Please note that Garry Stevens, Clerk to the Burgesses will be on Annual Leave from Saturday 28th August to Saturday 4th September.

If you have any urgent issues please email Snr Assessor Colin Taylor on cgtlor@googlemail.com

Places Still available for Wednesday 1st September Lunch

Places are still available for what will be a different and we are sure entertaining lunch on 1st September at RNUC.

Aberdeen’s Len Ironside found success in the 1970s and 1980s, and was probably one of those wrestlers destined for a longer, more successful, career if the sport had retained its popularity. Career highlights included a televised loss to Jim Breaks, which brought him to the attention of a national audience, and defeat of Tony Borg to take the vacant Commonwealth Middleweight title in 1980. Len has also been European Lightweight Champion, and Scottish Welterweight Champion, As early as 1980, though, Len had a love other than wrestling. Local politics was his great interest, and in 1982 he was elected a local councillor in Aberdeen. Just seven years later he was chosen Leader of the Council. Len's other public service includes Governor of the Robert Gordon University. Chairman of Aberdeen International Youth Festival, Patron of the Grampian Special Olympics, Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Culture and Commerce, and the award of a CBE in 2002 for Services to Local Government. Currently Len is Local Councillor for Kingswells/Sheddocksley ward in Aberdeen. Len is also a Burgess of Guild.

Please come along and hear Len's stories and experiences of his wrestling days. If you wish to attend please email Clerk, Garry Stevens at Clerk@aberdeenburgesses.com

Link to booking form

PLACES ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR THE UNDERNOTED EVENT 

Lord Provosts Charitable Event - 2010

We are plesaed to announce that the guest for the October lunch will be Jan Emery, who is responsible for Marketing and Route Development at Aberdeen Airport.

Jan is a Marketer and following her English and Marketing degrees spent several years with J Walter Thomson in New York before returning to work in London.

She has held several Business Development roles in the marketing sector and has worked with clients as diverse as Saab Cars, Volvo Trucks, Golden Wonder Crisps and Bostik Industrial Adhesives.

Jan moved to Scotland in 2002 and spent 6 years with Space Solutions before moving to Aberdeen Airport where she is responsible for Marketing and Route Development.

Jan's interests include Formula 1 and sailing.  She has also spent her spare time supporting various charitable initiatives over the years.  The most notable "adventure" being the decision to acquire an HGV Class 1 driving licence so she could help transport aid to Romania for disadvantaged children who's plight was revealed when the Ceausescu government fell.

Jan now spends her leisure time rather  more sedately (!) - learning to play golf and walking the coastal paths of Banffshire.

If you wish to attend please email Garry Stevens, Clerk to the Burgesses at clerk@aberdeenburgesses.com

Dr Jim Donaldson, Dentist at 170 Skene Square and a fellow Burgess is off to the Amazon Jungle in November working for the Vine Trust, where he will be taking out the teeth on unsuspecting Peruvian children.

The Vine Trust is an international interdenominational church charity with a vision to see communities transformed. They work to bring opportunity, health and hope to disadvantaged communities and marginalised people with a particular concern for vulnerable children. It has two ships on the Amazon dispensing medical care.

Jim is looking to rase funds for his visit and has organised two events:

A golf day at Craibstone on Saturday 28th August, cost is £40 per head, with coffee/bacon rolls before the competition, and soup and sandwiches after the round of golf.

Jungle Jims's Fancy Dress Charity Evening at the Beach Ballroom on Friday 1st October. Link to the flyer below:

Jungle Jim's Charity Evening

If any Burgesses would like to support Jim's events in any shape or form with a raffle prize, or donation, Jim can be contacted on email jimdonaldson1@btinternet.com or telephone 07721 453802

The Aberdeen Chorus of Sweet Adelines are organising a show in aid of Cornerstone on Friday 17th September at the Music Hall. Also taking part will be the Granite City Chorus, and the Flying Pigs. Burgesses Anne Cargill and Debbie Pern are involved in the show, and and they would be delighted if fellow Burgesses could support the event.

Details of the show can be found by clicking on the link to the flyer below

Reminder of Highland Heartbeat at HMT

Aberdeen Disability Consortium in collaboration with Music4U and with the aid of the Lord Provost’s Charitable Trust has created a show entitled 'I Am What I Am'. Ostensibly the Consortium wished to give young people who are facing physical and mental challenges but who have real talent, a chance to show off that talent at a proper venue in Aberdeen. The consortium have recruited artists ranging in ages from 12 years to early 20's. They have rehearsed and rehearsed and have produced a really amazing show with strong backing support.

