ELLON & DISTRICT PROBUS CLUB
Tagline
Probus Club Meeting 22nd Jan: 2026.
Tribute to Robert Burns Morning
=================
Vice President Peter Mackie, and Master of ceremonies.
Peter opened the mornings tribute with a short talk on the life and times of Robert Burns. This was followed by a showing on the projector screen, storyman James Cosmo reciting the famous narrative poem Tam O’Shanter about a drunken farmer pursued by shrieking witches.
The two man Band. Alan Moir on left accompanied by Denis on Accordion.
The mornings musical entertainment commenced with some old Scottish favourite songs such as Scot’s Wha Hae, and Coming thru the rye, sung by Alan and accompanied by some of the diners, those who knew the words that is?
President Frank Reilly making a welcoming talk to members and guests.
The turn out at the mornings event was low probably due to the inclement weather conditions but members who did were made welcome by the president .
President Frank Reilly makes the first cut of the Haggis.
The president made the traditional address to the “Chieftain of the Pudding Race” The traditional Haggis, Neeps, and Tatties was then served up to members at the lunch washed down with Irn-Bru, or Coke whichever. It should be a wee dram, but driving home these days???.
Robert Burns, Scotland’S national poet.
Robert Burns was born in Alloway Ayrshire in 1759 and following his education partly at home, he worked as a farm labourer. With a budding talent for poetry he wrote his first poem at the age of fifteen, and went on to write many more in later years.
His first volume of poems known as the Kilmarnock Volume was published in 1786 and contained some of his famous work, Holy Willie’s Prayer, To a Mouse, and the Red Red Rose, to name but a few. His most famous however is “Auld Lang Syne” sung at every New Year’s Eve gathering through out the world.
Many regarded Burns as a bit of a philanderer with an eye for the ladies, and he fathered twelve children with four different women in his life time. He died in 1796 in Dumfries aged just 37 and is remembered today as one of Scotland’s most famous son’s.
============================
It’s that time of the year again folks, the Christmas lunch is here! 🍷😋🍺
Ellon Probus Club Lunch 4th Dec: 2025
Vice President Brian Jamieson opened proceeding by welcoming members, their partners, and other guest's to the lunch and apologised for the absence of president Frank Reilly who was ill with Flu. Brian then introduced our guest speakers Neil Cameron who is the Pastor at the Apex Church in Peterhead, and Doug Winchester, former solicitor of Ellon.
Having made a few relevant comments by Brian the lunch was then served up to the diners, and was followed by Brian inviting our guest speakers in turn to give their talk. This was followed by the customary raffle with many prizes won by one and all.
Members and guests having enjoyed a splendid lunch, a final thank you was made by Brian to all concerned in perticular to the guest speakers with best wishes for the season and the coming New Year.
As usual the lunch was well attended and held at the Ellon Golf Club. The catering staff at the club did a grand job with their buffet service and were thanked by Vice President Brian for their effort's in his closing statement.
=================================
Neil Cameron commenced his talk with a joke and then went on to comment on his early life. Born in Edinburgh and of Nigerian heritage he was subsequently adopted and took on the Cameron name. Married for 42 years to his wife who hails from Northern Ireland and they have two sons.
Having completed schooling he joined up with a singing group and toured the USA with them. However life took on a different direction when he became a church minister and became the chaplain of the Apex Church in Peterhead. A keen footballer he was the chaplain of Peterhead football club for fourteen seasons.
Being a man of colour he experienced nothing but a wonderful fulfilling life of love and appreciation at Peterhead. Neil rounded up his talk with details of the work programs at the Church in perticular for the younger generation.
Neil Cameron, Vice President Brian Jamieson, and Doug Winchester at the Top Table.
==========================
Both Neil Cameron, and Doug Winchester gave excellent entertaining talks full of factual detail and humour, and was much appreciated by all at the lunch. By popular consensus one of the best we have had in a long while.
============================
Doug Winchester was born in Edinburgh and he spoke at length about his school days, and then his move to Keith with his family much to his dismay. His father took up the post of Rector at a school there, but Doug soon developed a fondness for playing Rugby.
Following his school education he decided on a career as a solicitor, as he put it ,it’s one of those professions where win or lose you still get paid for the job. Following education at Aberdeen University, he founded Winchester’s legal practice in 1985 with two colleagues. Originally based in Aberdeen the practice moved to Ellon after ten years. This was as a branch of law firm Grant Smith but branched out as an independent practice in 1999. Throughout all of this he found the time to play Rugby for the Huntly club.
