100 YEARS AGO

Turriff football - The Turriff club, of which nothing has been heard for some time, played a match in the Hutcheon Park on Saturday against a team drawn from local painters. Although it was evident that many of the players were out of training, a fairly close game resulted in the defeat of the knights of the brush by two goals to one.

Boys' Brigade - The Turriff company held a church parade on Sunday night when, under the command of captain C.A. Duthie, and headed by the flute band, they marched to St Congan's Church. There was a good attendance, considering the wet night, and the behaviour of the boys was exemplary.

50 YEARS AGO

Fishermen's lucky escape - Coming home in their car on Friday evening after a week's fishing off Aberdeen, the members of the Macduff seine net fishing boat, 'Avail', had a nasty experience. Near Fyvie, on Andrewsford brae, the car went on to an icy patch, careered across a grass verge, through a fence and down a five-foot embankment into a field. The four men - Mr James Wood, skipper, 42 St Catherine Street, Banff, and Messrs Victor Gauld, James Anderson and Alex Smith, all of Macduff - escaped unhurt. The car, fortunately, was not mechanically damaged, but received scratches and dents. The men were able, after the car had been pulled onto the road, to continue their journey home. About the same time on the same stretch of brae, a shooting brake skidded on the treacherous surface and went off the road. The occupants, three students, escaped unhurt.

25 YEARS AGO

Foxes invade - The village of Whitehills is facing a new invasion from nature - foxes. A number of foxes have been spotted in recent weeks in various parts of the village, some in broad daylight. Already harassed district council officials are trying to cope with a plague of wild mink. Now with the arrival of the fox, the district is set to call in experts from the Department of Agriculture to discuss ways of combating the twin threat. Foxes have been spotted in the Westbraes area near the village on several occasions, and have been seen in back gardens and near Reidhaven Street. A spokesman for the district says that foxes are searching for food, and advised villagers to ensure that no scraps are left lying around. Meanwhile, another wild mink was captured in the harbour area this week as reports continue of the animals foraging in the village. Experts say that there is little danger from either the wild mink or foxes. The district council has appealed for all sightings to be reported to the environmental health department at Banff.