IT WASN’T exactly plane sailing on Loganair’s 11am flight from Kirkwall to Aberdeen yesterday. All the passengers were aboard the Saab aircraft; the captain had started up the engines, and the stewardess was giving the safety pep talk.
All of a sudden, the engines were switched off, prompting a bemused stewardess to go into the cockpit to ascertain why.
A passenger at the front heard the captain say he had been asked by air traffic control to shut the engines down, but for why, the passengers wondered.
Next thing, there was a knock on the door of the plane, it was opened and, heigh-ho, there was another passenger to get on board.
That’s service for you.
ABOUT 300 people from bairns to grannies and assorted delighted dogs took to the foothills of the Garioch’s iconic Bennachie at the weekend – and raised well over £6,000 for the work of the Grampian Cardiac Rehabilitation Association (GCRA).
Founded six years ago and run largely run by volunteers, it puts on 29 exercise classes throughout the north-east and Moray for more than 550 members who are dealing with heart conditions.
Sunday’s event was run with military precision by the 81-year-old GCRA secretary, Bert Hosie, of Inverurie, alias the field-marshal.
Oh, and you got a burger or sausage buttie at the end of it, but don’t tell your doc.
TALK about swallowing your pride. Aberdeenshire agri-businessman Maitland Mackie, of the ice-cream dynasty at Rothienorman, ventured to Lofthillock, near Inverurie, to support a garden party for the Help for Heroes charity (H4H).
Lofthillock is the home of Pat and Liz Mitchell, of the Mitchell’s Dairy empire.
And, of course, when it came to dessert, the plump rasps were accompanied by Mitchell’s own ice cream. Maitland had to tuck into his rival’s product, which he contrived to eat using chopsticks.
Said Pat: “It was a sight for sore eyes, but at least Maitland donated a year’s supply of his ice cream for a prize draw. My wife, Liz, and my daughter Judy and their team did a fantastic job and were rewarded with proceeds of £5,500 to send to the charity.”
It gives direct support to British servicemen and women wounded in current war zones and has raised £7million in nine months.
Tribute was paid to the fundraisers by General Sir Peter Graham, the last colonel of the Gordon Highlanders.
TEENAGE tuba virtuoso Ross Knight, from Carnoustie, is to provide the grand finale of this year’s 19th parish festival at Ruthven kirk, near Kirriemuir, on Sunday.
Tickets are £15, which includes a wine reception at 3pm, followed by the concert at 3.30pm.
Phone 01828 632558 to book your ticket. Under-16s go free.
IMAGINE the relief it has been for Donald Slicer to give up his day job. You see, the poor man was a golf professional, latterly at Kippie Lodge, Milltimber, Aberdeen, and he has had to endure many merry quips about his name all his life.
However, all that is behind him as the 59-year-old prepares to embark on a new life in Skye, minus clubs.
“I just love it there and plan to build a house,” said Donald, who turned pro at Cawder Golf Club as a lad of 16.
“I will take great delight in walking my German shepherd dog, Taz, who was rescued seven years ago.
“The members at Kippie have been a delight over the past seven years and I shall miss them.”