spots across Aberdeen Our data specialists found out that there are 32 more recorded derelict or vacant spaces than in 2016. And that Dyce had the most derelict and vacant land and buildings with a total of nine sites located in the area Aberdeen-based rentals firm Centurion Group hit another record breaking year with revenue nearing £580 million New accounts for Dyce-headquartered company show revenue of £579m for the year to December 2023 That is a 11% revenue increase on the 2022 figure of £521m It also recorded pre-tax profits of £35.5m for the year Last year the group made five acquisitions in Canada Centurion chief executive Fernando Assing said the new additions would “significantly enhance” the groups capabilities moving forward the group is in discussions with a number of acquisition targets Centurion acquired Kintore-based Aleron and Forfar-based firm RMEC which rents well services equipment to the oil and gas industry Mr Assing said: “2023 marked another year of record financial performance for Centurion as the group sharpened its focus on delivering technical efficient and sustainable rentals and services to critical industries “We made significant progress against our strategy to diversify and expand the business extending our offering to new end-markets and geographies “This was underpinned by five major acquisitions which significantly enhanced the group’s capabilities and positioned it for growth in adjacent markets from offshore wind to specialist water treatment.” Earlier this year Centurion completed the sale of its Canadian and Puerto Rican infrastructure and construction business Site Resource Group for £76m with Q1 revenue of £93m and earnings before interest Mr Assing said: “Centurion’s good momentum has continued in to 2024 underlining the strength of our business model and the sustained demand for our products and services around the world “We look forward to continuing to build on this throughout the rest of the year for the benefit of all our stakeholders.” Centurion Group was established in 2017 after private equity company SCF acquired four businesses; Centurion in Aberdeen, Oil Patch in the US, Site Energy Services and WTS Rentals in Canada. RayonorthsoundlocalnewsSix fire crews battle blaze at Dyce AcademyThe alarm was raised shortly before midnight on Tuesday. Six fire crews battled a blaze at Dyce Academy overnight. Shortly before midnight on Tuesday, two appliances were called to the school. Four more appliances and a height vehicle were then called in to assist crews. The fire was extinguished and crews left the scene at around 5.30am on Wednesday 19 February. The school remains closed today and updates are expected to be provided to parents, carers and teachers during the day. A spokesperson said: "Around 12.15am on Wednesday, 19 February 2025, we were advised of a fire at Dyce Academy, Riverview Drive, Aberdeen. "A multi-agency response was initiated and the fire has since been extinguished. Enquiries are ongoing into the cause of the fire." Hear all the latest news from the North East of Scotland on Northsound 1. Listen on FM, via our Rayo app, DAB, or smart speaker. A brother and sister are set to open a new cafe in Dyce after the success of their food truck business Alex and Josh McKenzie, co-owners of Skoff Catering have bought The Cloggy House on Dyce Drive started with a catering truck in the area seven years ago They now have three food vans serving quality takeaway breakfasts and lunches and have quadrupled their sales since 2017 The Deeside duo are taking over local institution The Cloggy House, whose owners are retiring, thanks to funding support worth £400,000 from Royal Bank of Scotland Co-owner Alex said: “This has been a dream of ours since we opened our little van nearly seven years ago “We have always sat near The Cloggy House and whilst we wouldn’t have wanted to take over before now with the previous owners retiring and our business thriving this felt like the perfect time to make the jump “This deal has been invaluable in allowing us to take the next big step in our business model and we are determined to keep making these strides in the future “The bank team were so efficient and made the whole process a breeze “We cannot wait to keep making our signature food and bringing joy to our loyal customers who enjoy it.” relationship manager at Royal Bank of Scotland said: “It is great to be able to support young entrepreneurs they have taken it upon themselves to create a thriving business and pursue the steps to really take it to the next level “This is the sort of ambition we really value at Royal Bank of Scotland and we are truly excited to see where Skoff can take this business in the future.” A man who trashed a hotel room causing £3,000 worth of damage has been ordered to pay the repair bill Lee Harker appeared in the dock at Aberdeen Sheriff Court where he admitted causing serious damage to a hotel room at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Aberdeen