THE committee of Meldrum and Bourtie Heritage Society are holding their annual Coffee Morning and Exhibition at the Royal British Legion Hall, Oldmeldrum on Saturday, September 12, from 10am to noon.
This year the theme is "Education and Schooldays" to celebrate the Year of Homecoming. Research has shown that there was a school in Meldrum as early as the year of the Reformation.
As well as photos donated recently, many Meldrum, Bourtie and Da
viot school photos dating from the early 20th century will be on display. The society have been working hard to put names to faces, although this is still a work in progress. They would appreciate the help of those who come along on the day to identify others.
There will also be short school tales from George Webster the sheriff and Akki Manson's grandfather James B Manson as well as Log Book extracts from the early days of the school on Commercial Road.
A newly digitised cinefilm dating back to 1955 will be a great source of nostalgia depicting the crowds thronging Meldrum Sports in the 1950s and also the old sports committee stalwarts. Thanks go to Dr Helen McDonald, nee Massie, of Ellenbank and her cousin Jim Presly for the film.
The Heritage Society participated in the Formartine Oral History Project which has its launch at Fyvie castle in April 2008. The Society now has copies of the 24 interviews that they contributed to the project and have purchased six CD players so that anyone who is interested can listen to them at the coffee morning. All the Formartine interviews are available to listen to at Meldrum Library.
It has long be known Sir Thomas Mitchell, former Lord Provost of Aberdeen, was born in 1869 at Carle's Inn (now Morris's Hotel) the unwanted illegitimate son of the innkeepers daughter, Mary Carle and the local Sergeant of the police John Mitchell.
What was not known until recently was that seven years later Sir Thomas's parents had another illegitimate baby. This fascinating piece of research will be available at the Coffee Morning.
The Heritage Society will be taking part in Meldrum Academy's homecoming event "Going to School in and around Oldmeldrum" on October 2 and 3 and the Meldrum Heritage fair at Haddo on November 15. As well as displaying photos and information, the Society will show its Community Archive and will be able to perform searches for anyone seeking information on their Meldrum connections.
To celebrate the 80th anniversary of Meldrum Sports in 2010, Bob Forsyth is planning a Meldrum School Reunion. The Heritage Society will be supporting this event with a display of school photos.
If anyone has any old photos to add to the Society's collection, please bring them along to the Coffee Morning, or give them to any Heritage Society member or leave them at the Paper Shop, Oldmeldrum with contact details. The Society will copy them and return the originals as soon as possible.
At the Coffee Morning there will be produce, cake and candy, bottle stalls and a raffle. Contributions for any of these would be greatly appreciated. Admission, which includes a choice of tea, coffee, juice, butteries, pancakes and biscuits, is £1.50 for adults and 50p for children.
