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Press and Journal
4 days ago
- Press and Journal
Fifteen-caravan Traveller convoy pitches-up at Inverdee playing fields
A 15-strong caravan camp has set up on Aberdeen playing fields as part of a summer holiday tour of Scotland. The Traveller convoy settled temporarily at the Inverdee playing fields, close to businesses such as Goals and Harvester, and arrived on Sunday June 1. Fifteen caravans along with towing vehicles were spotted on the large cricket pitch next to Great Southern Road. It is understood their arrival proved a surprise to local cricketers, who were forced to call of matches at the weekend. The Press and Journal went down to the site today to speak with one of the families, who told us they were visiting the city on holiday. They were in Aberdeen after previous stops in Edinburgh and Dundee, with the Highlands their next destination. According to one of the Travellers, the group had never stopped in the Granite City before but were pleasantly surprised by how friendly Aberdonians were. He said: 'We always try to find somewhere that is not going to be an issue for anyone, but it is getting harder every year to find a suitable site to set up on. 'We have passed through Aberdeen but never stopped. The people are friendly.' They had been on the site for only a day, arriving around lunchtime the day before. And it was something of a tight squeeze, due to the corner leading down to the pitches from the main road. One of the Travellers told us they 'don't want to upset anyone' and said they were only staying in the north-east for a week before moving on. The Travellers said they had been doing this for several years and found Aberdeen 'much nicer than Dundee'. Interactions between the adults and the young children at the site suggested a loving family unit. The caravans were spread out over the cricket pitch but all 15 families travel as one group. The travellers' arrival comes shortly after another group set up at Aberdeen Beach. We were told the two groups were separate and did not travel together. Within the Aberdeen city area, there few official Gypsy/Traveller sites, with the sole council facility at Clinterty, near the border with Aberdeenshire. It offers 21 permanent pitches, with a waiting list for spaces, and no provision for temporary stays. We also spoke to nearby football centre Goals, who told us the Travellers had asked to use their facilities but were refused permission. He went on to say that a group of cricketers who frequently use the ground were unable to play due to the travellers' presence on the pitch. They will not be able to use the playing field until the group vacate. The Goals worker also said that dog walkers had complained about the travellers' pets roaming freely around the area. A member of management at Harvester confirmed they had asked the group not to make use of the business' water tap after three individuals began filling water tanks. Its toilet facilities, they said, were also being used regularly. An Aberdeen City Council spokesperson said: 'We are aware of the encampment and we will progress action to have it removed as soon as possible. 'We are committed to engaging with the traveller community to address accommodation challenges they face.'
Press and Journal
12-05-2025
- Business
- Press and Journal
The £39 a month golf membership with no compromise on quality
It's fair to say that public golf courses can often struggle to rival their private counterparts when it comes to location, play and quality – but that's certainly not the case in Aberdeen. With five highly regarded golf courses and a thriving membership, Sport Aberdeen is proving that by investing in its courses, the city's golfers can reap the rewards. Some Press and Journal online content is funded by outside parties. The revenue from this helps to sustain our independent news gathering. You will always know if you are reading paid-for material as it will be clearly labelled as 'Partnership' on the site and on social media channels. This can take two different forms. This means the content has been paid for and produced by the named advertiser. This means the content has been paid for and approved by the named advertiser but written and edited by our own commercial content team. Priced at just £39 a month, with junior and concessionary rates also available, Sport Aberdeen's golf membership allows you to play four fantastic 18-hole golf courses, as well as the nine-hole course at Hazlehead. That means whether you're a seasoned golfer or just starting out, you can make the most of the variety that the membership offers. Hazlehead MacKenzie Championship, Hazlehead Pines, Kings Links, Balnagask and Hazlehead 9-hole golf course are all leading the way in allowing Aberdonians to enjoy the sport. Keith Heslop, chief executive officer at Sport Aberdeen, is a passionate life-long golfer. He's urging Aberdonians to try the courses for themselves – and enjoy all the health and wellbeing benefits golf has to offer. Keith told us: 'We've got 5,000 Sport Aberdeen golf members, and they're playing regularly. We've 120,000 rounds getting played on our courses every year. There's a consistent demand to use our courses which I believe shows we are doing something right. 