Loyal trio get 30-year awards

HONOURED: Peter Gibson and Marilyn Morrice with their certificates while Sarah Mackie looks on. Kenny Elrick

Three stalwarts who help make the north-east’s farming sector tick have been recognised for their devotion to duty. Peter Gibson, Marilyn Morrice and Ian Hamilton have been presented with 30-year Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland long-service certificates and medals.

Grieve Mr Gibson and agricultural technician Mrs Morrice are both employed by the Mackie family at Balquhindachy, Methlick. Mr Hamilton is the farms manager for Lord Aberdeen at Haddo Estate, near Tarves.

For the full story, pick up a copy of today’s Press and Journal or read our digital edition now

Published: 03/03/2012 Press and Journal – By Joe Watson

Police called in by Haddo medical group

Woman charged over alleged theft of drugs from doctors’ surgery

Police called in by Pitmedden centre

COMPLAINT: Officers acted after being contacted by  managers at the Haddo Medical Group.
COMPLAINT: Officers acted after being contacted by managers at the Haddo Medical Group.

A MEDICAL centre worker has been charged following a police investigation into the alleged theft of prescribed drugs.

A Tarves women, was quizzed by officers after bosses at the doctors’ surgery where she worked lodged a complaint.

A Grampian Police spokesman said: “We can confirm that a woman has been charged in connection with a theft from Haddo Medical Group, Pitmedden. A report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”

Evening Express Published: 02/03/2012 By Rita Brown

Tarves woman, embezzled £160,000 from Aberdeen oil firms

Payroll worker swindled cash over four years

A MUM has admitted embezzling more than £160,000 from two Aberdeen oil firms.

Dawn Peter scammed the Aberdeen companies over a four-year period while she worked in their payroll departments.

The 33-year-old, whose address was given in court papers as 22 Tolquhon Avenue, Tarves, embezzled £70,540.08 from Aberdeen oil services firm RBG, which is based in Dyce, and £91,307.70 from Helix Energy Solutions, based at Kirkton Drive in Aberdeen

Evening Express Published: 02/03/2012 By Mark Davies and Alison Rennie

http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/Article.aspx/2664983

Charity goes door to door

The veterans’ charity, Erskine, is piloting a new fundraising campaign using door-to-door fundraising. Over the next few months, specially trained fundraisers will be knocking on doors to spread the word about Erskine and to ask generous members of the public to pledge their support.

In the next few weeks fundraisers will be concentrating on visiting areas across Aberdeenshire including Tarves and Inverurie.

Easily identifiable in their purple Erskine jackets, fundraisers will each carry a unique ID card. They have permission from local authorities and local police will have been informed in advance.

Erskine has been rebuilding shattered lives, restoring dignity and caring for ex-Service men and women since 1916. The charity rely heavily on voluntary donations to care for over 1300 veterans each year within five care homes located across Scotland

Door-to-Door fundraising is proven to be one of the most cost effective methods for Erskine to recruit valuable long-term supporters which is absolutely vital to the continuation of the work that Erskine does.

Erskine fundraiser, Peter Macfarlane said: “Without the hard work and dedication of our loyal supporters we would not be able to continue in our work to ensure that the former members of the armed forces receive the invaluable care and attention they so richly deserve. We want to highlight this campaign as it is the first time we have gone out to people directly to ask for support.”

Erskine needs £140K every week to support veterans in Scotland. To find out more about the charity, visit http://www.erskine.org.uk.

Published on Monday 27 February 2012 16:54 Inverurie Herald

Soup and Sweet busy

Nearly 200 people were out at the Tarves Guild Soup and Sweet Saturday 25th February.  The excellent turnout is likely to mean a good sum raised when the takings are counted.

The usual large selection of soups and delicious sweets were on offer.  Huge thanks were offered to the  organisers and workers who made it such a success.

Tarves playgroup has high hopes for garden

 

A TARVES playgroup has made an appeal to help transform a piece of land into a community garden for benefit of the village, after it was gifted to them by the church.

The Committee of the Tarves Playgroup has big plans for the small patch of ground, located just behind the village’s Youth Hall. Although the land is uneven and covered in stones and scrub at the moment, the Committee hopes that it will be able to host a picnic area, a story tree, benches, a mud pit, flowers, vegetable beds and plants to attract wildlife.

However, while the group has been able to perform some site clearing, including cutting back tree branches and clearing stones, the ground it is not yet safe for children to play on. It remains unfenced on one side and requires adults and children to walk on the road to gain access.

Now, the playgroup Committee has issued a plea to the community for assistance, in order to help turn the ground into an asset which will benefit not just the children at the playgroup, but also the rest of the village.

“Many children grow up with few opportunities to play outdoors”, said Committee Spokeswoman Morag Western. “Here in Tarves we are lucky as the church has offered us the use of the fallow ground behind the Youth Hall, and we plan to transform it into a really exciting place to be!

“We are looking for donations to help us deliver the project, whether that’s in the form of cash, materials, time or expertise. Already, we’ve had a tremendous response from the residents and businesses locally, so we’d like to offer a massive thanks for all we have received so far.”

One of the adaptations being planned is to remove a section of the wall which divides the Youth Hall car park from the garden site, in order to allow children and adults from the playgroup to visit the garden without having to walk on the road. However, the children have already been able to make some improvements for themselves.

“We have already made and painted bird boxes with the kids which was great fun”, said Morag. “Other activities include painting a mural and having mosaic tiles on tables.

Despite having a surplus of enthusiasm, the Committee clearly has some way to go in order to meet its targets.

“If you could give half an hour to make a brew or paint a fence, help with the kids activities, do a leaflet drop or even know of someone who could get involved please let us know”, said Morag. “Even a small contribution can make a big difference!”

Anyone wishing to help out can contact the group on 07773 879290

Published on Tuesday 7 February 2012 22:19 Ellon Times http://tinyurl.com/75ehpuw