The show will be at the Aberdeen Arts Centre on 28th August 2010 tickets are £10 (concessions available). Burgess Doug Duthie (of the Consortium) asks that the Burgesses support this show as the artists have worked so very hard and deserve a good audience as a reward, it will give them such confidence to go on to bigger things. Tickets can be purchased at the Aberdeen Box Office 01224 641122 or at www.boxofficeaberdeen.com

DUE TO BUSINESS COMITMENTS BOB HAS HAD TO CANCEL OCTOBER'S LUNCH BUT WILL BE ATTENDING ON WEDNESDAY 1ST DECEMBER. A NEW GUEST SPEAKER WILL BE ANNOUNCED FOR OCTOBER AND DETAILS POSTED TO THE WEBSITE IN DUE COURSE. IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND IN DECEMBER PLEASE ADVISE GARRY STEVENS

Assessor Sophy Copland is organising the October lunch, and is very pleased to announce that the guest speaker will be Bob Keiller.

CEO of Aberdeen headquartered PSN – which he created by leading a management buyout in 2006. He secured funding of over $400m and has since doubled the company’s revenues and tripled the income. He now has around 8,000 employees in over 25 countries.

PSN won the National Award for Corporate Social Responsibility in 2007 and the Scottish Offshore Achievement Award 2007 for ‘Succeeding Through People’. PSN has made the list of Sunday Times Top 100 Companies in each of the past three years.

Bob was Entrepreneur of the year in 2006 and 2008. In 2007 he was Scottish Businessman of the year and in 2008 became the Grampian Industrialist of the year. In 2009 he was Scottish CEO of the year and is Chairman of the Entrepreneurial Exchange. He also received the inaugural award for his Outstanding Contribution to the Oil & Gas Industry. He received an honorary doctorate from RGU in 2009.

Along with colleague Duncan Skinner, he has been instrumental in re-opening Glencraft – the Royal Aberdeen Workshops for the Blind and Disabled after it was closed in November 2009.

If you wish to attend please email clerk to the Burgesses Garry Stevens at clerk@aberdeenburgesses.com

The Royal Horticultural Society of Aberdeen will be holding their annual Summer Flower & Vegetable Show on Saturday & Sunday the 28th & 29th of August 2010 in Hazlehead Park.

As well as beautiful displays of Chrysanthemums, Dahlias, Pot Plants, Crafts and Floral Art etc, this year we will be extending the peripheral events surrounding the show. There will be Stalls, a Real Ale tent, a Classic Car display, Raffle, Children's Fun Activities and much more. Presentation of Trophies Sunday 14.30. Free Parking.

Opening Times: Saturday 11.00 - 18.00, Sunday 10.00 - 17.00

Ticket Information:

Admission £5.00, Concession £4.00 Children Free

Link to Event Website:

http://rhsofaberdeen.co.uk/SummerShow2010.aspx

Burgess of Guild Lunches

Wednesday 1st September

Fellow Burgess and Councillor Len Ironside is the guest speaker and will be giving what is sure to be an interseting and amusing account of his wrestling exploits over the years.

Wednesday 6th October

Guest speaker to be confirmed

Wednesday 3rd November

We are very pleased to announce that the guest at the lunch will be Professor Ian Diamond FBA FRSE, currently the Chief Executive of The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), who will succeed Professor Sir Duncan Rice on 1 October 2010 as new Principal and Vice Chancellor of Aberdeen University.

He is a renowned social statistician, who has worked extensively in the area of population and health, both in the developed and less developed world.

Prior to joining the ESRC Ian Diamond studied at the University of Southampton where he was appointed a lecturer in 1980, rising through the ranks to become Deputy Vice-Chancellor in 2001.

If you wish to attend any of the above lunches please email Garry Stevens, Clerk to the Burgesses on clerk@aberdeenburgesses.com

Please then issue a cheque made out to Burgesses of Guild of the City of Aberdeen for £15 per lunch, and send it to:

Garry Stevens, Aberdeen City Council, 2nd Floor, AECC, Balgownie One, Conference Way, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen, AB23 8AQ

Welcome to New Burgesses admitted on 30th June 2010

David Parkinson                           David Wood

A total of 30 Burgesses attended the visit to Camphill Aberdeen City & Shire at their Murtle complex.