It was stated that the 38-year-old got drunk and was seen shouting at other guests as they tried to check in to the hotel When the hotel manager led Harker to his room The room reeked of cigarette smoke and the curtains had been torn off the rail He had also “destroyed” a bathroom mirror and damaged a wall Fiscal depute Rebecca Coakley told the court that throughout the day on August 7 this year Harker had been drinking in the bar of the Crown Plaza near Aberdeen Airport a member of staff saw Harker take a glass of white wine outside the premises as he went for a smoke and he was informed that it was against licencing rules Harker then downed the wine and handed the empty glass back to the member of staff The worker then went to the bar and told the bartender not to serve Harker any more alcohol as he was clearly intoxicated a commotion broke out at the reception desk as Harker was seen drunkenly harassing guests who were trying to check-in A staff member told Harker he’d had enough and escorted him back to his room where he immediately smelled cigarette smoke as soon as the door was opened He saw both sets of curtains ripped off the rail Cigarettes were seen strewn about over a table and Harker picked one up and tried to light it The room was unable to be used for a week while repairs took place Harker pleaded guilty to one charge of malicious damage and a second charge of behaving in a disorderly manner Defence solicitor Caitlin Pirie that her client was self-employed and worked offshore in the wind farm industry “He accepts responsibility for this,” she said adding that her client was willing to pay compensation for any damage caused Sheriff Peter Grant-Hutchison ordered Harker to repay the full £3,000 through a compensation order and fined him a total of £640 Aberdeen glided into the golden age of aviation when the airport opened at Dyce 90 years ago It was said the north-east of Scotland “entered upon a new era” when Aberdeen Airport opened on July 28 1934 covering 130 picturesque acres beside Dyce The then modern-age airport stood in stark contrast to the ancient Druid relics and old farms in the surrounding rural parish The site was described as ideal – but much work had gone into creating a perfectly-flat airfield large boulders were removed and the Farburn To pass the Air Minster’s test for flatness in the 1930s an airfield had to ensure a car could be driven over it “at 20mph with a fair degree of comfort” such was the “perfection” of Dyce it was reported that a car could “race” over it at even greater speed “without jolting” Not wanting to take the airport’s word for it a Press and Journal reporter sped over it in a large saloon car and to his satisfaction reported “less bumpiness” than he experienced on neighbouring country roads Aberdeen Airport quickly gained fame for its “excellence” and was nicknamed “the billiard table aerodrome” for its smooth surface But the founding fathers behind the airport would settle for nothing less than perfection Captain Irwin had been a Second Lieutenant in the British Army’s Royal Flying Corps – the precursor to the Royal Air Force – during the First World War After the war he became an estate agent in London and regularly competed in air races with Gandar Dower established the aerodrome at Dyce to launch his pioneering airline Aberdeen Airways Dower had a lifelong fascination with aviation and qualified as a pilot in 1915 It was through a friend he met while studying at Cambridge that he realised the possibilities of aviation at Dyce landing on open fields where the airport stands now He declared to awaiting crowds that he would “build an airport and found an airline here and start routes to different places” his aircraft was towed all the way to a large car garage in Aberdeen to shelter Clearly this was impractical if aviation was ever going to take off in the north-east The new Dyce Aerodrome was granted permission from the Air Ministry for private flying was responsible for the airlines to and from Aberdeen He ensured his aerodrome was equipped with all the essentials His hangar was big enough to accommodate “the largest of aircraft” – 10 De Havilland ‘Dragon’ airliners It was proposed Aberdeen Airways’ passenger fleet would begin with two dragons, one Short Scion and two De Havilland Fox Moths Aberdeen Fuel Company was to provide all oil as well as the electricity for power and lighting While Aberdeen Flying Club had a pavilion built for socialising Disaster struck just two weeks before opening when 10 people narrowly escaped death when a new plane called the Aberdonian crashed on take off on Friday the 13th The party of prominent Aberdeen citizens was heading to the King’s Cup air race at Hatfield A London journalist called Miss Cadle was the most badly injured alongside Professor of Medicine at Aberdeen University and George Esslemont of Esslemont and Macintosh The whole spectacle was witnessed by a P&J reporter who described how the