Banff & Macduff when you were a kid

Banff & Macduff when you were a kid Thank you 😃 It's not JUST for Banffers and Macduffers. If you have recollections to share, please hit the "like" button. It's all about interaction. It's fun!
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If you have a photo and/or a story about the Banff and Macduff area (generally), from when 'you were a Kid' or earlier, that you would like to share with us, send it to us by Messenger and we can quickly get it up on the page for you. This is your page if you're from Portsoy, Sandend, Whitehills, Foggie, Bracoden, Crudie, Longmanhill, Alvah, Gamrie, Gardenstown, Crovie, Boyndie, Inverboyndie, For

glen, King Edward, Glenbarry, Cornhill... and all points in between. Your great contributions are always welcome! So if you've never posted or replied to anything here - give it a go and join in. Please recommend "B & M" to all your facebook friends! Cheers! Martin Ingram and Alan Ingram

The view along Low Street as taken by David Ingram, summer 1976. Possibly hasn't changed that much, or has it?
18/06/2026

The view along Low Street as taken by David Ingram, summer 1976. Possibly hasn't changed that much, or has it?

Here's a nice one featuring, perhaps, your grandparents, kindly shared by Stanley West. "Some from Banff will mine on t...
18/06/2026

Here's a nice one featuring, perhaps, your grandparents, kindly shared by Stanley West. "Some from Banff will mine on this folk. 1962-63."

Members of Banff Old People's Association and friends snapped at the War Memorial, Castle Street, prior to leaving for their annual outing.

After more than half a century In business, the popular grocery shop in Gallowhill Street, Banff, closed in April 1998. ...
18/06/2026

After more than half a century In business, the popular grocery shop in Gallowhill Street, Banff, closed in April 1998.

It was opened by the late Mr. Sandy McGregor in the 1930's, and the closure comes on the retirement of the owner, Mr. McGregor's daughter, Mrs Eleanor Rattray.

Mr. McGregor, who also had a popular dance band, started the business after converting a garage on the site to a shop. He also had a van service from which he supplied groceries and bakery goods to a wide surrounding area, including Whitchills.

After his death at the age of 39, the business was carried on by his widow, Bella, who was helped by daughter Margaret until 1960, when Eleanor returned from working as a cook at Woodend Hospital, Aberdeen.

Mrs Rattray said she had decided to "take life easier and with her husband Bill reaching retirement age, felt that the time had come to give up the business and enjoy some of the things she had missed out on during her long working life.

Mrs Rattray said at the time, "In the 38 years I have run the business I have only taken one week's holiday, so I thought it was time to take things easier. Working long hours in the shop gave me no time to enjoy other activities and, with my husband coming up to retiral age, we felt that we needed more time to ourselves. Over the years the pattern of shopping has changed dramatically and this has become very obvious as far as corner shops are concerned. The growth of supermarkets and social life in general have changed and the old ways have now gone for ever."

Although she admits she will miss meeting customers, especially the many children who used to come into the shop to buy their sweets on their way to school, she advised was looking forward to a quieter life and spending more time on gardening, walking the dog and getting out and about.

"You come to the stage when you realise that you cannot go on for ever and after the long hours working it will be quite a change to have more time to myself Despite my long association with the shop, I do not miss the daily routine but am enjoying the freedom", she said.

(Thank you to Irene Youngson for sharing this fine press piece about a well loved Banff business)

Possibly the most sinister aerial local view we've posted. You have to wonder what the n***s had in mind for our local a...
16/06/2026

Possibly the most sinister aerial local view we've posted. You have to wonder what the n***s had in mind for our local area invaded? Nothing very pleasant, that's for sure.
Thanks to Andy Chalmers for sharing this with us.

14/06/2026

Celebrating Scotland this morning with a wry 'Dash of Doric' shared by Dennis.

"There is nothing more enjoyable than a country wedding reception in a village hall. North-east folk seem to be more at home there than at a posh hotel, yet the food, the decoration and the formal proceedings are the same.

At a wedding a few years back up Deeside, the main guests were seated at the top table, including the minister beside the bride's mother and the bride's father seated next to the groom's mother, and so on, and so on. The usual set-oot.

Along came a waiter with the drinks and he asked the bride's father if he would care for a whisky.