Married and with three children Doug eventually sold Winchester’s Solicitors to Raeburn Christie in 2015. He now works as an independent consultant on legal matters for the firm.
David Ellis wrote a book on his time in Northern Ireland titled “A Winter in Belfast” seen above with Vice President Brian Jamieson. The book is now available to purchase on Amazon.
=================================================
Ellon Probus Club Meeting held on 27th Nov: 2025.
Speaker David Ellis on his time served in the Army during a Winter in Belfast.
=================================
David Ellis served as a lieutenant in 2 Para regiment of the British Army in Northern Ireland commencing his deployment on 26th November 1976, to March 16th the following year.
Operation Banner was launched by the Army in the early sixties to try and stem the conflict between Catholic’s and Protestant’s in the city of Belfast. This conflict also involved Republican IRA supporting Catholics, and Para-military groups supporting the Protestants. It raged on for thirty seven years becoming the longest operational deployment of the British Army in history. The conflict was finally brought to an end with the Good Friday Agreement in 1978.
With many pictures on the projector screen David first gave a brief history of the training programme he underwent before the deployment. This covered the main skills required such as Riot control, Vehicle checks, and first aid etc. Further to this was also a training programme in a mock up town at a training camp in Kent.
David explained the various weapons and army kit used in the deployment, and also ammunition used such as rubber bullets which he had brought along and was passed among members to inspect. There was also pictures of military vehicles used and the regiments accommodation which was an old Victorian Mill…five star it was not😁
A peace line was established between the Falls road and the Shankhill road to keep communities apart, and also involved eight man patrols in areas throughout Belfast. David experienced many incidents, some quite risky to himself which involved bomb’s and IED’s. Throughout the long conflict of thirty seven years the Para regiment’s lost a total of fifty two men killed with many more injured.
David’s talk clearly demonstrated that life as a soldier is not for the faint hearted, a point brought up by fellow member Alan Barker when he gave the Vote of Thanks on behalf of members.
Probus Club Meeting held on 13th Nov: 2025
================================
Ken McDade (L/H) with president Frank Reilly.
Hank Williams
Dolly Parton
Loretta Lynn
Some of the famous singers of the Grand ole Opry throughout the years.
Charley Pride
Johnny Cash
Grand Ole Opry Speaker Ken McDade
The show that made Country Music famous.
Our speaker today was fellow member Ken McDade avid enthusiastic follower of the Country & Western music scene. Ken commenced his talk by giving a brief history of the Grand ole Opry. The show was founded in 1925 by a man named George Hay in Nashville Tennessee and was a half hour show first broadcast on radio as the “Barn Dance”. The show featured singers, and music in the country and western style and in 1927 was renamed “The Grand Ole Opry”. By 1932 and with the use of a more powerful transmitter in Nashville, a much wider audience was reached making it a hugely popular show.
Some types of this music were known as first Cowboy..Hillbilly, Blue Grass, Gospel…Blue, roots Jazz, then Honky Tonk…Western Swing, Rockabilly, and Red Dirt…Americana, Crossover, to name a few.
Ken then went on to tell us about some of the people who were influencers in this type of music at the very start such as George & Lilly Carter, Chet Atkins, Emmy Lou Harris, and others featured below.
Country and Western music is now enjoyed by millions worldwide and is constantly featuring new singers, and song writers entering the scene. Long may it continue.
In appreciation for this well presented and informative talk John Gatt gave the Vote of Thanks on behalf of members to Ken.
==============================================
A new member joined the club today, seated is Doug Anderson with president Frank Reilly.
John Gill (L/H) with new president Frank Reilly
Two new members joined today. Bill & Angela Davidson with president John Gill (L/H). They are the very first married couple to join the club.
A gift for Jackie our caterer at club meetings for all the hard work she puts in supplying the Tea, Coffee, and all the nice eats.
Probus Club AGM held on 23rd Oct: 2025.
===============================
Handover of Presidency from John Gill to Frank Reilly, and election of new Office Bearers, and committee members for year 2025/26.
===============================
President John Gill opened the meeting with the normal procedures and matters arising from the last AGM. First was a statement by the Treasurer Ian Smith on the state of club finances, and was followed by the election of new Office Bearers, and Committee members.