plane appeared to nose-dive into a mound before immediately bursting into flames Miss Cadle and Mr Esslemont were both pinned under the wreckage Miss Cadle was “valiantly” saved in the nick of time by Councillor Watt while another dragged Mr Esslemont to safety which was to lead the airport opening ceremony locals weren’t put off the arrival of aviation in Aberdeen Two onlookers asked to be booked onto the next flight to Orkney And anticipation continued to build ahead of Aberdeen Airport’s opening It cannot be underestimated how significant the aerodrome was for Scotland It was reported Aberdeen would be one of “the important provincial aviation centres in Britain” But Gandar Dower was forced to deny it was for war someone had painted on the walls: “This aerodrome is being opened in preparation of war He dismissed “anti-war fanatics” and said: “No one wants war “I had the doubtful privilege of flying during the last war still has shrapnel in his foot as a souvenir of it “The aerodrome was established in the cause of peace.” inside the airfield and perched on the surrounding railway embankment were promised the finest and most thrilling flying the north-east had ever seen John ‘Jack’ Arbuthnott, the 14th Viscount of Arbuthnott He was sure flying would become more popular as the years went on and that it could only be beneficial to the country to have more trained pilots which “dipped in salute” over the clubhouse where the great and good of Aberdeen were sitting A commentary from the control tower relayed the names of the aircraft and pilots to the guests a dare-devil display “brought the hearts of onlookers into their mouths” dived and rolled with precision and skill to burst balloons that drifted through the air The most enthralling spectacle, however, was the RAF exhibition flight of Hawker Nimrods. A P&J reporter at the scene said: “The most exciting moments were when the planes swooped down on the aerodrome and then climbed up again into the air like rockets.” The thrilling antics continued with a parachutist leaping from an aircraft a speck in the distance until he landed in a nearby field And an air race zipped around pylons on the aerodrome Tyrebagger Hill and Brimmond Hill before Captain Findlay from Stonehaven stormed to victory The airport quickly achieved its objective of becoming a busy civilian airfield to connect Scotland’s islands to the mainland and London But the lingering feeling that war was on the horizon did not pass the Air Ministry took over and 612 Squadron of the Auxiliary Air Force was established at Dyce And on October 16 1939 Dyce officially became an RAF station to defend Aberdeen While a grass field had been acceptable for landing civilian aircraft the RAF required three hard runways to be built Fighter planes were based there due to its proximity to Norway but the base was largely used for photographic reconnaissance so a decoy airfield was built at Harestone Moss at Whitecairns near Balmedie The dummy base created the illusion of an airfield at night with a generator powering lights to look like a flarepath and taxiing aircraft one of the more interesting wartime experiences at RAF Dyce took place in May 1943 A defecting Luftwaffe crew flew their Junkers Ju 88 fighter to Dyce hoping to join the allies Britain gleaned great intelligence from the aircraft Scientists studied its radar and were able to build a counter-system to defend RAF bombers Although 612 Squadron continued to be based there until 1957 when it disbanded There was said to be a glum air about the aerodrome on February 22 when for 45 minutes the squadron’s Vampires took off for the last time The squadron was regrouped as a RAuxAF Medical Reserve Unit in 1999 and is now based at RAF Leuchars In the 1950s and ’60s, Aberdeen Airport went international with flights to destinations including Moscow and Toronto been regularly frequented by the Royal Family over the years en route to Deeside It was the discovery of oil in 1967 that saw the expansion into the airport we know today But its very existence is thanks to the remarkable pioneering spirit and vision of flying ace He told Aberdonians he would build an airport he built one of the busiest airports in the UK Officers attended a school in the Dyce area and a child was reported to relevant partner agencies. Officers attended the school in the Greenburn Road area of Dyce area at around 2.40pm on Monday. The child involved didn’t require any medical treatment and police traced another child in connection with the incident. A council spokesperson said the school dealt with the incident and took “appropriate action”. