All four office-bearers and five members of the committee had previously intimated their intention not to seek re-election resulting in an almost completely new team leading the Society into its second half century.
Accepting the office of President for the first time is Kevin Dunbar, the current holder of the Society's Championship Cup and he will have Allen Smith as his Vice. Secretary is Morag Smith and Treasurer, Hilary Firth. The members of the committee are: June Bastiman, Rebecca Chambers, Donald Dundas, Fiona Dundas, Carol Eaton, Richard Firth, Elizabeth Fortune, Janice Littlejohn, Clark Simpson, George Spink and James Stewart.
Earlier, retiring President, Geoff Lawrence, had welcomed a good turnout of members and, in his annual report, said that the Society had enjoyed a very good Golden Anniversary year. The Christmas Fayre, plant sale and Flower Show had all performed really well with many compliments having been received from outside sources on the all-round quality of the Show. He did, however, express disappointment at the cancellation of the celebratory dance explaining that at the time when a decision had to be made and monies committed, insufficient tickets had been sold.
Mr Lawrence went on to say that he had enjoyed his three terms as President, both in the good times and, when finances were low, the not so good times, and expressed his appreciation to "Silverdot" a company without whose support over the past four years the Society would not be in its present financially sound position.
In concluding his report, Mr Lawrence thanked the Secretary, Wilma Scott, Treasurer, Stella Cook and all the committee members who had served the Society so conscientiously over the last six years and wished the Society well for the future
Retiring from their respective posts, Secretary, Wilma Scott and Treasurer, Stella Cook each said they too had enjoyed their time in office, the latter being pleased to report that the Society had ended the year with cash assets of £2,700.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Clark Simpson, on behalf of the Society and the community at large thanked Mr Lawrence for his invaluable contribution as very much a hands-on President, emphasising his role in reforming the constitution, restructuring and always helping to erect the staging and, most significantly, managing the regeneration of the finances when they were at an extremely low ebb in 2004. The meeting responded appropriately as it did to the appreciation expressed to Miss Scott and Mrs Cook.

"A Funny Valentine"

Since live professional theatre was first brought to Johnshaven by North East Arts Touring in 2004 the Village Hall has undergone many transformations, from Treasure Island to the real Robin Hood's domain, an Aberdeen tenement and the sun, the moon and the stars. On Saturday night it took on the appearance of a night club as its wine sipping patrons were taken on a musical journey from the birth of an angel-faced jazz genius in Yale, Oklahoma in December 1929 to his ultimately tragic death as a wrinkled 59-year old in Amsterdam.
This was a story with both a hero and heroin. The flawed but very human hero was Chesney (Chet) Henry Baker who, by 1956, playing in the company with other jazz legends such as Charlie Parker and Gerry Mulligan, was regarded as the best jazz trumpeter in the world.
The heroin was the storyteller and, in this musical dramatisation of Chet's life it was Mike Maran who was with him all the way as, with the trumpeter's family life always in chaos, the two inseparables criss-crossed Europe on a drug-fuelled odyssee until Chet's lifeless body was found beneath a hotel balcony in Amsterdam in May 1988.
Mike Maran's sympathetic tale telling was spellbinding and, intertwined with the mellowness of Colin Steele's trumpet and the subtlety of Dave Milligan's piano playing, created an evocative mood and a memorable evening much appreciated by the clubbers, some of whom lingered so long after the last note had faded that they were in danger of being packed away with the props!
"A Funny Valentine", directed by Patrick Sandford, was a Mike Maran Production in association with The Nuffield Theatre, Southampton and was brought to Johnshaven by NEAT and afterwards local organiser, Karelia Wright, said that she was delighted that the evening had gone so well adding: "I think the candlelit setting befitted the occasion which was enjoyed in equal measure by both the audience and the performers."



