Monthly Archives:September 2025

We are pleased to announce our next lunch to be held as normal at 12.14pm in the RNUC, Albyn Place. Cost of lunch is £20 per person and guests are invited. The title of the lunch is:

“Simple Heraldry, Cheerfully Illustrated”

The ancient practice of heraldry marks, informs, decorates and identifies. Aberdeen heraldry vies only with that of Glasgow in being among the most widely used of any council in the UK. The city coat-of-arms appears in daily use on books, badges, banners, bollards, buildings, furniture, flags, furnishings, clothing, vehicles, road signs, uniforms, insignia and even litter bins. They appeared on the sides of trams and buses until the trams went off in 1958, and Aberdeen Corporation buses went given over to Grampian Region in 1975. Yet the origin of Aberdeen’s symbolism remains shrouded in mystery and conjecture, and the heraldic story down the centuries throws up a fair sum of arms, oddities and errors.

Fellow Burgess Gordon Casely will give a light hearted but informative history of Heraldry with some interesting stories attached to some.

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/Nov Lunch

The Lord Provost will be attending a Service of Remembrance at the Aberdeen War Memorial, Schoolhill, Aberdeen on Remembrance Sunday, 9^th November 2025 and invites Aberdeen Burgesses to join the Civic Procession.

Those attending are asked to meet atAberdeen Art Gallery, before leaving in procession to attend the outdoor service.  The doors will open at 9.45am and complimentary tea and coffee will be served. Please aim to arrive no later than 10.15am.  The doors will be closed at 10.20am.

IMPORTANT: Following a review of security, all guests will be checked in on arrival at the art gallery by hired security personnel.  If you plan to attend, please give your full name to the Clerk at:

clerk@aberdeenburgesses.com

Unregistered attendees will not be given entry.

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 of Aberdeen extends a warm invitation to you to attend a luncheon at Trinity Hall, Trinity Corner, 164 Holburn Street, Aberdeen.

If you plan to attend the Service of Remembrance at the War Memorial, please include answers to the following questions in your response:

• Will you also be attending the church service at the Kirk of St Nicholas?

• Will you also be attending the luncheon at Trinity Hall? (This information will be passed to the Seven Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen for catering purposes)

Many Thanks

Garry Stevens, Clerk

Ferryhill Railway Heritage Trust (A Charity registered as an SCIO with OSCR) is seeking applicants for the voluntary roles of Trustees. Two positions are available and the Trust is seeking volunteers with an
interest in heritage but more importantly having a good track record in managing people and/or
fund raising.

We have a new Museum building, the management of which might also appeal to someone with
experience in curating or managing exhibitions, for example. The Trustees hold monthly meetings,
currently held in Westhill on the first Monday of each month, and attendance at these meetings would be a minimum requirement. Prospective applicants will be welcome to visit us on site in Polmuir Avenue on any Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday from 10am.

Enquiries and requests for an informal discussion should be directed to Dr Jon Tyler, Chairman of the Trust.  jon.tyler@bcs.org or 07799333476.

Aberdeen City Heritage Trust is a company limited by guarantee and registered charity which was incorporated in 2004 to promote and encourage the preservation, maintenance and enhancement of the historic architectural and landscape heritage within the City of Aberdeen, and to further knowledge and understanding of such heritage and of conservation practices and techniques.

The Trust’s vision is that Aberdeen’s historic environment is better understood, conserved, used and celebrated.

The Trust does this by supporting training and education events and making available discretionary grants for the repair and interpretation of the historic environment. The Trust is now looking to co-opt up to two directors, ideally strategic-thinking people with a strong commitment to our aims, excellent communication skills, and a collaborative approach. You will be joining a Board with a genuine desire to make a difference. Priority will be given to those with experience of traditional building skills, fundraising, legal matters, HR and finance. To express an interest in one of the available positions, and to be considered, please submit the following information via email to the Trust’s Project Officer, Douglas Campbell at – dcampbell@aberdeenheritage.org.uk

A CV; and a detailed supporting statement that outlines your motivation for the role and for supporting Aberdeen City Heritage Trust and why you would be a suitable appointment.

The closing date for applications is Friday 15th August 2025 and if there are more
applicants than available positions, the Trust may conduct an interview process.
If you have any queries about any aspect of the appointment process, need additional
information or wish to have an informal and confidential discussion, then Douglas Campbell
(07827 233 195) will be pleased to take your call.

We have arranged the following social events for later this year, guests are invited:

Tuesday 23rd September – Fellow Burgess Sandy Manson – Aberdeenshire Cricket Club – 6.30pm

Sir Patrick Manson: How a Man from Aberdeenshire Unravelled One of the Great Medical Mysteries”.

Patrick Manson was born in Oldmeldrum in 1844 and studied medicine at the University of Aberdeen before working in the Far East where he became fascinated by tropical diseases. His work would result in one of the great medical discoveries. He was Sandy’s great grandfather’s first cousin.

Cost of this event is £17pp and includes buffet supper from 6.30pm

Wednesday 8th October – Fellow Burgess Dr Ken McHardy – Aberdeenshire Cricket Club 6.30pm

“A Wee Doc in Doric”

Dr Ken McHardy, born, raised and educated in the city. He spent 40 years working in the NHS as a hospital physician specialising in diabetes and medical education. In retirement he has been researching, writing and presenting on Aberdeen’s insulin heroes, Macleod and Lawrence.