'The quality needs to be there, and we must continuously invest in our facilities. We have spent over £400k over the last three years on drainage and scarification and are looking to spend £300k this trading year on irrigation work, all of which reflects the wetter winters and drier summers that we now experience.' However, it's not just the playing experience that makes Sport Aberdeen's golf memberships so appealing. 'While quality is really important to us, so is quantity,' explained Keith. 'We offer five golf courses for one membership price of £39 a month which is incredibly good value for money. There's also the option to pay-as-you-go, you can just turn up and pay to play on the courses. That's ideal if you find you only really play in the summer for example.' Booking a tee time on any course is very straightforward too, it can be done via an app or simply calling the course ahead of time to check availability. As a keen golfer, Keith is always proactive in talking to people about the courses and taking on board their feedback. He said: 'You live or die by the quality of your greens on a golf course, and although we traditionally struggle early in the season due to the aftermath of winter, once the sun finally appears the feedback we receive is fantastic and is testament to not just Sport Aberdeen, but our contractor, idverde UK.' Keith continued: 'We are delighted that the Quaich Competition is returning to Mackenzie this year and sitting alongside the Kings Links Golf Championship, it reflects that we are invested in the golfing community and are looking to bring additional opportunities to our courses and the city.' Investments are also being made off the course too. Keith explained: 'This autumn we are also looking to attract additional interest by investing in two highly sophisticated golf simulators that will be based at Get Active@Sheddocksley. This will offer a controlled environment where you can practice without worrying about weather, or time constraints. 'With detailed data on each swing and immediate feedback, your ability to improve specific areas of your game is greatly enhanced, which is of ideal for beginners and experienced golfers alike or for corporate events.' Keith added: 'At Sport Aberdeen we are trying to break down barriers to people getting involved in sports. We are passionate about golf and see the benefits it brings to people every day.'
Press and Journal
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Press and Journal
Robin Galloway: My favourite Aberdeen memories
Before he became one of Scotland's best-known radio voices, Robin Galloway was simply a young lad growing up in Aberdeen. Born and raised in the Granite City, and going to school at Hazlehead Academy, his childhood coincided with Aberdeen's oil boom, a time he remembers fondly as feeling like 'living in a mini Las Vegas,' with luxury cars and a real buzz about the city. After a short stint working in his family's antiques business, Bell's Antiques, Robin's natural flair for entertaining pulled him into Aberdeen's nightclub scene in the 1980s. DJ residencies at hotspots like Villas and Sir Laffalots paved the way for his first big radio break at Northsound in 1985. Robin Galloway in his younger years. Image: Supplied Television followed, with Robin becoming a familiar face on Grampian TV, hosting news segments and the much-loved Birthday Spot. Now a familiar presence behind the scenes of the north-east's Original 106 and Original 106 GOLD as head of radio presentation at DC Thomson, Robin continues to champion the city that shaped him. Here, he shares his favourite memories, places, and inspirations from his beloved hometown… What first springs to mind when you think of Aberdeen? My home city. My birthplace. It's where I spent my childhood and formative years, so it's always close to my heart. The first thing I automatically picture is the granite — those incredible silver buildings that catch the light in a way you don't see anywhere else. Some of the finest architecture in Scotland. It's the Granite City for a reason. What makes Aberdeen so special? It's the blend of the old and the new. The timeless beauty of the granite buildings, the incredible coastline just minutes from the city centre, and of course, the people. There's a real warmth and resilience about Aberdonians. It's a city that's shaped who I am. Most memorable night you've had in Aberdeen? Definitely when I was DJing at Villas nightclub on Crown Street back in the 80s. I don't drink now, but I did then — and we certainly enjoyed some wild nights! Villas had such a brilliant energy back then. It was part of a vibrant Aberdeen nightlife scene that people still talk about to this day. Sir Laffalots on Shiprow, one of the nightclubs Robin DJd in. Favourite restaurant in Aberdeen and why? Rendezvous@Nargile on Forest Avenue is a real favourite. I absolutely love the array of small plates — all Turkish dishes with their own little twists. The cold meze is phenomenal, and if you're an aubergine fan like me, the sakşuka is a must. It's the kind of place where you sit down intending to order a few dishes and end up trying the whole menu. Rendezvus@Nargile on Forest Avenue in Aberdeen. Image: DC Thomson Best place in Aberdeen when you're looking for inspiration? I'm a bit biased here. In the 90s, I set up Pure Man, the gents' clothing store on Union Street, along with my brother-in-law Scott. I'm no longer involved in the business, but I still pop in whenever I need some sartorial inspiration. As an Aberdonian, of course, I always ask for a discount — and