• +07789 994682
  • clerk@aberdeenburgesses.com

Monthly Archives:October 2022

WHEELCHAIR SWING APPEAL 

Garry Stevens No Comments

Three of our fellow Burgesses are involved in a fundraising effort via their Rotary Club.

Aberdeen has no provision for a wheelchair accessible swing at any of the city play parks. The nearest one is in Banchory and families travel out of the city so that their youngster – or in some cases adults – can experience the same play as their siblings and friends. The joy this equipment brings is immeasurable. One 33-year-old said it was the first time in her life that she’d been on a swing and as you’ll be aware, there are many wheelchair users in the city..

The Council has agreed to do the necessary groundwork to accommodate such equipment but asked Rotary Club (Bon Accord) to raise £24k to supply and instal a wheelchair accessible swing in Duthie Park. Your fellow Burgesses ask that you help to raise awareness of their campaign.

Any signposting to sources of grants they may be able to access would also be much appreciated.

Their members have already embarked on a fundraising campaign and activities and have also set up a Just giving account. The link is detailed below:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/bon-accord-rotary-1723631339601?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fbon-accord-rotary-1723631339601&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=pfp-email

The project is being led by Sam Murray and Roddy Matheson. Lindsay Fettes also brought this to my attention. Well done to you all, I hope we can help raise awareness of something which sounds so uplifting (pardon the pun), simple yet sadly lacking in our city.

Thank you

Sylvia Halkerston

Lord Dean of Guild

VSA – Request for Board Members/Trustees

Garry Stevens No Comments

We have been asked by the CEO of Voluntary Services Aberdeen to approach the Burgesses to ascertain if any Burgess might consider taking on a role as a Board member/Trustee. Their Board is due to see some members stand down as a result of having served their terms of office which would leave them depleted in vital skill sets at a time when the Third Sector needs all the experience and sound advice they can get. 

If anyone would like to apply for such a position please contact:

Sue.Freeth@vsa.org.uk

Sue is CEO of VSA.

They would particularly welcome applicants with an financial/accountancy background at a senior level and also someone with commissioning experience. This might be in public or private sector operations.

Welcome to new Burgess admitted on Wednesday 3rd October 2024

Garry Stevens No Comments

We are pleased to welcome the following new Burgesses:

Professor Mervyn Bain, University Professor, nominated by Martin Ewan and Seconded by Antony Walker

Colin Lawson, Company Director. Nominated by John Otto and Seconded by Colin Wilson

Burgess Lunch – Dr Iain Duthie

Garry Stevens No Comments

At our lunch on Thursday 3rd October we received a most inspirational and thought-provoking presentation by Dr Iain Duthie. Although the Pastor at King’s Church Aberdeen, this was not a religious presentation. It was entiteld “What is in Your Hand” and was reflective of an extremely interesting life and career together with the work that has been carried out under the banner of the iniative ‘Love Aberdeen’. There was common ground with our Action Plan and our motto ‘For Aberdeen’, the main difference being that Dr Duthie and his team have turned aims and objectives into actions and reality.

Under the headings To Guard; To Grow; To Give he gave examples of the power of Community, the price of Loyalty which is why Burgesses are admitted in the first place. Many of our Burgesses continue to do great work for the benefit of our communities and many have said that they would like to contribute with something worth much more than money – your time, knowledge and experience.

Can I urge you all to revisit our Action Plan and let me know where you can contribute to turn the plan into more action. Can I also ask that if you know of any young people whose future education or career path might be helped with a contribution either in monetary terms or in some material way – as with the laptops earlier this year – please let me have appropriate information. This assistance may also be extended to an initiative covering a number of young people.

Link to the Action Plan:

Thank you for your time
Sincerely
Sylvia Halkerston
Lord Dean of Guild

Brief Encounter – 9th October 2024

Garry Stevens No Comments

Studio Theatre Group is very excited to bring the musical play “Brief Encounter” to Aberdeen Arts Centre’s stage from Wednesday 9th October to Friday 11th of October 2024.

The play starts at 7.30pm and tickets are available directly from the Aberdeen Arts Centre web site (www.aberdeenartscentre.com) or by calling the box office on 01224 635208.

The play is based on the now classic British film directed by David Lean and starring Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard.

Moray Barber, a fellow Burgess and recently appointed Assessor, is playing the part of Dr. Alec Harvey. Studio Theatre Group has been producing plays and dramas for the city for over 50 years and has an esteemed history, reputation for quality and quite the diverse back catalogue of plays. Moray would love to see the Burgesses support the group next week.

The Story
Laura Jesson, a respectable housewife and mother, takes the train into town each Thursday to shop, have lunch and go to the cinema. By sheer chance she meets G.P. Dr. Alec Harvey in a railway station tearoom.

Both bored with their own lives they seek a little adventure with each other and their friendship soon develops into something more romantic, something they worry will cause havoc in their private lives. They soon realise their relationship is doomed to failure and very much a “Brief Encounter”.

Although their story tugs at the heart strings, this adaptation is a fun light-hearted evening of drama, songs, live music with some of the the cast playing multiple roles.

“Brief Encounter” was adapted for the stage by Emma Rice adapted from the play STILL LIFE and the screenplay of the film BRIEF ENCOUNTER,
Songs and verse are by Noël Coward

Annual Masters Student Showcase 1st October 2024

Garry Stevens No Comments

Following the lunch event “Code the City” we are pleased to pass on an invitation from Ian Watt to attend the Annual Masters Student Showcase 1st October 2024. Ian writes:

Next Tuesday, 1st October, the meet-up will be our annual showcase of Masters Students’ work on their summer projects. These folks from both local universities have been studying Artificial Intelligence, Data
Science, Computing Science and allied disciplines.