Following a buffet, the Burgesses were given a presentation by Lawrence Alfred on the history of Camphill, their ethos of care and respect for people and the natural environment, and their  future plans.

Splitting in to 3 groups, the Burgesses were then giiven a tour of the complex, and were accompanied by some of the Camphill residents who were keen to interact and answer questions. Returning to Murtle Hall, there was the opportunity for the groups to have a 20 minute question and answer session with Camphill staff.

In the absence of the Dean of Guild, Colin Taylor, Senior Assessors gave thanks for what was a very intersting and inspiring visit to Camphill and their hospitality in hosting the Burgesses. As is now customary, Colin presented Lawrence Alfred with a certificate confirming the visit.

Colin Taylor presents Lawrence Alfred with the certificate

Highland Heartbeat is an international entertainment brand featuring an outstanding group of singers led by fellow Burgess Fiona Kennedy.  It gives a platform to new young singing talent from Scotland through live stage concerts, television productions and the internet.

Highland Heartbeat will be performing at the HMT on 12^th, 13^th, and 14^th August and will involve about 45 youngsters from the Aberdeen area in the production (25 singers from Albyn School and around 20 from the Evolution School of Dance, Inverurie) in addition to the core cast of singers and musicians. 

Each night there will be a donation made to a local charity, including VSA, Marie Curie and F.R.O.M Scotland and a collection as the audience leaves.  The audience will be wide ranging, age wise, but generally family orientated.

Fiona Kennedy will be delighted to see many of her fellow Burgesses attend the shows, and if any Burgess wishes to attend the contact details are listed below:

Fiona Kennedy, Director, Tel 07968191632/01224 869232

Email:  Fiona@pixie productions.biz

Charlotte Bird, PA & Marketing, Tel 07866937354

Email: charlotte@pixie productions.biz

Once again the Burgesses of Guild Golf Competition was played in fine sunny and warm conditions, with 21 Burgesses taking part on Hazelhead No 1 course.

Results were as follows:

A total of 26 Burgesses of Guild took the opportunity to visit the Keenan ReCycling Centre.

Keenan Recycling Ltd was formed in 2003 and has grown rapidly to become the leading composting operation in the North East of Scotland. Their nine acre facility at New Deer has the capacity to recycle in excess of 70,000 tonnes of organic material per annum.

Their aim is to protect the environment by creating valuable products from material that is surplus to requirements. Diverting organic waste from landfill reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Most organic material can be composted to produce a rich soil improver returning nutrients to the land and improving the soil structure. Burgesses were shown the full extent of the recycling process with shredding and screening services enabling Local Authorities and Private sector companies to recycle organic materials at their own sites.

Fellow Burgess Mel Keenan, and his son Grant took the Burgesses round the facility in two groups, and gave a short presentation on the history of the company, accompanied by a short film.

All in attendance agreed that the visit was extremely interesting and worthwhile, and the fact that the facility is expanding, shows how successful Mel and his sons are in the area of recycling, this being the largest facility in this part of Scotland.

As is customary, the Dean thanked Mel and Grant for their invitation to the Burgesses to see round the facility, and presented Grant with a certificate confirming the visit.

Some Burgesses get an update from Mel Keenan, and the Dean presents Grant Keenan with a certificate.

At the recent Burgess of Guild Lunch on 2nd June, (which Sandy Kennedy of the Saltire Foundation gave a very interesting talk on their role to the Burgesses in attendance), the Dean of Guild presented John Michie with a quaich for all the work he has undertaken in organising approx 50 lunches on behalf of the Burgesses.

The lunches will continue to be organised under a rotation system covering the Assessors who will chair their respective lunch, and organise their guest with help of Clerk to the Burgesses, Garry Stevens.

The next lunch will be Wednesday 7th July when Andrew Sproull, Project Manager of the Marischal College Project will be giving an update on progress. There will be no lunch in August, and on Wednesday 1st September, Colin Taylor will chair the lunch with Cllr Len Ironside as the guest speaker giving recollections of his wrestling exploits

The Dean of Guild presents John Michie with his quaich

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ATTENDEES (30) HAS NOW BEEN REACHED. IF ANY BURGESSES STILL WISH TO ATTEND THEY CAN BE ADDED TO A RESERVE LIST

Visit to the new First Bus Headquarters - Wednesday 1st September