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10 Teams attended Aberdeenshire Cricket Club on Tuesday 26th November to battle it out in the Annual Burgess of Guild Quiz. Fellow Burgess Stuart Robison set some challenging questions over 10 rounds with the eventual winners being the Team Captained by Alan Towns.

As always it was a very enjoyable and fun evening, with special thanks to Stuart for being our quizmaster and also the Cricket Club for their as always excellent buffet and hospitality.

That ends our social events for this year, we are working on a line up for next year, and will post details to the website once finalised.

The Burgess lunch held on Wednesday 13th November was attended by over 60 Burgesses to hear an interesting and informative presentation by Prof. George Boyne, the new Principal and Vice Chancellor of Aberdeen University. The presentation focussed on the history of the University, its 525 anniversary next year (lots will be happening across the city to celebrate it) current and future initiatives and collaborations. Prof Boyne’s presentation can be downloaded from the link below:

This brings an end to our lunches for 2019. Work is already underway with our guest line up for first six months of next year, along with some Social events. Our last social event of the year will be our annual fun quiz on Tuesday 26th November at Aberdeenshire Cricket Club. Not too late to enter a team of up to 4 including one Burgess

The Burgesses have had a busy few weeks since start of October.

Fellow Burgess Mark Shaw was guest speaker at our lunch on 9th October. 31 Burgesses were given an interesting and informative talk on the Funeral business past, present and future.

On 10th October, Dr Olga Runcie gave a talk at Aberdeenshire Cricket Club on Sleep patterns and how to overcome sleeping problems. 45 Burgesses attended.

The Lord Dean and Clerk attended the Autumn Court of Deans meeting at Perth Concert Hall on 25th October.

On Wednesday 30th October, 30 Burgesses attended a talk by fellow Burgess, Alan Johnstone accompanied by ex Don and Gothenburg great Neil Simpson, to highlight how football memorabilia can help suffers from Alzheimer’s and Dementia, through their work with the Football memories project.

On 31st October The Lord Dean, Assessors and Clerk attended the official opening of the new Art Gallery, and the following day some 70 Burgesses attended a viewing prior to it’s opening on the 2 November. All who have attended were very impressed with the work and the building, which will be an asset to the city.

Finally the Lord Dean and Clerk attended the AFC Heritage Trust Remembrance service at Pittodrie Stadium on Saturday 10th November as guests of Chairman of the Trust and fellow Burgess Allan McKimmie. The Lord Dean and several Burgesses attended Remembrance Sunday the following day to pay their respects.

Over 40 Burgesses attended an excellent evening with Guest Speaker Dr Olga Runcie. In her talk Dr Runcie who currently works at Albyn-BMI hospital and ROC Private clinic in Aberdeen, discussed advances in sleep neurobiology answering questions about sleep functions and mechanisms of sleep and wake control. Those who attended will hopefully have learnt how to use this knowledge to improve their sleep.

Olga has kindly provided a fact sheet to help highlight sleep issues and how to use techniques etc to improve sleep patterns. Please click on the link below to view it.

As always a huge thanks to the staff at the Aberdeenshire Cricket Club for their excellent hospitality and catering.

Welcome to the following new Burgesses admitted on Monday 24th June 2019 In order from top:

Julien Brown – Chartered Engineer, Proposed by Ronnie Watt OBE and seconded by Gail Watt.

Graham Guyan – Company Director, Proposed by David MacDermid, and Seconded by Colin Johnston.

Rt Rev Bishop Hugh Gilbert – Bishop of Aberdeen.

Pamela Snape – Retired schoolteacher, Proposed by Irene Cormack and Seconded by Marjorie Bosomworth.

Kevin McCormick – Managing Director and Charity Volunteer, Proposed by John Michie and Seconded by Joe Mackie OBE.

I am sure all Burgesses would welcome the news that the following have been honoured in the Queen’s recent birthday honours list, links to each recipient below:

The Lord Dean and Assessor Joe Mackie were present on Friday 3rd May to present a new defibrillator part funded by the Aberdeen Burgesses of Guild to the Aberdeen Street Pastors.

The link below gives more information

https://www.stjohnscotland.org.uk/news/523-aberdeen-s-street-pastors-ready-to-save-lives

Our Industrial Heritage

Plans are being formulated to create a Heritage Museum in the City to celebrate the North East of Scotland’s wide ranging and far reaching industrial past.

This will be a hands-on interactive facility for both locals and visitors alike and will help preserve the historical relevance these industries have played in shaping the City we live in today.

Given the current economic climate, it will be some time before anything concrete happens.

In the meantime, a database of sources of information and artefacts is being compiled, which can be used as part of the planning and funding process – so your help is required.

Do you, or someone you know, have a box of documents or photographs in a loft, or a rusting piece of machinery or old tools in a shed, which would not look out of place in a museum?

If so, please send basic details to Sam Murray at sam.murray@btinternet.com