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Talks - Autumn Winter 2009
22nd October	7:30pm - £3	Talk by Catherine Smith, author of the new biography ‘The Stars of Robert Burns’. Subsequent to his tour of the Highlands in September 1787, Burns was inspired to focus on the preservation of ancient tunes, including some used by oarsmen and fishermen. Hear how the few days Burns spent on the Moray Firth determined his legacy. MORE ...
29th October	7:30pm - £1.50	Duncan Leece – Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA). Through his experience as a volunteer, Duncan Leece will talk about the increasing and valuable work of this organisation. He will discuss some of the challenges faced by local people and the practical, often innovative, approaches taken to alleviate these challenges by SSAFA Forces help. More at http://www.ssafa.org.uk/
01st November	2:00pm - £1.50	Tony Carlin - RAF Lossiemouth - A Historical Perspective. This year RAF Lossiemouth celebrates its 70th Anniversary. To commemorate this prestigious milestone, Sgt Tony Carlin will provide an illustrated talk about the Lossiemouth Station and its exploits over the years.
08th November	2:00pm - £1.50	Pete Danks – Nelson’s Navy An illustrated talk
15th November	2:00pm - £1.50	The Faering Project - Past Present Future. Going from strength to strength, the Faering Project continues to take on new and exciting projects and prides itself in developing the skills of local young people. Hear about their progress to date and what the future may hold for this innovative and lively group. More info HERE and HERE

Workshops
01st October 2009	7:00pm –9:00pm - £3	Make your own Christmas Cards and Gift Tags. Go home with finished cards, gift tags and lots of ideas! For more information click HERE

Summer programme 2009

Tues 21^st July 2009	2.30 pm	Re:Port – Recording Portsoy. Initial meeting of volunteers interested in recording the historic gravestones at Portsoy cemetery in association with Aberdeen and NE Scotland Family History Society
Sun 26^th July to Sun 02^nd August (excluding Tuesday)	2-4pm Daily	Photo fest II - back by popular demand! Come and browse a fascinating selection of local photographs from days gone by. Bring in your own old photos relating to Portsoy and contribute to our collection. Tea and Coffee will be available. More ... and more
Mon3^rd to Sun 9^th August	Daily	Faering Tent Demonstrations – Come and see how ropes are made and try your hand at making your very own skipping rope or dog lead plus other boat related crafts!
Tues 4^th and Thur 6^th August	6.30 – 9.30pm	Digital Photography Get more out of your digital camera. Two-part evening workshop. (Digital SLR camera is recommended but not essential, but your camera must have some manual controls) More ... Booking Required
Wed 5^th August	2-4pm	All Aboard! Family Workshop. Spell out your name using signalling flags, learn traditional rope knot tying techniques and listen to fascinating tales of the sea in this practical hands-on session Booking Required
Tues 11^th and Wed 12^th August	6.30 – 9.30pm	Introduction to Digital Film Making Two –part evening workshop for Beginners Outlining the production methods for low budget filmmaking and documentaries. Booking Required
Wed 12^th August	2-4pm	All Aboard! Family Workshop. Spell out your name using signalling flags, learn traditional rope knot tying techniques and listen to fascinating tales of the sea in this practical hands-on session Booking Required
Thur 13^th August	2-4pm	Fun with Family Trees –Family History Workshop to guide you on your own Family History search. Activities for all ages (bring any information you have).
Fri 14^th August	2-4pm	Fun with Family Trees – Family History Workshop to guide you on your own Family History search. Activities for all ages (bring any information you have).
Sun 16^th August	2.30 – 4.30pm	Colin Jeffrey –Talk "Wings over the Water, RAF Banff during World War Two."

Sunday Talks - Portsoy Past and Present 2.30 – 4.00 p.m.
19 April 2009	Peter MacDonald – (aka Dolphin Pete “A Wander along the Moray Firth from land to the sea.”
17 May	John Sellars- “The Salmon Bothy in its working days”
21 June	Stuart Nickerson, Managing Director of Glenglassaugh Distillery “Polishing a Gem” Web site Blog Guest blogging
19 July	John Rennie “A Coastal Walk” It takes in the sights of Portsoy to Portknockie.
16 August	Colin Jeffrey – "Wings over the Water, RAF Banff during World War Two."

Book Launch	“Love as a Foreign Language”
3 May	7.30pm – 8.30pm - Part of Word Fringe Spring Events “Love as a Foreign Language” Olivia McMahon launches her new novel, joined by Christie Van Laningham. More ...

	May Weekend - photos and family history
1 May	10.00 – 12.00 noon 2.00 – 4.00 p.m Tutor: Alison Smith	Display of Photographs First Steps in Family History Research
2 May	10.00 – 12.00 noon 2.00 – 4.00 p.m.	Display of Photographs
3 May	2.00 – 4.00 p.m	Display of Photographs.
4 May	10.00 – 12.00 noon 2.00 – 4.00 p.m. Tutor: Alison Smith	Display of Photographs Further Steps in Family History Research

	Easter Weekend - pictures of days gone by
10 April	2.00 p.m – 4.00 p.m	Afternoon Tea
11 April	10.00 a.m. – 12 noon	Morning Coffee
12 April	2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m.	Afternoon Tea
	Please bring your photographs of bygone days (Places and People) of Portsoy. They will be scanned and returned immediately. They will be used in the photographic exhibition over the May Weekend.

More than 90 people came to the sessions and we scanned 265 pictures. Many thanks to the volunteers who manned the scanners, recorded information from visitors, and served the refreshments.

