Fond Memories

If you asked many people to describe Rothes who never actually grew up there, I'm sure the answer would have been much of the same, i.e. a distillery town, a dive.  How wrong they would be!
Maybe it took me ten years living on the other side of the world to realise just what a lucky quine I was.
As a bairn, I now remember vividly how anyone remotely in your age group (including brothers and sisters) palled around together, and no matter how big your family was, there were always 'extras' in your hoose.
In great hoards we'd all converge on the Dounie as soon as the sun shone, and after dodging a certain Welsh Palomino named 'Skippy' on the way to the 'Scouts Hole', we'd have a grand time pretending we could swim.  Hughie Tawse was the only one who could swim, far the less keep afloat!
Kick-the-can, in the park was another favourite played round the May pole, where a good dozen would hide to see who would be the 'cannie' champ.
Ghost hunting at night up the Castle was pretty brave, and many an imagination ran riot then, I'm sure most of us had seen the 'White Lady' or the 'Grey Ghost' before bedtime.
As for myself, my favourite pastime was 'Hutties' me and my best pal Shona had enough 'Hutties' scattered throughout the district to start our own wee village!
Innocent, Happy days!
No doors were ever locked, to strangers to town every left 'a stranger', no friend or neighbour left alone.
Now that's Rothes!
Not until a year ago when myself and my oldest daughter Kylie had to make an unexpected trip home for my brother's funeral did I realise just how special Rothes is, maybe not so much Rothes, but the 'Rothesians'.
Kylie, who had spent the majority of her years in a much bigger town was very confused when everybody she met up the street said "Aye, aye!"
My family in their grief, I'm sure could not have gotten through without Rothesians.
Washing, baking, shopping, popping in for a chat and a cuppa all helped and all seen to be Rothesians.
Sometimes it seems like a distant memory that me and my daughter were back in the unique atmosphere that only Rothes holds for me.
From a line in Ian Middleton's poem "The Mither Tongue"
"Though the fowkies bid me welcome on fitiver road I strike,
There's neen that hae the welcome that can match "Fit like?"

Lilaine (Lainie Burgess)Tull

Competition Winners
The following people won prizes in our last edition's Christmas Competition:
  Under 16's  Tara French, Jenna Scott
  Under 7's  Scott Bowie, Bruce Cameron
Congratulations to them and a big thank you to Freddie and Michael from The Rothes Glen Hotel for sponsoring the competition.

The Rothesian Word Search

The Rothesian Word Search raised £86 for Newspaper Funds.  The winner was Chris Allport, Mosstodloch.  Thanks go to Raymond Johnston for compiling the quiz and Gordon Bremner for providing the prize.

Speyside Footpaths Network

The Speyside Footpath Network Group have been engaged in formalising a constitution which has been sent to the Inland Revenue for agreement and advice on obtaining charitable status.
In addition to being included in a Moray Council pilot project the group have secured start up funding of £30,000.  To help match this funding the communities' contributions will be their time and practical help in investigating and developing the footpaths network.
As the footpaths in Dufftown and Aberlour are well established, work is being done on a footpath and local information brochure for this area.
Other areas, including Rothes are compiling data on local footpaths.  The group are being helped on the Rothes data by Billy Ross, High Street, Rothes.  Other Rothesians involved are Ray Brumby, Sandra Ross, Maddie Love, Martin Flynn and Pearl Paul.
Anyone wishing information should contact Leader II on 01343 550567.

Rothes Lad Passes Out into New Life with the Royal Navy
Kevin Milne passed his 8 week basic training at HMS Raleigh on 22nd February 1999 after which he was posted to HMS Sultan, Gosport for his Part 2 training as an Air Mechanic, working on helicopters.
Kevin is enjoying his new life in the Navy which has brought him and his brother Christopher together.
After eight years service in the Navy, including a stint on HMS Invincible in the Gulf, Christopher has left the navy and settled with his wife, Sally at Gosport.
Christopher works at Yeovil, Somerset on the computer side of helicopter maintenance where Kevin hopes to go for his next training with helicopters by the end of June.

Castlehill
Work has started on the Castlehill Improvement Scheme.  The scheme includes a new sign on High Street indicating a picnic area, interpretation boards, a view point, painting and repairs to the shelter, the installation of a picnic bench and the widening and resurfacing of the car park.
The viewpoint and interpretation boards have been designed by the pupils of Rothes Primary School.  The boards give information on the history of the Castle and explain how ordinary folk lived in Rothes at the time.
Work should be completed by the end of March.

Rothes Graduates Congrats!

Roy Shearer, Spey Street, graduated BSc (Hons) in Accountancy from Aberdeen University.  Roy is now working for K.P.M.G. in Aberdeen
Keith Ross , Spey Street, graduated BSc (Hons.) from Aberdeen University.  Keith had to postpone his graduation from 1997 because of eye problems.  He is now off to Madagascar on expedition studying insectivorous bats.
Anne Johnston, Roundwood, completed her Open University Degree last year and hopes to graduate in May.

Recycle Dates

The paper bank and can recycling unit will be available at the 'Gardens end' of Land Street on the following dates:
12 & 26 March
9, 23 & 30 April
14 & 28 May
The unit is available from 4pm to 7pm.

COMPETITION ............ COMPETITION

For a chance of winning a bottle of  The Famous Grouse Gold Reserve whisky simply name the Highland Distillers 6 distilleries.  The first 3 correct entries will receive a bottle of this much sought after whisky.
Write your answers on a post card and return to:
Rothes Post Office
Rothes Primary School
    no later than 31st March
Highland Distillers have kindly donated another 3 bottles for future fundraising activities.
Please note the competition is only open to people of 18 years and over and not open to employees of Highland Distillers.

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