'Michty aye. Fairly, fairly,' said the father, and a dram was duly set down in front of him.

The waiter moved along the top table and, coming to the minister, asked if he, too, would like a dram.

'Do you not see I'm a man of the cloth?" said the minister. 'And you offer me whisky? How disgusting. How inappropriate. I would rather commit adultery.'

At which the bride's father handed back his glass, saying: 'Michty, I didna ken we'd a choice.'" 😀

Thanks to Stanley West for sharing this interesting old photo."Macduff Scouts at the Agricultural Buildings, Manner Stre...
14/06/2026

Thanks to Stanley West for sharing this interesting old photo.

"Macduff Scouts at the Agricultural Buildings, Manner Street, part of which was loaned to the Scouts by the late Provost McQueen to use as a Hall. The picture was taken before the Macduff Scouts went on Duty at the Banff Coastguard Station at the beginning of the 1914 War."

A few interesting questions raised as to the duties of the scouts at the coastguard station, the equipment that we see them standing over and what looks like a threshing mill in the background?

13/06/2026

Did you ever go to a concert/gig and as fantastic a set that was delivered, when you think back on it, a song played over the PA prior to the main band coming on, is the song that immediately comes to mind?
When I think of Thin Lizzy, Live and Dangerous tour at the Glasgow Apollo in June 1978, Bob Segar's 'Still the Same' springs to mind. It was the song that was on and faded out as the lights went down and crowd roared, seconds before 'Lizzy literally exploded on to the stage. A wonderful moment in my lifetime (Alan)

Here is our Test of Time result for the UK Singles Chart of week ending June 9th 1978, as announced by Gayle on this wee...
13/06/2026

Here is our Test of Time result for the UK Singles Chart of week ending June 9th 1978, as announced by Gayle on this week's Deveron FM Saturday Mid Morning Show.

Another very high level of response this week. With only 18 votes separating your top choice and number 5, only two songs, with votes,not achieving double figures. 'You're the One That I want - John Travolta & Olivia Newton John and 'I'm Always Touched by Your Presence Dear' - Blondie. Just missing out on top five by 1 and 2 votes.

In a very strong chart. We surprisingly have three 'nil pointers', this week, more than we have had in a long time. The Eurovision winner 'Do it Again' - Raffaells Carra, 'It Sure Brings Out The Love in Your Eyes' - David Soul and 'Come to Me'- Ruby Winters, are all very good pop songs but perhaps we were spoiled for choice and they missed out. Give them another listen to see for yourselves, links to them are below.

Can we have your votes in by thise coming Monday night, please, for this week's Test of Time, which is looking at the chart of week ending June 16th 1995

Do it Again - Raffaells Carra
https://youtu.be/A-zr5eNu5GM?si=UsagMKMkVHGXggqH

It Sure Brings Out The Love in Your Eyes - David Soul
https://youtu.be/ajAo2YyB1O8?si=YL20UykeHZDtzDKr

Come to Me - Ruby Winters
https://youtu.be/yOpRzPbrI64?si=SVdi63NYJpUTNA1k

We tend to think of German bombing during WW2 as being about Duff House and Banff Distillery. Portsoy had more than its ...
13/06/2026

We tend to think of German bombing during WW2 as being about Duff House and Banff Distillery. Portsoy had more than its fair share of bombing and strafing as the planes crossed the coast after missions elsewhere....

Leona Foote told us a few years ago that her late mum remembered the day in the photo very well. "She said it was a Saturday about lunch time. Mum stayed at Durn Cottages at the time and she saw the plane coming over and dropping the bombs. It was very frightening, mum was part of a large family and on that day her two younger brothers were returning home when the plane came overhead and they crawled on hands and knees all the way home. She said the planes were just scuffing the chimney pots and she could see the N**i sign as clear as anything. Everyone was flopping down where they stood. One of the bombs didn't go off and was set off later at night. Nobody killed at Portsoy during that bombing but when Portknockie was bombed there were 3 killed (a mother and daughter and their neighbour). Really scary, we don't appreciate what things were like for that generation".

Macduff boats and the old ice factory around 1976/77 from David Ingram
13/06/2026

Macduff boats and the old ice factory around 1976/77 from David Ingram

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