Community Council

Chair, Chris Greene, welcomed members and a large number of the public to the monthly meeting of the Community Council in the Village Hall on Wednesday night and introduced Ms Angela Keith, Aberdeenshire Council's Development Officer for Affordable Housing, who was to bring the Community Council up to date on the replacement of the former dwelling houses at 17 and 19 Golden Acre.
Ms Keith, who distributed plans and illustrations of the small development, informed the meeting that Aberdeenshire Council will build one block of four by one-bedroom flats and two by three-bedroom houses and the overall layout shows that, while the frontages of the houses are aligned with those of 21 and 23, the flats are set further back with car parking spaces provided within both curtilages. She went on to say that the dwellings would be kept warm by ground sourced heating which is considered to be the most sustainable method in the circumstances and made possible because of the degree of preparatory ground work required before construction begins, with tenants being given help and advice on how to make best use of the system. Indicative drawings show also that restorative landscaping will be carried to the rear of the dwellings.
To a question on how the houses would be allocated, Ms Keith responded by saying that there was a "substantial" waiting list for local authority houses in Johnshaven and those new ones in Golden Acre would be allocated to applicants at the top of the list.
Tenders are now out for the construction of the houses which must begin before the end of March to enable Aberdeenshire Council to qualify for Scottish Government funding. However, the intention is to begin work at the beginning of that month with completion six months later.
It will be remembered that as a result of a serious house fire at 19 Golden Acre in December 2006 the occupants of both it and number 17 had to be evacuated and eventually rehoused. However, it was not until more than a year later that the damaged and unsightly property was demolished. The Community Council has been concerned that the site has lain forsaken for so long and, although this imminent addition both to the village's housing stock and population is modest, it is likely, nevertheless, to be welcomed by the community as a whole.
Councillors hope that spoil from the excavations at Golden Acre might be used to carry out some landscaping on rough and untidy ground beyond West Street. As far back as 2004 the Community Council had ambitious plans drawn up to improve this area but despite spending considerable time in pursuing the project it came to nought. This time, though, the plans are likely to be on a much smaller scale.

JFFMG

When the Johnshaven Fish Festival Management Group held their meeting last week to consider applications for grants from the Community Fund they were somewhat surprised that this year there were only two requests. The Primary School football team were awarded £300 to help buy equipment and Safe Habitat Alliance for Rural Kincardineshire (SHARK) received £670 to insure all volunteers and also to assist in the purchase a siever and generator to run it and 20 clipboards for beach clean-ups. Therefore, because £630 remains in the Community Fund, all local organisations should note that JFFMG have decided to extend the deadline for applications to 31 March, 2010.

Johnshaven Primary School

Last Wednesday Johnshaven Primary School held a Victorian Lunch in the school dining room, the menu including Royal Albert chicken and bacon, oatmeal stuffing, roast potatoes and Johnshaven home grown beetroot; strawberry jelly and fruit sorbet; Victorian kisses and peppermint. Pupils and staff were appropriately dressed for the occasion, the former more than glad that times had moved on from the Victorian era when their choices would have been boiled pork and vegetables or a cup of soup made from boiled bones and cocoa.

Bowling Club

The Bowling Club recorded another defeat in the Kincardineshire Indoor League at Stonehaven. This time Ann Aitken, Alan Robbie, Alan Black and Bryan Duff went down by 21 shots to 7 to Drumlithie B.C.

Mearns Coastal Guild

The next meeting of the Guild will be held in the Church Hall on Monday, November 23 at 2.30 p.m. when the speaker will be the Rev Ronnie Gall from Laurencekirk. There will also be a Fairtrade stall.

Christmas Fayre

Don't forget the Christmas Fayre in the Village Hall tomorrow, Saturday from 2 until 4 p.m. Wide variety of stalls, tombola, hampers and raffles. Admission free. Teas in the small hall. Hall open from 10 a.m. until noon to set up tables.

Advent Carol Concert

The Scottish Redundant Churches Trust and the Friends of Benholm Kirk extend an open invitation to a celebration of Advent Carols in Benholm Kirk on Sunday, November 29 at 3 p.m. The proceedings will be conducted by the Rev Elizabeth Campbell from Stonehaven Episcopal Church, the organist is John Gove from Gourdon and there will be singers and violinists from Gourdon Primary School.
Refreshments will be served after the event. Admission is free but there will be an open plate to provide an opportunity to contribute towards the running costs, maintenance and future renovation of the ancient place of worship.
Ample parking is available either close to the kirk or at the Mill car park. It is as well to remember, though, that there are no toilet facilities at Benholm and the kirk pews not being designed for comfy seating, a cushion can come in handy.