A Winter Season of Talks

This first season of seven talks took place 'Upstairs in the Bothy'
They were held weekly on Thursdays between 5 February and 19 March
Some were in the afternoon while others were in the evening

Admission £1.50 (Includes tea and biscuits)

To see a printer friendly flyer (pdf file) click HERE

Arnold Pirie -
The Disappearance of the fishing boat the ‘Girl Pat’ –
An Illustrated Talk.

Thursday 5 February, 2009, 2.30 – 4.00 pm

On 1st April, 1936, the fishing boat Girl Pat left Grimsby on a 2 week trip to fish in the North Sea and disappeared. Arnold Pirie is to present his findings on years of research into the ensuing adventure.

Arnold, born at 1 Wood Street, Portsoy, just along from the bothy used the ice house at the bothy when the siren sounded during the war with other people from the Seatown area. As a boy he visited the men in the bothy in the room where the beds were, and used to get trips out on the cobble when they were pulling their nets.

Tom Spiers -
‘Awa wi’ the Rovin’ Sailor’ –
Talk accompanied by some traditional singing.

Thursday 12 February, 2009, 7.00 – 8.30 pm

Tom Spiers is well known for his talks about local people and issues and accompanies them with traditional songs.

Tom, born in Aberdeen, was brought up in an extended family environment where singing was the norm. He joined Aberdeen Folk Song Club serving his apprenticeship as a fiddler and singer meeting legendary singers such as Jeannie Robertson, Jimmy McBeath and Lizzie Higgins. Tom was a founder member of The Gaugers folk group which specialised in songs from North East Scotland and made several fine recordings.

Len Murray -
‘Reminiscences of my early years in Portsoy’ –
Talk and Filmshow.

Thursday 19 February, 2009, 2.30 – 4.00 pm

Len Murray is to present his memories of Portsoy dating back to the 1950s. He has some superb cine film.

Len is born and bred in Portsoy. He recently retired from the post of janitor at Portsoy Primary School and the surrounding rural schools. He has a long time interest in Portsoy and its environs and is a keen volunteer at the Salmon Bothy.

STANDING ROOM ONLY

Stuart B. Campbell -
'The Place and the Poem' –
An Illustrated Reading.

Thursday 26 February, 2009, 7.00 – 8.30 pm

Stuart B. Campbell will read some of the poems he's written in response to places he's visited at home and abroad and talk about how a sense of place has influenced his poetry.

Stuart has lived in Aberdeenshire since he came to the North East as a student. As a poet he has been described as ‘one of our most distinctive voices’. He edited the anthology Things Not Seen (1999) and has published three collections of poetry, most recently The Stone Operation & Other Poems (Dionysia Press, 2008). His other writing includes reviews, essays and material for the outdoor press. He has featured on Radio 4 and Radio Scotland, and is an editorial advisor for Northwords Now magazine.

Pete Danks -
Early Development of the Herring Fisheries –
An Illustrated Talk

Thursday 5 March, 2009, 2.30 – 4.00 pm

Pete Danks’ is a model maker of some repute, and has won major prizes at exhibitions for his models of sailing ships. He also writes articles for model magazines in the UK and USA. His talks are based on the research he made for his model making.

Pete Danks lives in Portsoy. He is an engineer by qualification, now semi-retired after serving 26 years in the Royal Air Force.

Lieutenant Commander (SCC) Ian Wilson RNR –
‘Can the Sea Cadets restore Adult faith in our youngsters? –
An Illustrated Talk.

Thursday 12 March 7.00 – 8.30 pm

Lieutenant Commander (SCC) Ian Wilson RNR is Commanding Officer of Peterhead Sea Cadet Unit. He joined the Sea Cadets at the age of 12. He became an adult instructor at the age of 18. Ian took Command of the Unit in 1992 and it is now the Top unit in the UK.

The Sea Cadets are a key organisation helping the Boat Festival annually. Who would forget the professionalism of the young folk on patrol in the pouring rain at last year’s festival. The photo shows (right to left - Ian Wilson, Scott Buchan and the Festival's James Crombie

David Catto –
Routes to your Roots –
An Illustrated Talk.

Thursday 19 March 2.30 – 4.00 pm

David Catto has worked as Local Studies Librarian with Aberdeenshire Council for around ten years. Born in Aberdeen, he spent part of his early life in Banff, where his father held the office of Town Clerk.

An important area of his work is genealogy and he will be looking at some of the principal resources available for family history research. This is an area of growing interest and is especially topical in the Year of Homecoming.

Wordfringe event Upstairs at the Bothy

"Viking Poetry" with Ian Crockatt (part of book launch)

Friday March 2009 at 7pm (click poster for details)

'Upstairs in the Bothy'

ROBIN MICHAEL cello and SARAH LEONARD voice ... more
Thursday 6 November 2008, 7.30pm
Tickets: £10, £8 conc, £5 (students & under 18s)

Part of the sound festival ... more

Ticketing :
by phone 0224 641122 9:30-6:00 Mon to Sat
on line 24/7 at www.boxofficeaberdeen.com

Talks - Autumn Winter 2009

Workshops

Summer programme 2009

Sunday Talks - Portsoy Past and Present 2.30 – 4.00 p.m.

Book Launch

“Love as a Foreign Language”

May Weekend - photos and family history

Display of Photographs

Easter Weekend - pictures of days gone by

Afternoon Tea

Morning Coffee