John then moved on to summarise events that took place throughout the year accompanied by photos displayed on the projector screen. Office Bearers, and Committee members, current and stood down, were thanked individually for their efforts, and support through the year. One member in perticular our Convenor of Speakers Colin Grant received special mention having stood down after five years in the role.
Finally John made a short statement thanking one and all for their support during his tenure as president, and to great applause handed over the baton to incoming president Frank Reilly.
New man at the helm Frank then took the stage and informed members it was a privilege to take on the job, and he looked forward to the coming year. With his penchant for seeing the humourous side of things, the role of president will take on a new perspective for the membership at our regular meetings through the year😊.
There being no further business the meeting was closed by our new president Frank Reilly.
==============================================
Dr. Lauren Smith with president John Gill.
============================
A Great White shark fearsome predator of the sea.
===================================
Probus Club Meeting held on 9th Oct: 2025.
Speaker today Dr. Lauren Smith on “Swimming with Sharks”.
Dr. Lauren Smith is a Marine Biologist with a PHD from Plymouth University. She developed a fascination with the sea and all life within it perticularly Sharks. In 2013 she made her first dive amongst Blue Sharks an experience which determined her future interest, and research into these marine animals.
Lauren’s talk centered first on a description of variety’s of shark species, Hammerhead, Great White, Whale Shark, to name but a few. Sharks have been around for over 400 million years and are found in every ocean on the planet. Most species have six senses primarily Electroreception…little pores along nose and body which detect electric impulses from their prey. Whale sharks are the largest species and measure up to 19 meters in length, feeding mainly on plankton. Hammerhead’s have 360 degree vision, and Tiger sharks are deep divers with great vision in low light. Sharks are apex predators and keep other fish populations in check.
There is however a threat to shark numbers mainly fished for their meat, fins, and liver oil. Surprisingly the largest numbers being taken are by Spain, and Portugal. It is estimated that anywhere between 63 to 273 million sharks are killed each year by humans. Conservation and good management practice is therefore urgently needed to avoid some species becoming extinct.
Dr. Smith is therefore dedicated to the preservation of shark species to maintain as she says the beauty, balance, and survival of these amazing creatures.
The Vote of Thanks was then given by Brian Jamison on behalf of members for Dr. Smith’s well presented and hugely interesting talk.
========================================
Probus Club Meeting Held on 25th Sept: 2025
Speaker: Duncan Rennie on an “Adventure of a Lifetime”
Duncan Rennie (R/H) pictured with president John Gill.
His adventure started on the 24th January 2024 and went on to 16th February. Having arrived in Punta Arenas in Chilie he joined the ship MS Fram and sailed to South Georgia. The journey then progressed down to Antarctica , then the Falkland Islands, and back to Punta Arenas.
Duncan’s talk and presentation was a series of pictures shown on screen of this adventure. There were approximately 200 passenger on board and was mostly classed as a science and education ship.
The pictures were stunning! Duncan being an avid photographer he commenced his talk with pictures of Ernst Shackelton’s route across South Georgia and then the wildlife of the island. There were pictures of several species of Penguin, sea birds, and finally Humpback whales, and Orca’s which came right up to the ship.
The next phase of the journey was a visit to the worlds largest iceberg, A23A in Antarctica. Again there were amazing pictures of the various shapes and form of the iceberg.
Finally they visited the Falkland Islands which included a visit to Stanley the capital. The Falkland’s is the home of many species of Seal’s, Sea Lions, and bird species, and Duncan featured many pictures of these animal's during his talk.
Duncan described his trip as a breathtaking and astonishing adventure, one he will never ever forget.
=====================================================
In appreciation for the amazing presentation, and pictures that Duncan produced, Stephen Scott gave the Vote of Thanks on behalf of members for one of the best we have had in a long while.
Pictured on screen is the ship MS Fram off the coast of the island of South Georgia.
Strict controls and rules had to be maintained when stepping ashore on these islands because of an outbreak of bird flu, and also preventing any contaminants being carried ashore. All footwear and clothing were disinfected before and after stepping ashore.
Elephant Seal’s on a beach in the Falkland Islands.
====================================
Chief organiser and doyen of all entertaining mornings Colin Grant (r/h) ably assisted by Graham Sangster (second l/h) providing sound and film on the projector.
The winning duo Alistair Martin (l/h) and Ken McDade (second r/h) plonk in hand got seven out of the eight questions right. President John Gill takes centre stage.