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 2.40pm on Monday, July 1, 2024 we were called to a report of an assault on a child in the Greenburn Road area of Aberdeen. “Officers attended. No medical treatment was required. “Another child was traced in connection with the incident and a report will be submitted to partner agencies.” An Aberdeen City Council spokesperson said: “The school dealt with the incident immediately and took the appropriate action. The safety of everyone in our schools remains our top priority.” A drunk woman bit a police officer on the hand Natalie Dyce was approached by constable after she shouted racially aggravated abuse at a group of people in the street Her solicitor told the court that Dyce “puts everything down to drink” appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court to admit assaulting the officer as well as acting in a threatening or abusive manner by acting aggressively Fiscal depute Sophie Marshall told the court it was around 11.20pm on November 18 last year when officers were called to reports of a disturbance in Church Street Ms Marshall said: “The accused was at the locus and appeared intoxicated and was acting in an irate manner “The accused was shouting ‘black b*******’ towards a group of persons making clear reference to their skin colour.” When officers attempted to intervene she bit one constable on his hand said: “She puts everything down to drink She doesn’t offer that as an excuse.” He told Sheriff Sara Matheson that Dyce had not been in trouble before or since and said: “She apologises for her behaviour” The mothballed Strachan School could soon become a new Deeside home a farmer wants to add a swimming pool at his house and huge plans have been formed for a demolished Dyce office site 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 we take a look at a trio of proposals revealing how various parts of the north-east have been hit by severe storms in recent years… The owner of Marymill Farmhouse at Marykirk submitted shocking images showing flood damage to his kitchen as he sought permission to prevent a repeat Walid Kalid was caught up in the horror of Storm Babet last November just months after the troubled house was sold at a knockdown price It was the second time in the space of a year it was left submerged Marymill Farmhouse is between both the burn of Balmaleedie and the River North Esk as sales agents acknowledged the damage it had endured It had sold for almost double that amount in June 2004 A blurb reads: “The property suffered water damage from the flash floods in November 2022 “This presents an opportunity for developers to add value to this property.” Storm Babet wreaked havoc across the Mearns and beyond with nearby Angus recording its wettest day since records began Mr Kalid recently sought permission from Aberdeenshire Council to increase the height of one section of the flood prevention wall from 1m to 1.5m He added: “This is due to the constant flooding at the property and 1m is not high enough.” A report states: “The design of the wall is not typical of boundary treatments in the area neither of these solutions would be effective as a flood defence for the property.” Matthew Booth has told of his despair living literally on the brink of disaster… a landslide at the coastal village rendered his house “uninhabitable” The home at the foot of a brae was later condemned by Aberdeenshire Council He says “significant time and expense have since been invested in restoring the property” using his own money “to make the area safe and habitable” And the area at the back of the home was eventually made secure in 2022 The spot where his “destroyed” shed and decking area once stood was fixed last year And now he is seeking permission to replace them both Mr Booth says the shed was an “essential component” of the abode as it was “integral to his daily activities” there He adds: “The reinstatement is essential to restore function and ensure the property continues to meet the needs of its residents “Considerations have been made for improved stability and resilience to prevent future damage from similar natural events “The new shed and decking area will be better equipped to withstand environmental challenges ensuring the safety and well-being of the residents and the community.” a tree was sent crashing through a historic racquets court building during fierce winds in February 2023 let’s take a look at the man behind the unique addition to the north-east castle – who carved out a slice of America in Aberdeenshire This part of the castle was added in 1903 for Alexader Forbes-Leith The building also contained a skittles alley and was known as his “playroom” It was inspired by the time he spent forging his name in the steel industry across the pond Alexander Forbes-Leith made his fortune in the steel industry in the United States He was a director of US Steel and a partner in his father-in-law’s Merchant Bank by the time he returned to Scotland to buy the Fyvie Castle in 1889 They spruced up the interiors and brightened up the rooms with lavish artworks And current owners The National Trust for Scotland explain: “Inspiration for the ‘playhouse’ came from Lord Leith’s transatlantic lifestyle “It was fashionable for wealthy Americans to construct a building complete with a viewing