occasionally, I even get one! What is your first memory in Aberdeen? It's my first day at Primary 1 at Robert Gordon's College. I was a tearful four-year-old being dropped off — well, more like pushed — into the classroom. I remember clinging desperately to my dad's beige double-breasted Gaberdine raincoat. The brown buttons pressing into my face, the tears soaking into his coat. That moment stayed with me — the beginning of school life in Aberdeen. Best place for a coffee stop in Aberdeen? Moossh Café in Mannofield is top of my list. It's run by Claire and Lucy Tester, the daughters of my old friend and local entrepreneur George Tester. The girls have done an incredible job with the renovation and the decor. It's a perfect spot whether you're after a great coffee, a nice glass of wine or even an early evening supper with friends. Claire and Lucy, owners of Moossh Cafe. Image: Paul Glendell/DC Thomson How is 2025 going for you? It's shaping up to be a brilliant year. My son Myles, who's also in radio and based in Toronto, Canada, is getting married this summer. He and his fiancée Heather are tying the knot at Drumtochty Castle, with lots of Heather's family coming over to explore the North East. We're all praying for sunshine! What are you up to with work at the moment? Original 106 has had a fantastic couple of years — we've been near market leaders for most of that time. This year, we decided to roll the brand out further, bringing in listeners from Tayside and Fife too. We've also launched a brand extension, Original 106 GOLD, on DAB and smart speakers, targeting the over-55s audience. It's an exciting time for us. Describe your perfect day in Aberdeen It would start with a visit to the Vegan Bay Baker on Castlegate for one of their legendary vegan rowies. I've been vegan for over 30 years now, and Aberdeen is fantastic for dairy-free options these days — Vegan Bay is right up there with the best. After that, I'd head along Lower Deeside Road and out to the Linn of Dee for a bit of wild swimming — a spot I loved visiting with friends during the summer holidays growing up. The summers always seemed better then, didn't they…? Vegan Bay Baker on Castlegate. Image: DC Thomson My Aberdeen: Michael Gove on beating Rangers, and why the Granite City is 'the best place in the world'
Press and Journal
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Press and Journal
Norman Esslemont: Together we can scrap Aberdeen's bus gates once and for all - with final £25k push to fight court battle
We're going back to court – and this time, we're going all the way. For nearly two years, traders and residents across Aberdeen have been forced to live with the damaging consequences of the so-called 'bus priority' scheme – a system that has choked off trade, punished motorists, and turned large parts of our once-bustling city centre into a ghost town. I've walked Union Street almost every day of my adult life. I've run businesses here, hired local people, and helped serve generations of Aberdonians. I've seen it thrive – and I've seen it struggle. But I have never seen it like this. This street was once the beating heart of our city. Now, it's on life support. And for what? For a half-baked traffic experiment that was never properly consulted on and never fairly assessed. The people of Aberdeen didn't ask for this. We weren't given a vote. And yet we've all been made to pay the price – quite literally – as footfall dried up and thousands of unsuspecting drivers were slapped with fines. But now, after months of legal preparation, our day in court is coming. We've secured a procedural hearing for June, with the full appeal likely to follow in the autumn. And thanks to the strength of our legal team – led by the brilliant Alasdair Sutherland, of Burness Paull – we're more confident than ever that we will prevail. But we can't do it alone. That's why I'm asking today for your help to raise a fresh £25,000 to take this legal battle across the finish line. This is no longer just about bus gates. It's about accountability. It's about transparency. And it's about standing up to a council that has, time and again, refused to listen, even when the Common Sense Compromise presented a chance to change route. Our case is built on solid ground. Mr Sutherland has already dismantled Highland Council's flawed plans for Academy Street in Inverness. Now he's turning his attention to Aberdeen – and his legal assessment is clear: the council's decision to make the bus gates permanent was, in his view, legally flawed on multiple grounds. We've seen internal emails showing council officials lobbying bus firms for glowing reviews to justify a decision they had already made. That's not consultation — that's spin. We've seen the council admit they pushed the scheme through to avoid repaying funding. But financial fear is not a legally valid reason to lock down a city centre and crush its economy. And crucially, if the court agrees that the council got it wrong – on any of these points – the entire scheme could be struck down. Gone. Ripped out. Reset. That also means every driver fined since January 2025 could be entitled to a full refund. This is not a hypothetical. This is a real, credible, and winnable legal case – one that could reshape Aberdeen's future for the better. The last time we launched a crowdfunder, the public raised more than £35,000 in just weeks. That incredible show of belief and