LOCAL NEWS
Although we didn't progress into the finals of the Scotland in Bloom the judges, like many visitors, were impressed with the village. The results of the Best Kept Village was announced on Saturday 11th September. The Sunday School entry is certainly an attractive splash of colour.
Thanks must go to everyone who has worked so hard in their own "patch". The watering teams deserve a special mention - because of the dry spell they were continually on duty.
The judges os the Community Association Competition had a hard task choosing their winners and congratulated everyone on their efforts.
These were the results:
| COMMERCIAL | 1st | The Dowans Hotel |
| 2nd | The Old Pantry | |
| 3rd | The Fleming Hospital | |
| Highly Commended | David Brown | |
| DOMESTIC | ||
| Window Boxes | 1st | Miss M Walker, Longhill, Mary Avenue |
| 2nd | Hendry, 68 High Street | |
| 3rd | McWilliam 27a High Street | |
| Highly Commended | Walker, Milford, High Street | |
| Baskets | 1st | Stewart, 7 Dowans Road |
| 2nd | McTavish, 8 Chapel Terrace | |
| 3rd | Thomson, 6 Chapel Terrace | |
| Highly Commended | Geddes, 111 High Street | |
| Tubs | 1st | Beaton, 18 Tower Place |
| 2nd | McKenzie, 'Clonallan', High Street | |
| 3rd | Geddes, 111 High Street | |
| Highly Commended | Stewart, 7 Dowans Road |
ABERLOUR VILLAGE PARTY
The Annual Village Party at the Alice Littler Park was held on Wednesday 4th August and the weather was glorious. There was a packed programme of races for all ages from the under 5's to the grannies! This was followed by a delicious tea of sandwiches, cakes, ice cream and jelly which were donated by the kind and generous people of the village, who also provided the sweets used as prizes for the races.
In the evening 6 teams took part in a hilarious "Knock-Out" contest kindly arranged by the Rotary Club. This event was thouroughly enjoyed by all especially the last game which was the favourite water slide.
The winners of the "Knock-Out" were the "Spanking Spirits" from the Glenlivet Distillery and the best dressed team were "The Nuns"
THE NEW PLAYPARK HAS BEEN OPENED
On the 2nd August, 1980 Mr. Sydney Littler opened the Alice Littler Park which he had generously donated to the village. The new play area is a major addition to the park and will give pleasure to future generations of youngsters.
The Community Association decided, in 1997, that the play area would be there main Millennium project. It was left to the APPA (Aberlour Play Park Appeal Committee) to not only raise the necessary money but to plan the play area for younger, older and handicapped children.
Many locals and visitors have praised the standard of the equipment and its safety. Thanks should go to APPA Agnes Anderson, George Logie, Kath Davies, Sean Cattanach and Convener, Gill Cammack - WELL DONE.
It is important to note that the play area (and the ground it stands on) belongs, not to the Park Committee, but to the Community Association. It is the duty of everyone in Aberlour to make sure that it is safely and sensibly used and kept as tidy as possible.
ABERLOUR STATION TEAROOM IN NEED OF VOLUNTEERS
The Old Station Tearoom opened in May again, to offer a wide range of refreshments and home bakes. In the area there is a putting facility for anyone interested in improving their golf-putting technique. The Tearoom is open from 10am to12 noon and 2pm to 4.30pm. Volunteers are needed to serve tea and to make home bakes. Because of the lack of helpers The Tearoom may have to close and this could well mean the closure of the village putting. If you can help contact Shiela McPherson on Aberlour 871304
MILLENNIUM NEWS
A Report from the Millennium Committee way back in June 1999
As you will appreciate, it has been quite difficult planning events to suit all people and all ages. However, having asked for representation of all groups in the community, we did have a fair response and have formed a small committee.
The aim is to organise events, which will be enjoyable to the patrons as well as of financial gain to the Association, for nothing ever, happens without cost. The main reason for fund-raising is to finance a party for the children, belonging to the local community, to be held on the afternoon of hogmany. It is hoped that each child can be presented with a souvenir marking the Year 2000 and we are working towards this at committee level at the moment.
Planned events so far:-
| Tartan Ball | Fleming Hall in the autumn - date to be finalised |
| Hogmany Party | For Primary school children |
| Hogmany Dance | Fleming Hall 9pm - 11.30pm followed by "Bringing in the New Year" in the village square. |
We have benefited from two previous events - a Beetle Drive which was great fun and raised £45 also a Coffee Morning by the Rotarians
We do hope you approve of what our aim is and would ask for your support. It is quite simple to organise events but we rely entirely on your support to make things a success.
The Millennium is to be celebrated in style in the Speyside area with proceeds from coffee mornings and soup n' sweets run by the Aberlour and Speyside Rotary Club held in Rothes, Dufftown, Craigellachie and Archiestown.
Rothes have established a Millennium Group, which is chaired by Mrs Pearl Paul, which is developing many ideas and projects for the coming century. The last Rothes Council meeting had 30 people to discuss and arrange the activities. Suggestions include a Hogmany party, a tree-planting project, writing a book about Rothes and staging an exhibition in the Grant Hall.
The Craigellachie Hotel have donated money and will arrange the venue for Craigellachie's firework display and Craigellachie Village Council are contributing through organising a "win a $100 note" competition with proceeds going to the Millennium celebrations.
WANTED - The Highlander Inn in Craigellachie are keen to find out any ideas for the Millennium Celebrations. Please phone 01340 881446 with your suggestions.
SPEYSIDE COOPERAGE WINS AGAIN!
The visitor centre at Speyside Cooperage won yet another award in 1998. The Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions (ASVA) judged its 1998 promotional leaflet at the best in the medium-business category. Lord Gordon of Strathblane chaired the independent panel of judges.
Miss Joy Thomson is the Manager of the visitor centre and has explained that the Cooperage was short-listed in 1997 but it was an excellent result to win. The Craigellachie attraction is the only cooperage in Britain with a visitor centre and has won 12 awards since opening in 1992. The main attraction is the "Acorn to Cask" exhibition.
LOCAL PROJECT
CRAIGELLACHIE
Pupils at Craigellachie Primary School became very energetic about the environment as part of a Scotland-wide education award scheme. The children worked on a project titled "The Bright Sparks Award Scheme" which is organised by the World Wildlife Fund Scotland and sponsored by the Scottish Hydro Electric.
The study was on the effects of our wastefulness on world resources, materials and energy and looked at how waste was generated. A survey was conducted to discover the kind of waste the school produces and made specifically designed dustbins to collect different categories of waste. The scheme was designed to stimulate schools to bring environmental education into the new curriculum for 5-14 year olds.
FUND RAISING ACTIVITIES
SPEYSIDE HIGH SCHOOL
Second year pupils from Speyside High School took part in a fund-raising drive for breast cancer during the winter months of 1998. A disco held in the school raised £230 for the oncology unit at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. A guess the baby photograph competition was held where pupils paid to guess the identities of their teachers.
To the Speyside Web