Youngsters lend a hand at fundraising.

Local youngsters Ashley Summers (nearly 10) and Lee Watt (already 10) wanted to find some way to help the Harbour Trust. With a little help from Mary Mair they decided to visit all the homes in the villages of Sandhaven & Pitullie and ask people to guess how many buttons were in the bottle. “It’s 20p a try” Lee told me “and 6 tries for £1”.

“We’ve got a bottle of champagne for first prize” Ashley informed me. Chairman of the Trust, Mr. Jock Campbell commended the two when he met them recently and commented “I am really pleased to see the young folk of the area taking an interest in the harbour.” Already these two enterprising young people have raised more than £45. Lee, who helps out regularly at Trust events said “We just wanted to find some way that we could help”

Sandhaven & Pitullie gear up for Harbour Fun Day on August 31st

Its all hands on deck for the Trust as the biggest annual event for the local community begins to take shape. This year it looks like it’s going to be bigger, and better. With two teams organising the onshore and water based activities the promise of “something for everyone” looks like one which will be fulfilled.

The event will commence at 12 noon with the skirl of the pipes as the Fraserburgh Royal British Legion Pipe Band start the proceedings with a bang...on the drums that is! Fraserburgh Sea Cadets, celebrating their 60th anniversary this year, will entertain the crowds with displays of various kinds, and a friend, from Friends of the Moray Firth Dolphins, will be on hand to explain about these wonderful creatures who often visit this area.

In the Harbour we will see the excellent display of model boats from the Tarlair Model Boat Club, and the brave men of Fraserburgh Lifeboat hope to be there, rescues permitting. They will be escorted this year by a flotilla of Jet-Skis, which will make an exciting spectacle. Free boat rides will be provided within the Harbour by generous boat owners. Of course, no Harbour Fun Day would be complete without the annual Raft Race, and this year there will be a trophy, donated by the Sea Cadets, and prizes for the fastest raft and for the best decorated raft, donated by the Pittendrum, so lots of fun and games will no doubt occur, especially when the water squirters and flour bombs make another showing. Jet skis will be in the harbour all afternoon and will be providing “biscuit” rides, find out more on the day!

At the Harbour side spectators will be entertained by the superb young dancers from the Anne Buchan Dancers who enthralled the crowd at the recent Lifeboat Day in Fraserburgh. If you missed them, then take this opportunity to see them in action, you won’t be disappointed. There will be plenty of games, and prizes to win, and there will be a stall organised by the Clinton Lodge. During the afternoon several demonstrations of traditional activities, such as kilt and clootie rugmaking, and baking oatcakes, will be given for those who are interested in local heritage. Children will be well catered for with a Bouncy Castle, Face Painting, and don’t miss the Sand Game!

If you think all that excitement is likely to make you hungry or thirsty then don’t worry as there will be a Barbecue, sponsored by the Pittendrum, freshly made Candy Floss, sponsored by Banff and Buchan College, and tea and soft drinks will be available.

With FREE admission, Sandhaven Harbour looks like being the best place to be on the afternoon of Sunday August 31st from 12 noon to 4pm.

(These pictures were taken during the event)

A Special “Thank You”

The Trust would like to convey their thanks for the contributions that made the reconstruction of the boat ramp/slipway possible.

They include:

Banffshire Partnership     £5000

Awards for All (Lottery)    £4000

Bell’s Nautical Trust       £2000

Moray Firth Partnership    £1000

Wood Group              £1000

Clinton Devon Estates     £500

Petro-Canada             £450

Mobil North Sea           £150

We would also like to thank our local supporters, Cllr Mitchell Burnett of Aberdeenshire Council for his support, and John Gibbins (Contractors) Ltd who carried out the construction work.

Mr Jock Campbell of the Trust congratulates Mr John Gibbins on a job well done.

June 1st 2003 Launch Day

The Trust was very happy to welcome along the Fraserburgh Sea Cadets to Sandhaven Harbour. The Cadets held their official launch day for this season, with a variety of boats, and canoes, exercising in the Harbour. For the Trust it was an opportunity to welcome along Councillors Mitchell Burnett and Andy Ritchie to help celebrate the reconstruction of the boat ramp at Sandhaven Harbour.

Restoration starts at Sandhaven Harbour

Sandhaven Harbour saw the first completed construction work for over 100 years with the restoration of a slipway into the Harbour. The construction was completed by John Gibbins (Construction) Ltd in just three weeks and has transformed the area. Mr Jock Campbell, Chairman of the Trust, said “We are thrilled to have tangible evidence of the success of the Trust, and we are grateful to the people who have given us support along the way. We have a long way to go but with continued support I know that we can succeed.”

Mr. John Gibbins said “We are very pleased to be involved in the work at Sandhaven Harbour.”

Picture taken before and after restoration of the slipway

May 2003...Harbour work begins

After much planning, work began on rebuilding the slipway into the Harbour at Sandhaven, and repair work to some of the harbour walls was carried out. It is hoped that it will be the beginnings of a new future for Sandhaven Harbour. The Trust wishes to thank the local community for its continued support and also that of its sponsors, local businesses, and other organisations.

Living a Lotto...at Sandhaven Harbour

The lottery came up trumps for the Trust with a grant from Awards for All, which provides money to support local community groups and projects. This grant, supplied from the Community Fund, will be used toward the Slipway Fund