A horn blower from the far south of England has come to the rescue of a 19th-century charity coach ride through Deeside.
The organisers of the 60-mile horse and carriage run had been struggling to recruit someone for the vital role.
However, Bob Elliot, from Cornwall, has agreed to take on the role after being called upon by Royal Deeside Drive organiser Ewan MacInnes.
Horn blowers – along with the drivers – were at the helm of such coach trips in the 1800s.
They acted as guards, managed passengers and announced the arrival of the carriages which were a common mode of transport before the introduction of the local railway network in the 1850s.
The Deeside trip will start at the Braemar games field next Friday, August 21, at 9am and end at Duthie Park the next day at 4.15pm.
It will call at former coaching inns in towns and villages along the route including Crathie, Ballater, Dinnet, Aboyne, Potarch, Banchory and Drumoak.
Mr MacInnes, of Maryculter Carriage Driving School, is raising money for the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution through the event.
He said: “We have had great difficulty finding a horn blower but fortunately an experienced horn blower, Bob Elliot, who has helped us out in the past, is coming up from Cornwall.
“In the old coaching days, it was the horn blower and not the driver who was in charge of the coach, mail and passengers.
“We would be interested to hear from any wind instrument players who might be interested in acting as horn blower for future excursions.”
Eight passengers will be accommodated for each stage of the journey.
Tickets cost £50 for a ride, and only a few are left. Bookings can be made at www.marycultercarriages.co.uk.
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