Columns and Opinions

Last week we heard the sad news of the passing of Jackie Stewart BEM, former HM Prison Officer and stalwart of the Peterhead Prison Museum since it opened in 2016. 

Like many readers, I was disappointed to learn of Virgin Money’s plans to close their Turriff branch in November.

That customers first heard this news on social media before being contacted by the bank is nothing short of a disgrace.

Since my last column, I’ve had the pleasure of attending local agricultural shows in New Deer and Turriff

These shows are always a highlight of the agricultural and rural social calendar and all my life I have been a regular attendee to Turriff Show in particular.

I was disappointed to learn of Virgin Money’s plans to close their Turriff branch in November.

That customers first heard this news on social media before being contacted by the bank is nothing short of a disgrace.

The recent rainy weather may have put a dampener on some plans over the past couple of weeks, but the reprieve from water scarcity across Scotland will come as a relief for many. 

July sees a flurry of activity across Banff and Buchan, starting with the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival in Portsoy, then, in a couple of weeks, we will have the New Deer show, and Turriff Show, which is Scotland’s biggest 2-day agricultural show, will round off the month. 

What a fantastic spell of weather we have had across Banff and Buchan these last couple ofweeks.

I joined many others in welcoming the summer weather, though I fell into an old mistake of forgetting to apply sun screen!

A spell of good weather was particularly welcome during the recent parliamentary recess, as I took the opportunity to visit local businesses and communities.

I also join constituents in welcoming the long-awaited reduction in the energy price cap which kicks in in July. 

May is my favourite month of the year – when the weather starts to get a bit warmer and everything starts looking a lot greener.

This will be welcome to everyone after a long, cold and wet winter. 

It was great to see so many people turn out for the Turriff Mayday celebrations last week, despite the rain.