When Ken started learning the late Queen’s English at Rosewood Infant School in 1960, he was already bilingual courtesy of his being a product o’ a Toonser Mam and a Teuchter Da. In due course, and over four decades, he came to rely on his extended linguistic heritage whilst enjoying the enormous privilege of serving his ain folk as a hospital physician. From the relative safety of retirement, Ken has undertaken to share some anecdotes and self-penned verse – chiefly in the doric dialect – from his doctoring days, as he attempts to show how medicine can produce the best laughter.

Cost of this event is £17pp and includes buffet supper from 6.30pm

Thursday 13^th November – Fellow Burgess Cllr Barney Crockett Aberdeenshire Cricket Club – 6.30pm

We once again welcome back Cllr Barney Crockett. His topic for this evening event is:

“The Cambridge Five and beyond”.

Hundreds of books have been written, dozens of films, plays and tv series about this topic and Barney has appeared on Mastermind about them.  But Barney also says he knows things which aren’t in the books…

Cost of the event is £17pp and will include a buffet served at 6.30pm followed by Barney’s talk.

Thursday 11^th December – Xmas Quiz – Ashvale Restaurant – 6.30pm

Our annual quiz which was even more popular last year with a record number of teams will take place at the usual venue of the Ashvale Restaurant. Teams of 4 Maximum with one member being a Burgess, but if any Burgess wishes to take part we can make up team with other Burgesses. It’s a fun evening and cost per team member is £20 with £7 from the entry fee going to a charity of the Burgesses choice.

If you wish to attend the events, 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/Event attending.

Following the issue of the draft constitution please note that any feedback or comments must be directed directly to the Lord Dean at:

lorddean@aberdeenburgesses.com

I am on holiday and as of today will not be able to access any emails.

Many Thanks

Garry Stevens, Clerk

Please find attached papers for the forthcoming AGM.

Whilst we look forward to seeing as many Burgesses as possible in person at the AGM, its appreciated that some cannot make the meeting but may be able to access remotely. As per last year we have the facility to be able to do this via the link below. Those Burgesses who wish to access the meeting by this method are asked to do so 10 minutes prior to the start time of the meeting (18.00).

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86754476040?pwd=xaz9VMOS1n9gQ1ieqcpYMhG6bYKoQ3.1

AGM PAPERS

Aberdeen Line 200 – Tall Ships Aberdeen July 2025

This year will be the bi centenary of the Aberdeen (White Star) Line Founded by George Thompson in 1825 and the rich history of Aberdeen as a ship building port and the construction in local shipbuilding yards at the time of some of the finest sailing ships ever constructed in the mid to late Victorian period. As part of the commemoration of the bi centenary, there will be  formal dinner in Trinity Hall on Friday, 18^th July 2025 during the Aberdeen Tall Ships visit to the city.

 George Thompson and his son-in-law, Sir William Henderson were both Burgesses and Lord Provosts of the city. The organising committee includes several descendants from the original families associated with the Aberdeen Line, local ship building companies and associated business.

In 2022, we commemorated the 175^th anniversary of the Great Tea Race in 1872 between the Thermopylae bult by Walter Hood & Co in Aberdeen in 1868 and the Cutty Sark built in Glasgow in 1869 but designed by Hercules Linton from Inverbervie. The race was won by the Thermopylae by a week. A plaque commemorating the race was unveiled by the Lord Dean on Pocra Quay in 2023.

 All monies raised will go to supporting Aberdeen Tall Ships Races 2025 and Aberdeen Sea Cadets to assist them in their work with the ongoing development of young people many from under privileged backgrounds.

Please see the flyer below which gives more details about the dinner. Burgesses wishing to attend and support this event can purchase places or tables as directed

We have arranged two evening talks in September and October. We  will advise shortly cost of the events which will include a buffet supper and the venue.

If you wish to attend, please reserve a place via the Clerk email at:

clerk@aberdeenburgessees.com

Tuesday 23^rd September – Fellow Burgess Sandy Manson

Sir Patrick Manson: How a Man from Aberdeenshire Unravelled One of the Great Medical Mysteries”.

Patrick Manson was born in Oldmeldrum in 1844 and studied medicine at the University of Aberdeen before working in the Far East where he became fascinated by tropical diseases. His work would result in one of the great medical discoveries. He was Sandy’s great grandfather’s first cousin.

Wednesday 8^th October – Fellow Burgess Dr Ken McHardy

“A Wee Doc in Doric”

Dr Ken McHardy, born, raised and educated in the city. He spent 40 years working in the NHS as a hospital physician specialising in diabetes and medical education. In retirement he has been researching, writing and presenting on Aberdeen’s insulin heroes, Macleod and Lawrence.

When Ken started learning the late Queen’s English at Rosewood Infant School in 1960, he was already bilingual courtesy of his being a product o’ a Toonser Mam and a Teuchter Da. In due course, and over four decades, he came to rely on his extended linguistic heritage whilst enjoying the enormous privilege of serving his ain folk as a hospital physician. From the relative safety of retirement, Ken has undertaken to share some anecdotes and self-penned verse – chiefly in the doric dialect – from his doctoring days, as he attempts to show how medicine can produce the best laughter.

James Maitland, Transformation Program Manager. Proposed by Rona Grimmer and Seconded by Owen Bisset.

Michael Melvin, Volunteering Services Manager. Proposed by Beverley Graham and Seconded by Graham Guyan.