Aberdeen is rightly proud of its sense of community and its rich history and cultural life.
Join us as we take a look at some familiar faces and places over the decades, from Morten Harket – recently revealed on The Masked Singer – to ordinary folk at work and play.
Doonies Farm
Cove Primary pupils Karen Smith, Billy Kilgore and Sarah Booth were a bit wary of this inquisitive llama coming over to say hello at Doonies Farm, Nigg, in 1980.
Tullos
Tullos Model Group took titles including best junior and senior at the International Plastic Modellers’ Society Scottish Championships in Glasgow in 1987. Alexander Davidson (10) took the best junior of the show title with this tank – his second model since taking up the hobby. Best senior title went to Dirk Verbiest, a psychiatric nurse at Aberdeen’s Cornhill Hospital, seen holding his Israeli Phantom fighter.
Tillydrone
Tillydrone Primary School football team captain Stanley McLean is presented with the Aberdeen Primary Schools’ FA’s Willoughby Cup by Dons star Gordon Strachan in 1982. The final was played at Pittodrie prior to a Premier League clash with Airdrie, with Tillydrone beating Airyhall 3-0.
Powis
These Powis Academy pupils were the models in a fashion show at the academy in aid of the International Festival of Youth Orchestras in June 1977. The girls, who modelled the clothes by Van Allan Fashions are, standing from left, Karen Greig, Sheila Armstrong, Deborah Ewen, Sheena Grant, Vicki Mackie and Aziza El Sarrag. Kneeling are Patricia Wilson, left, and Lorraine Miller.
Kaimhill
Taking a chance to enjoy the snow in 1976, were these children on the Kaimhill slope, now the Adventure Aberdeen Snowsports Centre, at Bridge of Dee.
Northfield
Pancake making in progress at Strathdee’s Bakery in Aberdeen in April 1969. The bakery was situated in Quarryhill Road, Northfield.
Riverside Drive
Salmon fishers at work tending their nets in late afternoon at the bothy by the River Dee on Riverside Drive, Aberdeen, in 1936.
Music Hall
The genteel pastime of afternoon tea dances was brought back to the Music Hall in 1986 in an experiment dreamed up by Music Hall manager Nigel King. Around 70 people, nearly all pensioners, turned up. Our picture shows dancers Emily Forbes and James Mitchell, while Vi McDonald and Jessie Robertson relax with a cuppa.
Marischal Street
Aberdeen’s young ones – and not so young ones – really did dig Telemech’s record department which also functioned as a booking agency for pop and folk groups visiting the city. The store was in Marischal Street and is pictured here in 1970.
The Lemon Tree
Actor and director Alan Cumming with Aberdeen Performing Arts chief executive Duncan Hendry at the re-opening of The Lemon Tree in 2008.
