Issue 24 - March 2012
Braemar to Banjul by bus!
On Wednesday March 7th local resident, Charlie Denny, was waved off from Braemar Mews by a crowd of well wishers. In front of him a 5,000 mile journey to Banjul in an ex-fleet bus donated by Stagecoach. If all goes to plan, the bus, full of medical and educational goods, will be delivered to the people of Banjul in approximately three weeks time. The bus will remain in Banjul to be used as a 'bush taxi' for nursery school children.Charlie will fly home after having spent another week helping to construct new school buildings. Another eleven volunteers will be travelling alongside Charlie in a convoy of elderly land rovers and other vehicles as'The Rainbow Run' organised under the auspices of the charity SHINE- Africa. Inside Charlie's bus were a number of shoe boxes, prepared by the Braemar Scout Group, filled with toys, books, pens, paper etc. as gifts for the children in Gambia. The box contents have all been donated from the children's own toys, nothing has been bought.
If you would like to do your bit to help Charlie on his way then you can still buy a journey share, a £4.50 share funds one mile of distance (share certificates issued on donation!) - just visit the website at www.therainbowrun.org.uk to arrange.
Braemar Community Action Plan (CAP) According to Mike Powell of the Marr Area Partnership, at present, Braemar is the largest community in the Marr area without a Community Action Plan. An open meeting was held on Monday 5th March in the Village Hall to discuss developing one. If you missed the meeting, read a brief report about it on page 9.
STOP PRESS!
Tune into Countryfile on Sunday 18 March, 19:00, BBC One. John Craven investigates deer stalking and features issues around Braemar.
Inside: Page 2 Editorial; Letters Page 3 Community Update; Police News; Paws for Thought (new column!) Page 4 Braemar Folk - David Geddes Page 5 Estate News - Invercauld Estate; Mar Estate Page 6 Tomintoul Croft; Braemar Castle; Tartan Trek Page 7 Looking forward to Summer Page 8 Aboyne Maternity Unit potential closure; Aboyne pupils need business partners Page 9 Community Action Plan Page 10 Junior Buzzard; St Margaret's Project Page 11 What's On In and Around your village (groups/classes) Page 12 What's On In and Around Your Village (Events)