defiance allowed us to commission expert legal advice and force the council to finally answer to someone other than themselves. Now, we need one last push. The council will try to hide behind legal jargon. They'll try to paint this as a noisy few making trouble. But this fight is so much bigger than that. It's about every small business owner who's watched their takings collapse. Every pensioner confused by poor signage. Every motorist stung with a £50 fine for a turn they'd been making for decades. It's about protecting the soul of our city centre before it's too late. We believe the court will listen. We believe the case is strong. And we believe that, with your help, we can strike this failed experiment from the record, and rebuild a city centre that's fairer, busier, and open to all. This is our moment. Let's take it. Bus gates lawyer: 'I'm bolder than ever about scrapping Aberdeen traffic ban – AND making council cough up refunds to fined drivers' 'Unaccountable' lawyers would only show councillors secret bus gate legal advice 'on a distant screen that kept cutting out'
Press and Journal
29-04-2025
- General
- Press and Journal
See Aberdeen's WW2 bombsites in colour for first time, and how they look today
The Second World War changed the face of Aberdeen forever – lives were lost and whole streets torn apart. For the first time, we've used artificial intelligence software to add colour to air raid photos to see the scenes as Aberdonians saw them more than 80 years ago. When Victory in Europe was declared after six long years of strife, Aberdonians danced in Union Street and embraced strangers in celebration. VE Day not only signalled the end of bloodshed abroad, but at home too. Not a single Aberdonian would have made it through life on the home front without being confronted with loss to some degree. One surviving account of wartime Aberdeen belonged to Aberdonian Helen Wilson. As a young woman she witnessed several deadly raids, and experienced the uncertainty and terror of not knowing where the next bomb would land. Like many, she lost dear friends during the night of the Aberdeen Blitz on April 21 1943 when the Germans inflicted untold horrors on the city. It is no wonder, then, that when victory was declared, Helen joined in 'a huge Eightsome Reel at the top of Market Street'. Recalling the impromptu celebrations decades later in 2005, she said: 'There were hundreds of us. The atmosphere was just wonderful.' Of any location in Scotland, Aberdeen suffered the greatest number of air raids during the war. Its coastal location, manufacturing industries, railway, shipyards and proximity to Luftwaffe bases in Norway made Aberdeen an easy and attractive target for enemy planes. While hundreds of raids were false alarms – earning Aberdeen the nickname Siren City – the real bombing events turned city streets into nightmarish scenes. In the most terrifying incidents, possessions and people were mercilessly thrown from buildings ripped apart by incendiary bombs, leaving gaping holes in granite walls. At least 169 civilians were killed during the conflict – approximately 97 of those on that single fateful night in April 1943. With 130 bombs dropped in the space of an hour, Aberdeen didn't stand a chance. While previous raids targeted industry, that raid targeted people. Aberdonians were caught unaware as aircraft dived 100ft from their homes littering streets with bullets and bombs. But it was far from the first time people were caught in the crossfire. The first raids hit Aberdeen on June 26 1940 when 20 bombs were dropped on Tullos Home Farm, with no deaths. The Nazis returned four days later scattering explosives across Torry, aiming for a wood yard on Crombie Street, but Victoria Road School was one of the first casualties. Volunteer firemen based at Cordiner's garage were first on the scene at the blazing building. A further raid on July 1 claimed 12 lives in Torry, including five children who had been playing in the street. Four of the youngsters were killed outright at the scene with two flung under a car by the force of the explosion. Tragically in the chaos it was some time before they were discovered. A fifth died in hospital. Two of those killed were young sisters Elizabeth and Amy Miller. Days later, a 'thrilling dogfight' took place in the skies over Aberdeen following a raid which killed dozens at Hall Russell Shipyard and Footdee. Unfortunately, the people of Torry would experience heartache several times over in the duration of war. The Germans inflicted a particularly deadly night raid on November 4 1940 while dropping bombs 'without aiming at any particular target'. Four landed in open countryside, but the fifth landed in the front garden of a three-storey tenement at 55-57 Wellington Road in Torry. The blocks of tenements housed large families, with several people to one flat. The force of the bomb blew the entire front wall of one block into the street below, and inside, buried one family under wreckage. Most of the rooms exposed were bedrooms, and the Evening Express reported that 'though the floors of the rooms sagged, they held, otherwise the death-toll would have been heavier'. A remarkable account of that terrifying night told how a family of seven were in the house that took the whole blast, but miraculously only one boy was slightly injured with a cut foot. Mrs Morrice, who lived on the ground floor with her husband and five children, said: 'I was awake at the time and I could hear the German plane approaching. 