All a bit of fun where seriously grown up men and women spend a morning exercising the memory banks 🫣😂😂
Fred Crawford then gave the Vote of Thanks to Colin, & Graham for their efforts in organising the whole event.
====================================================
A Musical Morning 🎸🎻🎺
Probus Club Meeting held on 11th Sept: 2025.
It was all very simple, eight seperate songs were presented on the projector screen, and members in teams of two were asked to write down the date of first appearance of the song. Three seperate dates were given and in most cases it was nothing more than a guessing game 🤔. The songs ranged from Goldfinger, Singing in the Rain, Titanic, & Sound of Music, to name but a few.
The Hills are alive!!!
Dr. Martin Pucci (r/h) with Deputy President Frank Reilly.
====================================
Probus Club Meeting Held on 28th August 2025
Speaker today is Dr. Martin Pucci and his subject is “50 years in the NHS”
Dr. Pucci commenced his talk by telling members about his early education and the route he took to becoming a doctor.Having gained Higher's at the College of Commerce he was admitted to Aberdeen University Medical School. After graduating he did two years in surgery before specialising in General Practice. He also worked in Obstetrics, and Gynaecology in Newcastle after which he took up a training post in Ellon in 1983.
Dr Pucci worked in Ellon as a GP until 2009 when he retired. There was many a story to tell on the many medical cases he encountered one in perticular being a knife wielding psychotic who had made a christmas tree with knives and razor blades.
Having retired he spent his time researching the history of medicine. By chance he was then offered the opportunity to deliver lectures on cruise ships on medical history. A task he and his wife took up enthusiastically as they travelled all over the world, and having their fare paid for.
Assisted dying was also a topic Dr. Pucci commented on and should be properly addressed by politicians with due respect and wishes of the persons concerned.
Dr. Pucci then took several questions from members present followed by the Vote of Thanks given by Bill Reed. An excellent talk by a doctor well known to many a member through out his career in Ellon.
==========================================
Probus Meeting held on 14th Aug: 2025.
Guest Speaker Kim Scott fundraiser of “Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS)” in the North East of Scotland.
Kim is the fund raiser for CHAS in the North East of Scotland and she explained her role, and how they help people over Scotland.
The charity provides end of life care and support for children diagnosed with terminal illness. There are nearly 17,000 children in this situation in Scotland. There are two Hospices Robin House in Balloch, and Rachel House in Kinross which can accommodate parents and the children. The whole purpose being to provide an environment of empathy, understanding, and positive experiences for both the children, and their parents in the final days. CHAS also has bereavement counsellors and 40 volunteer support workers, and also fund a consultant jointly with the NHS.
Funding is always of concern on average £27 million a year of which the Scottish Govt: provides £7-8 million a year. Many companies provide support, and Loganair airline provide free flights to CHAS staff to the Scottish islands.
Kim then showed a very moving video of families who had been supported by the CHAS charity.
David Crosley then gave the Vote of Thanks on behalf of members for a very enlightening talk by Kim Scott.
A collection was then taken for CHAS funds at the end of the meeting.
President John Gill with guest speaker Kim Scott.
Guest of fellow member Colin Grant was Doug Anderson (Wheelchair) a long term resident of Ellon and now a resident of Ythanvale retirement home. Doug is a possible future member of the Probus Club.
Probus Club Meeting held on 24th July 2025
A talk by sports journalist Jack Nixon and photographer Colin Rennie.
=============================
Jack Nixon commenced the talk by explaining his initiation into journalism first with the “Ellon Times”, and then with Aberdeen’s newspaper “The Press & Journal”. He was to work as a sports journalist for a total of 27 years covering mainly Rugby, and Cricket. Jack went on to give an in-depth view of his career with the P&J and all the interesting events during this period.
Colin Rennie then took over to tell us about his career with the P&J which started in 1974. He was first a photo printer, and developer of film for three years before becoming a full time photographer with the paper. On the projector screen Colin showed us many pictures he took from sports events Football, Rugby, Golf, to name a few. He also covered Royal events, and also early visits by Donald Trump to Scotland.
Jack then rounded up the talk by saying it was a privilege working with Colin and writing the cover stories of his Photo’s. A perticular reference was made to the copy typists, and sub editors who could reduce a thousand word piece to just four hundred without losing the main theme of the story.Jack now retired made a final comment that it was a wonderful journey meeting so many different people along the way.
President John Gill on left with Jack Nixon centre and Colin Rennie on the right.