platform for spectators He was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium and his ashes now rest in St Peter’s Parish Church Cemetery Have a look inside his Edwardian “leisure complex”: a huge fir tree smashed through the roof during 83mph winds The NTS states: “Much of the stonework to the main building on that side was dislodged in addition to the collapse of the glass roof to the main court “Our team of specialists sprang into action and arranged a crane to remove the tree carefully the extensive damage left the building in a dangerous condition and exposed it to snow and rain until we could safely put up a wrapped scaffold to offer protection.” The NTS aims to reopen the building in the summer of 2025 And plans lodged with the local authority detail how they will carry out repairs to the A-listed attraction between now and then The UK has been plunged into a dental crisis since Covid with many unable to afford treatment and almost 20% of people struggling to find an NHS dentist There are about 1,000 fewer working here than before the pandemic So it could be with some relief that residents in Aberdeen’s developing new town of Countesswells welcome the news of a new clinic Imran Rizviuk has lodged building plans for the new facility on Deer Park Place Papers reveal he would spend £55,000 on fitting out the premises It would span across three units at the estate A few days ago, we revealed how Huntly Dental Practice plans to take on thousands more patients by expanding into the old bakery next door Evans Cycles moved out of its Great Northern Road home in Aberdeen back in 2019, but later opened up on Union Street in 2022 the Salvation Army closed its charity shop on the city’s John Street in February And now the charity is eyeing up the old bike shop Blueprints show how the unit could be turned into a new “donation centre” Roddy Catto runs the Hillhead of Muirton dairy farm at Whitecairns Mr Catto has now submitted an application to Aberdeenshire Council seeking the go-ahead for an extension at his home there Blueprints explain that this is in order to create a new indoor swimming pool Aberdeenshire Council’s senior environmental health officer is threatening to pull the plug on the plans… Alan Tait responded: “The proposed development is served by a private water supply “The supply in question serves other properties In a previous instance when a swimming pool was added to another supply it left other properties without water.” The department is now requesting tests be carried out and information supplied on “the volume and daily usage of the proposed swimming pool” The Craigievar House office complex in Dyce was formerly the home of offshore firm Aker Solutions until it moved to the nearby Aberdeen International Business Park After that, Centric Community Projects Limited took over the building on the Kirkhill Industrial Estate and began offering space to local groups It was the base for AberNecessities, and formed a crucial collection point for donations to be sent to Ukraine after the Russian invasion in 2022 The three-storey office building was later put up for sale. And owners Hurstwood Estates recently spent £180,000 knocking it down Now Manchester-based real estate firm Arrowmere Capital 2 Ltd are behind plans to transform the 12-acre site They want to create a “major business and industrial development” comprising industrial units storage and distribution buildings and office space Public consultation events on the plans have been arranged on Thursday at the nearby Leonardo Hotel from 3pm to 7pm A short distance away on the outskirts of Aberdeen But its pupil roll is expected to balloon by hundreds in the years ahead with some estimates showing it to be well over capacity by 2028 Aberdeen City Council has formed plans to build a new Portakabin at the site to accommodate the influx of children The structure would cost £320,000 to erect Aberdeenshire Council closed Strachan School about five years ago shutting a building once thought to be “the main focus of the village” It marked the end of an era for the community as the school had been part of Strachan since 1877 But as the decades passed, its roll became an increasing concern Reckoned to be one of the smallest schools in Scotland by the time the axe fell in 2019 it had been two years since a pupil was sent there The village primary, a few miles outside Banchory, was put up for sale for £110,000 the local authority said its “preference” was for the two-classroom granite building “to be retained in any development” fresh plans have emerged which indicate it could soon be turned into a new house But owners Mr and Mrs N Middleton first want to create a new access road from the B976 to the school building Architects state: “The structural integrity of the south wall has been severely compromised by trees growing against it on the inside of the site “My clients need to form a new vehicular access to the site from the B976.” Documents sent to the council say that more detailed plans on the conversion will be lodged in due course It comes as other rural Aberdeenshire schools were confirmed for closure last week, with councillors agreeing the “sad” decision would be “best for pupils”.  