'I don't know why but I felt queer and started to cry. Then there was a great crash.' Mrs Morrice was in bed with her sleeping baby and another of her children, while her husband was in another bed with their remaining three youngsters. She added: 'A shower of stones and other debris rattled down on me. There was a lot of debris lying about, and I had to push it aside before I could free my hands. 'Then I found that the baby was pinned under something as well, but I managed to scrape it away. 'The other child with me was also trapped, but my husband had got up as soon as the bomb fell and managed to get her clear. 'Everything was in darkness, of course, and I could feel water trickling down on us.' In the same block, Adam Paterson and his wife threw themselves on top of their youngest child, who was sleeping with them when the bombs fell. The couple had four children aged between four and 10 years. Adam recalled feeling the roof crashing down and he said: ''Save the children!' I shouted to my wife, and we both threw ourselves across the little girl. 'I felt that if anything serious was going to happen it would be better if I were killed rather than any of the children.' The Patersons had only been living in the house for a month having moved there from a smaller one-roomed house elsewhere in Aberdeen. He added: 'The most amazing thing is that we got off so lightly. Two of my boys have been slightly hurt but apart from them there were no casualties.' Elsewhere a woman in an upper floor awoke to her bed hanging over the edge where the front wall collapsed. She scrambled to the other end of the bed and climbed out to safety. Upstairs, a sailor, his wife and two-year-old daughter narrowly escaped injury when a large splinter of wood smashed through the wall above the bed they were sleeping in. Homeless families were removed to a nearby hall where young children were soon sleeping peacefully and adults swapped tales of horror. Yet two milk delivery boys who survived the raid 'showed remarkable composure' and wouldn't wait for a cup of tea, saying 'we can't wait, we're late for our work already'. Every passing raid brought stories of terror and survival. But the catastrophic blitz in April 1943 was a horrific turning point where civilians were no longer considered collateral damage – they were the targets. The Evening Express said survivors owed their lives to 'their own stoicism as they lay under piles of wreckage until rescue squads tore away debris which buried them'. But for every miraculous escape, there was a heart-wrenching tale like that of Mrs Forsyth, who was killed along with her baby Francis. She was found with her son in her arms on her way to a shelter. And in Stafford Street, war veteran Mr Webster helped shepherd neighbours downstairs to safety after the building took a direct hit. Realising he had nothing on his feet, he told his daughter he was going to return for his boots. But the tenement was struck for a second time and he was never seen alive again. His badly-burned body was later found in debris. As the dust settled on northern Aberdeen, endless horror stories emerged. In Elmbank Road, several families in different flats in one tenement block were wiped out under the most terrifying circumstances. William and Evelyn Calder, both aged 34, were killed at 6 Elmbank Road, along with 'beloved only daughter', also Evelyn. She was just three years old. Their grave in Trinity Cemetery reads 'killed by enemy action', but censorship meant their death notice could not reveal how they died, only that it was 'sudden' and 'in April'. But it's very easy to read between the lines of the P&J family announcements that April, the pages heavy with grief. Other victims included William Ferguson, his wife Agnes and their 16-year-old daughter Margaret, who also lived, and died, at number six. Brethren of St Machar Lodge were urged to attend his funeral. Also killed in the air raid at number six were James and Lizzie Ferrier, along with their 'beloved grandson John Craib', aged 21. Neighbour at number six William Watson, 43, was also killed. And widow Joan Stove, aged 50, died alongside her only daughter Jeannie, 26, who was visiting. Jeannie had married two years earlier and ordinarily lived at 244 Hilton Drive. In a tragic twist, in November that year Joan's only son, staff sergeant Robert Stove was killed in action in Africa. But in Aberdeen, even the deceased weren't safe from the bombs during that raid. Photos of city cemeteries after the explosions are nothing short of gut-wrenching. St Peter's Cemetery looks more like a building site than a resting place, with headstones scattered like fallen chess pieces. Today, the cemetery is as it should be, a peaceful sanctuary off the Spital, its war wounds long healed. But seeing the aftermath of these tragic scenes in colour brings a renewed poignancy and vulnerability to archive photographs. In colour these people are no longer forgotten, monochrome ghosts of the past where details become lost in shadows. We see these people as they saw each other; families and neighbours pulling together in times of despair. Most of us can never comprehend the sheer terror ordinary people faced in their ordinary lives in Aberdeen. But here, the colour images pull you in as an onlooker through a window to the city's darkest hours, which should never be forgotten.