“A picture tells a thousand words” a very appropriate comment made by president John Gill in his closing statement to our two guest speakers.
Ken McDade was then invited to give the Vote of Thanks for this very humourous and somewhat enlightening talk on behalf of members.
His Majesty King Charles’s Garden Party held on 1st July 2025 at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh.
====================================
Ellon Probus Club fellow member and our Convenor of Speakers Colin Grant, accepted an invitation to attend His Majesty’s Garden Party together with his wife Joy at Holyrood Palace. The invitation was extended by the Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire Sandy Manson, as representative of His Majesty King Charles in Aberdeenshire. Near seven thousand people attended the party on a fine summers day. 🍰☕️🧁.
Holyrood Palace is the King’s official residence in Scotland, situated at the end of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. It has been used as a Royal Residence since the 16th century, and is open to the public at various times of the year.
====================================
Some of the attendees at the Garden Party, Colin Grant and wife Joy on the right, in the centre wearing the Kilt is Sandy Manson Lord Lieut: of Aberdeenshire.
His Majesty King Charles and Queen Camilla decending the steps at Holyrood Palace.
============================
Colin Grant and his wife Joy.
=======================
Holyrood Palace.
Probus Club Meeting held on 10th July 2025.
Speaker: Stan Robertson on the topic of
“The Airmen of Dyce”
Dyce Aerodrome started life in October 1934 and by 1942 into WW2 two concret runways had been built on the airfield. By then the RAF had taken over the Aerodrome and it was used primarily as a training base. Pilots were trained on Gliders, and Powered aircraft, but other squadrons used the base for photo reconnaissance, anti shipping, and also patrolling the north east coast of Scotland.
Stan’s talk centered mainly on some of the airman who were based at Dyce and in many cases their tragic ending. As a training base many pilots were involved in accidents leading to loss of life or serious injury. Bad weather, heavy fog, and flying into high ground were some of the reasons for the accidents. One crucial factor was that an Altimeter in those days gave the height of the aircraft above sea level, and not above the ground.
All airmen who were tragically killed in these accidents including German pilots shot down in night fighter sorties were buried with full military honours at Dyce Cemetary. Their graves and head stones still there today, and several of these allied pilots came from different countries.
Stan also reflected on many heroic exploits of pilots returning with heavily damaged aircraft to Dyce. In one instance a perfectly serviceable German Junkers JU88 night fighter landed at Dyce with the crew having defected to Britain.
This was a talk of much interest to members who asked many questions at the end. In appreciation Jim Gauld gave the Vote of Thanks to Stan on behalf of members present.
Stan Robertson (R/H) with president John Gill.
Aerial photo of Dyce Aerodrome as it was in 1940.
Probus Club Meeting 26th June 2025.
Speaker: Kyle Murray. RNLI Peterhead.
Kyle Murray (R/H) with president John Gill
Kyle Murray has served in the RNLI for the past 12 years, and is now a full time coxswain in the last year at Peterhead Lifeboat Station.
Kyle commenced his talk with a history of the RNLI which was founded in 1824. There are over 400 Lifeboat stations today throughout the UK and Ireland, with 46 of them in Scotland. Throughout the Many years thousands of seafarers have been aided, and lives saved by Scotland’s lifeboatmen the majority (97%) being volunteers. All go through a special training programme at the RNLI training college at Poole before becoming a member of a boat crew.
The first lifeboat commenced operation in Peterhead in 1865 and have evolved through the years from rowing boats to modern all weather powered boats. The two principle boats in operation at Peterhead are a Tamar Class, and a B Class (Atlantic 85), together with smaller dinghy types.
Finally Kyle terminated his talk by showing a vidio of the rescue of a boat in distress. An excellent and informative talk with members asking many questions at the end.
Tamar Class Lifeboat
The Tamar class is an all weather boat with a operating range of apx: 250 miles, at an average speed of 25Kts. It is powered by two diesel engines of 1050HP each and carries a crew of seven. The boat is capable of accommodating 44+ persons in a rescue event.
==============================
B Class Lifeboat
The B Class boat is an inshore rescue craft which carries a crew of 3-4, and has an endurance of apx: 3 hours. Powered by two Yamaha outboard engines of 115HP each, it is capable of speeds up to 35Kts. The current version of this craft is known as the Atlantic 85.
================================
In appreciation, and on behalf of members present, Graham Sangster gave the Vote of Thanks to Kyle.
