PICTURE: Queen’s Aberdeenshire minister braves snow to deliver services in cut-off Aberdeenshire communities
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The Reverend Ken MacKenzie, of Braemar and Crathie Parish, took to the bridge on his way to deliver a sermon in Crathie this morning. Credit: Simon Blackett.
This is the moment an Aberdeenshire minister braved the snow to give his Sunday service to the people of his parish in the wake of horrendous north-east flooding.
Braemar was left cut off to the outside world after Storm Frank wreaked havoc across Aberdeenshire on December 30 – with the Invercauld Bridge on the A93 North Deeside Road collapsing.
Villagers now have to get lifts along the road to the Old Military Bridge, just south of the usual crossing, in order to pick up their cars on the otherside and travel.
And this is the moment reverend Ken MacKenzie, of Braemar and Crathie Parish, took to the bridge on his way to deliver a sermon in Crathie this morning.
He had just given a service in Braemar when he was photographed braving the weather.
Rev MacKenzie is the Queen’s own minister in Aberdeenshire, delivering services to her at Crathie Kirk during stays at Balmoral.
The walk over the Old Military Bridge is about half a mile and villagers have been chipping in and giving lifts to each other on both sides in, even helping deliver the mail.
Braemar councillor Geva Blackett said: “This is the route we all take in and out, and Ken is very much part of our community.”
PICTURE: Queen’s Aberdeenshire minister braves snow to deliver services in cut-off Aberdeenshire communities