This annual event is always very popular with very impressive topics, and is well attended and a great networking opportunity.

We start at 6pm with pizza and drinks, and the speakers present from 6.30pm. So far we have 5 lined up. Each has 10 minutes plus time for questions.

Talks, so far confirmed, include predicting ‘Glaucoma Detection and Prediction Using Machine Learning’, ‘Developing a Multilingual Legal Advisory Chatbot (MLAC) Using AI for Criminal Law in England, Wales,
Scotland, and Northern Ireland’, ‘Using Computer Vision to automatically predict the payback of installing solar panels on your house’, ‘A deep analysis of the impact of school uniform pricing on those in poverty’,
and more.

Burgesses can see more details and book a place here.
https://ti.to/code-the-city/adm-oct-2024

It takes place at the ONE tech Hub on Schoolhill, to the right of the arch through to Robert Gordon College.

I do hope you can join us.

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY, 10th NOVEMBER 2024

Garry Stevens No Comments

The Lord Provost and Lord Dean of Guild will be attending a Memorial Service at the Schoolhill War Memorial on Remembrance Sunday, 10th November 2024 and invites Burgesses to join the Civic Procession.

Burgesses (only) are invited to meet at Aberdeen Art Gallery before leaving in procession to attend outside at the War Memorial. Tea and Coffee will be served in the Art Gallery from 9.45am onwards. Please aim to arrive no later than 10.15am. (Please do not arrive early, as the premises will still be closed.)

Immediately following the Service of Remembrance at the war memorial, you are further invited to attend at the Kirk of St Nicholas, during which the annual ‘Kirking’ of the Seven Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen will take place. Thereafter, the Deacon Convenor of the Seven Incorporated Trades extends a warm invitation to you to attend a luncheon at Trinity Hall, Holburn Street, Aberdeen.

If you wish to attend please reply also advise if you wish to attend the luncheon at Trinity Hall to clerk at – clerk@aberdeenburgesses.com

Burgess Evening Event – Tuesday 12th November

Garry Stevens No Comments

Colin Alexander McVean – Surveyor in Chief to the Emperor of Japan, professional and family life in Japan, 1868 to 1876 – the man who knew Thomas Blake Glover and ‘Last Samurai’

We are pleased to announce that we have an evening event with guest speaker Colin Houston. Colin has worked in tourism in Scotland for over 47 years.  He has a keen interest in genealogy and tracing his family history, one particular fascination is in his Great-Grandfather, Colin Alexander McVean who spent 8 years in Japan with his wife and family. Colin transcribed much of the archive material from his ancestor’s time in Japan. It became clear that this archive gives a significant account of life in Japan in the early Meiji period and the many influential Japanese people the McVean’s formed a friendship with including Thomas Blake Glover, Hiribumi Ito, Yoso Yamao Tsunetami Sano and General Saigo Tsugumi, brother of the last Samurai, Saigo Takamori.

Colin will give an interesting and informative talk on his family history. The event will take place on Tuesday 12th November at 6.30pm at Aberdeenshire Cricket Club, Morningside Road, Aberdeen, AB10 7FB.

The evening will include a buffet supper and will cost £17 per person. Guests are invited.

If you wish to attend, please email clerk at – clerk@aberdeenburgesses.com

Payment can be paid via cheque made payable to Burgesses of Guild of the City of Aberdeen and sent to Garry Stevens, Clerk to the Burgesses of Guild, 6 Craigarbel Crescent, Inverbervie, Montrose DD10 0SJ or via BACS to: Sort Code 826011, Account Number 50325609, Ref Surname/McVean Talk.

Welcome to New Burgesses Admitted on Wednesday 21st August 2024

Garry Stevens No Comments

Sheena Blackhall, Scottish Poet, Vocalist, Singer and Writer. Nominated by Albert Thomson and Seconded by Ronnie Watt OBE.

Stuart Clark, Police Inspector. Proposed by Martin Ewan and Seconded by Antony Walker

Dr Tracey Menzies, Solicitor. Proposed by Martin Ewan and Seconded by Roger Connon.

Deborah Mitchell, Financial Advisor (Retired). Proposed by David Parkinson and Seconded by Past Lord Dean, Colin Taylor.

Burgess Quiz

Garry Stevens No Comments

After the success of our Quiz last year we are delighted to announce that we are returning to the Ashvale on Tuesday 3rd December for this years Quiz. We had 14 Teams take part last year, with a range of questions set by Stuart Devine of the Ashvale.

Teams of maximum of 4 can take part (at least 1 must be a Burgess), and cost is £17 per person (£68 per team) and includes supper with £5 per person being donated to a charity of our choice.

Supper will be served from 6.30pm with the quiz starting at approx. 7.15pm. If you wish to take part then please email Clerk at – clerk@aberdeenburgesses.com

If you are an individual who wishes to take part then please put your name down as we can help to form a team for you with other Burgesses.

Payment can be paid via cheque made payable to Burgesses of Guild of the City of Aberdeen and sent to Garry Stevens, Clerk to the Burgesses of Guild, 6 Craigarbel Crescent, Inverbervie, Montrose DD10 0SJ or via BACS to: Sort Code 826011, Account Number 50325609, Ref Surname/Quiz

Facebook

This message is only visible to admins.
Problem displaying Facebook posts. Backup cache in use.
Click to show error
Error: Error validating access token: The session has been invalidated because the user changed their password or Facebook has changed the session for security reasons. Type: OAuthException

Recent Comments

    Categories

    By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. more information

    The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.

    Close