100 Years Ago

Alvah dance - An enjoyable and successful harvest home dance promoted by an energetic committee of young men resident in the lower end of the parish was held in the public school on Friday evening. Ideal weather favoured the event, and there was a large gathering, upwards of 50 couples being present. Dancing was kept up with unflagging spirit far into the morning to excellent music supplied by Mr Pirie's band. Messrs Reid and McLennan did the duties of MCs with tact. A liberal supply of light refreshments was handed around at intervals during the evening. The success of the assembly was in great measure due to the excellence of the arrangements made by the committee.

50 Years Ago

Deveron water scheme - It will be June next year before work is completed on the new River Deveron Water Scheme, which is to supply water to the towns of Banff and Macduff. This was announced at the first meeting of the Lower Deveron Water Board, held in Banff on Wednesday night. After the business of the meeting had been completed, treasurer James Sim, Banff, asked: "When can we expect to get water?" Mr Lowson, consulting engineer, pointed out that the date of completion would depend to a large extent on climatic conditions experienced in carrying out the work, but he thought it should be completed in June. At the outset of the meeting, Bailie George Strath, Banff, remarked that the water situation in Banff was gradually getting worse, but they were looking forward to a rosier future. The board approved the acceptance of Messrs William Twase's tender for laying the rising main from the pumping station at the Wrack to the new reservoir at Gallowhill, and for the erection of the new reservoir at a cost of £39,778. Estimates of the sums required to be requisitioned for the year to May 1962 from the constituent authorities were submitted. The provisional sum of £3,575 was approved, of which £1,860 will be payable by Banff and £1,715 by Macduff. It was agreed that these sums be payable quarterly.

25 Years Ago

Happy landing - The landing of 2,400 boxes of fish at Macduff Harbour last Thursday is thought to be a record one-day landing for the port. Many of the older fishermen have said that such a high landing has never been known at Macduff, and with pair trawlers continuing to use the port's facilities, the immediate future for fishing at Macduff looks bright. While the fishing side of the port's activities continues on a bright note, harbourmaster Captain Colin Bullen reports more commercial vessels arriving. Last week a cargo of soya meal was discharged, and the vessel then loaded with malting barley for Belgium. This week two further cargoes of malt barley are due for Chivas Brothers, Keith, while a consignment of soya meal will be arriving for Grampian Feeds at Mill of Brydock. Capt Bullen said there was a possibility some of the discharging vessels might load with barley at the port for export. Repair work on fishing vessels continues with the launch of the Atlas from the local boatbuilding yard on Thursday, fitting-out work is going ahead on the new vessel, which should be ready for fishing by the end of the year.