New owners are Mr Bob Reid and his wife, Mary, who currently operate the "Mr Hot Foods" take-away business in Woodend, Aberdeen.
Confirmation of the deal ends weeks of speculation among local residents, who are not usually slow to hear about what might be afoot, concerning the future or the town-centre premises.

***

50 Years Ago

Fiday, March 21, 1958

The decision, made by the Red Cross and approved by the Town Council of Stonehaven, to place a first-aid kiosk near the paddling pool will be welcomed in many quarters.
The area is a favourite meeting spot and playground where bumps and bruises are frequently the order of the day and where more serious accidents can happen at any time.
Of course, there is already first-aid equipment at the swimming pool, which has been called into action on more than one occasion, but there are seasons of the year when the pool is not functioning, although there may be a lot of juvenile activity around and about.
There need be no fear that the kiosk will spoil the amenity of the area.
It is, we believe, the one that used to stand near Newtonhill and is decorative as well as useful.

***
Various speakers had a bash at the evergreen topic of silage versus turnips as house feed for cattle at a conference staged at Longside by the Aberdeen and North of Scotland College of Agriculture.
Locale for the debate was appropriate as cattle fed in Buchan kill out better from the butcher's point of view than those of any other district in the British Isles, save perhaps the Vale of Alford.
Brief reports of the conference indicated that ultimately the position will be one of compromise- efficient husbandry can be associated with the production of both crops on the same farm.

***

100 Years Ago

March 19 1908

An Inquiry under the Fatal Accidents Inquiry Act was held in Stonehaven Sheriff courthouse yesterday – before Sheriff Henderson-Begg and a jury - inquire into the death of William Mackay, carter, St Cyrus. David Thomson Mitchell, joiner, Kirkton, St Cyrus, stated that on 20th February he was employed by William Dunn, contractor, to cart trees from Lauriston Policies, near the house of Mr McEwan, gamekeeper.
William Mackay was also carting for Mr Dunn.
About noon they stopped to feed their horses in the kennel field. Mackay's horse bolted and upset his cart and horse.
Witness saw Mackay run to stop his horse.
There was a gate at the corner of the field, but between him and the gate were some bushes, and witness lost sight of Mackay.
He saw Mackay's horse on the Main Road, but did not see Mackay, so he thought something had happened to him.
On going to look he found Mackay lying outside the gate.
He was trying to get up.
There was a hole at the back of his head, and his ear was very much lacerated.
Mrs McEwan came in about, and both assisted to get him into her house. Mr Dunn was not present at the time.
He did not know it was dangerous to take a bridle off a horse while feeding.
Mrs McEwan spoke to the man's injuries and his removal to Montrose Infirmary.
Constable Farquharson said deceased informed him he was taking the bridle off the horse when it bolted.
Dr Valentine Stone said he saw Mackay in Montrose Infirmary two or three times a day.
After describing the injuries to the head which might have been caused by being struck by the shaft of the cart, at first they did not anticipate any fatal result, but tetanus set in on 23rd February and he died on the 27th.
A verdict of accidental death was returned.