===============================
Probus Club Meeting 12th June 2025.
A fun morning “Tea in the Park” 😎🍰☕️
President John Gill welcomed members and guests to the Castle Gardnes for something different for a change. The venue today was a meet up at the Ellon Castle Gardens, where retired grown men & women played silly games such as croquet, darts, bowls etc. out in the open, and then indulged in coffee, tea, and assorted sandwiches inside the marquee tent. A fun morning enjoyed by one and all, a bit of bright sunshine would have enhanced the whole experience ☀️🤗
Ellon Castle dates back to the 15th century, and the gardens surrounding it were progressively developed to their present size in the 18th century. It is a popular visitor attraction in the centre of Ellon.
A view of part of the Castle gardens, a suitable spot to set up the fun and games
Sat outside and tucking in to the fare on a rather blustery day.
Better inside than out.
31 members and guests who turned up this morning.
Overall winners of the six different games played today. Ewan Johnson (L/H), and John Gatt (R/H) with the customary bottles of vino in hand. In the middle Colin Grant, chief organiser of today’s events.
A view of the fountain at the entrance to the Castle Gardens.
Probus Club Meeting 22nd May 2025. Speakers: John Bloomfield, and Kenny Stewart on the topic of ROV company Film-Ocean.
John Bloomfield commenced the talk with an explanation of the services, and operation of the Film-Ocean Company. Their main task is providing sub sea inspection and recovery work with Remote Operating Vehicles (ROV’S) to the global offshore industry. This provides a safe means of sub sea work taking away the need for divers.
The company started life in 2004 in a garage in Ythan Bank Ellon, and evolved into a large organisation with an HQ in an energy efficient building in Balmacassie Ellon.
Kenny Stewart then explained the technicality involved in operating the ROV’s. Some weigh in at several tons including the tethering cable, and cost in the region of five to seven million pounds. Other smaller ROV’s are autonomous and are used mainly for shallow water inspection work. Film-Ocean have a range of different vehicles and are able to deploy them anywhere world wide where they are required. Problem solving is usually done in real time with the clients through computer internet links.
John then went on to inform members that the global offshore ROV business is a forty billion dollar industry, and Film-Ocean intends to have their share of the action from little ol Ellon.
A talk of great interest to members who asked many question at the end, and was followed by Ewan Johnson giving the Vote of Thanks.
Speakers John Bloomfield, Business Devlopment Manager (R/H), and Kenny Stewart…ROV Technical Support Engineer (Ctr), with president John Gill.
New Member
Our third new lady member Elizabeth Blackadder giving her introductory address to members.
New Member
Lynda Evans our fourth new lady member gives her introductory talk to members
One of a range of ROV’s operated by Film-Ocean. This perticular model is a Panther-XT launch and recovery vehicle
===========================
Christine Wilkie with president John Gill
Probus Club Meeting 08/05/2025
Speaker today Christine Wilkie on the subject of her book “From Barbados to Banffshire.
Christine’s talk today commenced with reflections of her early childhood in Guyana where she was born in 1943. Her farther Alexander Weir emigrated to Guyana from Banffshire in the late twenty’s where he met her mother Margot Turpin who was born in Barbados. Unfortunately due to her father’s ill health the family moved back to Banffshire, which was a bit of a culture shock for Christine.
After her mother passed away in 2008, Christine and her husband David decided to visit Barbados, and Guyana, to discover more about the family roots on her mothers side. To their absolute amazement they discovered that her great-great grandfather Joseph Turpin was an enslaved man who worked for a slave owner as a carpenter. Further research through a genealogy group showed that the slave owner was murdered by a group of slaves, and Joseph Turpin inherited a sum of money from the slave owner as he was regarded as a favoured man. The money was used to set up a village for free slaves in Barbados. Joseph’s son Adolphus Turpin became an Anglican Archdeacon in Kingston, Saint Vincent , and his son Milton Turpin became an Anglican Priest as well.
Christine joined up to Ancestry.co.uk and took a DNA test which showed she had 2% West African descent no doubt linked to her great-great grandfather. Christine says she is in fact quite proud to have this link to slavery which was a disgraceful humanitarian period in history.
In 2021 Christine put this whole story into a book “From Barbados to Banffshire” and money’s raised from book sales go towards the Stroke Association in her mum’s memory.
A fascinating, and interesting talk by Christine, and in appreciation fellow member Brian Jamieson gave the Vote of Thanks.