the eyes of the world will turn to Braemar for the village’s famous Highland Games event But there is more to the village than its royally-approved Gathering and efforts to highlight a hidden aspect of its past have now been approved was once a Commando “mountain warfare” training centre And the owners of the building will now recognise this link with a plaque to be positioned at the entrance to the Flying Stag bar Read more about the hotel’s exciting past here Marykirk flooding proposal Sandend landslide repairs Fyvie Castle plans Salvation Army shop Countesswells dentist  Swimming pool plans Dyce offices  Stoneywood school  Strachan school home proposal  Fife Arms Hotel plaque Developers behind plans for a new drive-thru and EV charging site in Dyce will “permanently exit” Aberdeen after their latest proposal was refused CoCity had hoped to build the facility alongside another cafe four business units and the charging hub on the vacant Alba Gate office site They argued the development would inject around £2.5 million into the local economy over the next five years And they even claimed the 24-bay EV station would have been the largest of its kind in the north-east – and could help Scotland meet its net zero targets The firm has been left “baffled” by the decision to leave the former oil HQ “derelict” Council planners recommended it be refused as it failed to meet the Scottish Government’s eco rules The national guidelines put strict restrictions on drive-thru facilities and out of town retail developments Planners said they would have supported the application if the drive-thru lane was removed from the second proposed cafe developers claimed the lane was needed in order to lure potential operators – such as Costa or Tim Hortons – to the site The application was considered by members of the planning committee this week but it was rejected after a nearly two-hour debate CoCity chief Alex Impey said the committee’s refusal was a “tough pill to swallow” But, he admitted his team were “not surprised” by the result we have brought vibrant and innovative schemes to the site which were backed by the local community and its leaders they were scuppered by both the local planning authority and the planning committee.” Mr Impey added: “We are still completely baffled by the decision that it is better for the community to keep a derelict site But CoCity have said the future of the site “does not look positive” after their failed attempts to redevelop the vacant area over the last four years The small business will now look to offload it “This will also be our last act in Aberdeen,” Mr Impey stated “We plan to permanently exit the Aberdeen market in order to focus on other areas of Scotland and the UK and work with local authorities who are supportive of innovation and have a clear vision of how to make their cities the best for their residents.” Stoneywood Community Council secretary Bill Harrison spoke at this week’s planning meeting He pleaded with councillors to get the application “over the line” calling it a “good proposal for Dyce Mr Harrison welcomed the 35 jobs it would bring throughout the demolition Meanwhile resident David Barr also attended and voiced his support for the “very well planned and desirable” development He praised the commercial units that he believed would help to attract small businesses and be “beneficial to Stoneywood” It was clear the decision wasn’t an easy one for the committee to make as members were left pondering over what to do Councillor Ciaran McRae said he was in “two minds” about the application but ultimately decided to back the recommendation to refuse it Fellow councillor Martin Greig also opposed the development despite hailing the rapid charging facilities as “excellent and very welcome” He believed the drive-thru would bring a “worryingly” large volume of traffic to the site and said it was a “fundamental flaw” to the plan councillor Emma Farquhar wanted to see the plan come to life as she believed it would bring positive benefits to the area She noted there was a lack of cafes in Dyce and branded the site as an “eyesore” and a “magnet for vandalism and anti-social behaviour” She said: “The development would help bring this site back into use “At present it’s a disused office it’s not got much prospect of coming back into use.” The matter went to a tense vote which resulted in a tie Mr McRae had the casting vote and opted to refuse the application ‘We are spending £1.5m to bring Dyce hotel back to life – and reopen swimming pool’ thoughtful analysis and valuable insights for business leaders in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario EVENT ALERT: Mayor's Breakfast with Ontario Finance Minister on Wednesday