The Banffshire Maritime & Heritage Association is a non-profit organisation run by volunteers. It was formed in 2003 to promote the local fishing heritage.

 We hope you find our site interesting, we are currently building up this site and will be adding to it regularly on a regular basis so come back now and again to see how we're getting on.

You can also become a member of the association and we you have been approved you can login a see so extra information that we have on the site.

If you take a look at our shop you will see some of our publications for sale which like our website will be added as and when the books are published. 

The 2011 Newsletter Issue 4 is now available to download - see under Newsletters .

AGM Shuffle

At the Association AGM held 16^th September 2010 in the Buchan Street Hall the following changes to the committee were made.

Stanley Bruce stepped down from the chair after almost 5 years, the Association constitution only allows a maximum of a 5-year term, Rosemary Sanderson who was formerly the Vice-Chair took the chair.

Liam Sparke formerly a committee member was elected as Vice-Chair.

Stanley Bruce formerly Chair was elected as Secretary.

Jean Langham remains as Treasurer.

Roger Lewendon was re-elected to the committee.

Malcolm Smith was re-elected to the committee.

Nick Dolphin was re-elected to the committee.

New committee member elected was Andrew Bruce.

Stanley A. Bruce, BSc, I.Eng, MIMarEST,

Secretary,

Banffshire Maritime & Heritage Association.

Tel 07770 780232.  

 Nautical News 2010

The latest Edition of Nautical News is now available to read on-line or to download in PDF format. Please see Newsletters Section for this and previous editions.  

Banff Museum

In December 2008, rumour was that the Banff Library was likely to be moved sometime in the future from its current home in Banff’s High Street to the proposed Better Life Centre at Princess Royal Park, this move would leave Banff Museum vulnerable. 

Although Aberdeenshire Council never actually stated that the museum was to close J & J Associates in collaboration with the Banffshire Maritime & Heritage Association and the Banff Preservation & Heritage Society were concerned, and submitted a joint proposal for the future of Banff Museum. 

Both groups early in 2009 received separate letters from Aberdeenshire Council.  Both groups then had a joint meeting, prior to jointly meeting with Aberdeenshire Council in April 2009.  Since this meeting the two groups have met regularly to discuss Banff Museum and are in the process of putting together a more detailed proposal. 

It is hoped that a second meeting will be held with Aberdeenshire Council at the end of September.

On Tuesday evening 27 July 2010, at The High Street Banff with over 40 guest in attendance, Rosemary Sanderson (Banff Museum curator and Vice-chair of the Banffshire Maritime and Heritage Association) invited Stewart Stevenson MSP to open the New Community Museum. After the official opening Stewart gave a short speech.

The new Community Museum opening times are Mon to Sat 10.00am to 12.30pm.

Sat and Sunday afternoons open subject to volunteers.

Rosemary can be contacted at the  Museum during opening times.

Stewart Stevenson MSP and Rosemary Sanderson at the opening of the New Community Museum

There are two booklets available on-line in PDF format  Banff Museum General Information and What We Like About Banff Museum regarding the new community museum. click on the titles to open and download a copy. 

On Sunday 25^th July 2010 the BM&HA will officially launch the above book at the Portgordon Gala which is to be held at Portgordon Harbour.

The book has been written by Association chairman Stanley Bruce, and is the 3^rd volume in the ‘Along the Coast’ series, Cullen to Pennan (1^st Edition 2007), and Pennan to St. Fergus (2009) are volumes 1 and 2 respectively.

The book follows a detailed route along the coast, capturing all the interesting places important to the heritage of the area that visitors would normally pass-by without realising they existed.  The books both include over 100 photographs and should make it easy for visitors to have a great day out.

Volume 1 Cullen to Pennan has been sold out for some time now, and will also be officially launched as a 2^nd Edition at Portgordon Gala.  It has been reduced in size from A4 to A5 to be the same as the other volumes re-formatted and re-written.  It now includes more information, and photographs, and included better directions for visitors to follow.

Both books give a detailed route and show visitors items and places

A 4^th volume heading south from St. Fergus is being discussed for next year.

We are confident that this book will be popular with locals, visitors, and families out-with the village with family links.

NEW BOOK - WHITEHILLS THROUGH THE YEARS

An Illustrated History including Boyndie, Boyne, and Ladysbridge.

On Saturday 17th July 2010 the BM&HA officially launch the above book at the Whitehills Gala, at the Playing Field, Blackpots.

The book has been written by Association chairman Stanley Bruce, and is the 3rd volume in the ‘Through the Years’ series, Macduff (2008) and Fraserburgh (June 2010) are volumes 1 and 2 respectively.

In 2009 when the idea of a Whitehills book was first discussed it was anticipated that a book of around 56-60 pages would have been sufficient, however the book grew and grew, and had to be limited to 88 pages, 50% bigger than anticipated and 12 pages bigger than the Macduff book.

We are confident that this book will be popular with locals, visitors, and families out-with the village with family links.

We would like to thank, Whitehills and District Council for supporting the first print financially via the Windfarm Community Fund and for supplying us several old photographs.  Isobel Watt, Whitehills for several old photographs, vital information, and for reading over our draft.  Andrew Bruce, Banff (Stanley’s son) for hep taking photographs, and George Lovie, Whitehills for a wonderful photograph of Whitehills fishermen at the ‘Auld Boat’.

 The Association have gathered information for more volumes of this series.  Including Banff, Portsoy, and Gardenstown, and we hope to publish these sometime in the future.

Group focuses on fishing heritage

Banff and Broch-registered boats star in postcards

By John Thomson
Published: 10/04/2010

FISHING boats from two north-east communities are the focus of a heritage group’s latest project.
A series of postcards on Banff and Fraserburgh-registered boats has been produced by the Banffshire Maritime and Heritage Association.

Eight vessels from each port make up what group chairman Stan Bruce hopes will be a collectable batch.
He said: “They are all present-day boats and were photographed over the last couple of years.
“The idea was to make them collectable and hopefully make some money for the association.”
The colour photographs were taken by Mr Bruce, of Seafield Street, Banff, and his 17-year-old son Andrew.
Some of the postcards show boats tied up in port. Others capture them at sea.
The association has printed 800 postcards and they will be available at retail outlets at Banff and Fraserburgh for about 30p each.

Outlets interested in stocking the postcards can contact Mr Bruce on 07770 780232.

Two years ago, the association produced a similar postcard collection showing scenes along the Banffshire coast.