Echoes 31  2025

We will miss them  –  Tributes to Rob Blackhall, Ken Cooper, Alistair Urquhart and Simon Welfare

Disturbing the Past  –  Tony Comerford reflects on his discoveries while renovating local buildings

Tomnaverie, Hillhead and other RSCs. –  Lindsay Mair seeks to explain why our Neolithic ancestors built recumbent stone circles in the NE

The Ladder Road –  We are guided through the history of a once important route into Tarland by Jim Forbes

Old Kinord –  Irvine Ross has been seeking out the story behind the decline of this nearby rural community

Tomnaverie Stone Circle Revisited –  New evidence presented by Douglas Ledingham indicates an error in its reconstruction in 2000

Janet’s story –  Mary McCombie passed on this sad tale as told to a visitor to Maggie Anderson’s museum at Culsh

The Muggarthaugh Omnibus –  Yes – you read correctly! Charlie Niven tells the story behind an early local coach service

The Ringin’ Stane, Glengairn –  One example from Douglas Ledingham’s amazing collection of 3D images of ancient monuments

Derelict Cottage for Sale – Part Two –  Anke Addy concludes the story of how she created a comfortable home from a rundown cottage

The Mosstown of Blelack –  Rob Everett shares more evocative memories of his many visits to his grandparent’s farm

The William Fletcher Prize –  Ron Fletcher’s recently donated annual school prize commemorates his Cromar ancestors

Sir Alexander Ogston’s Survey of Tomnaverie –  Adam Welfare has studied Ogston’s original plan and affirms the high standard of his field work

Resurrection Days in NE Scotland –   Paddy Heron has been seeking out examples of local efforts to thwart the ‘body snatching’ trade

 Burnt Mounds in and Around Cromar –  More examples of Lindsay Mair’s success in seeking out overlooked local archaeological sites

  The Hills that Define the Howe of Cromar –  David Currie takes us on a guided tour around the hills that encircle the Howe

Morven Lodge –  Peter Craig explores the story behind this vanished lodge and its owner, Alexander Keiller

From Sheena Blackhall –  A selection from the many poems and other interesting items shared by Sheena during 2025

Tarland School Song – by James Forbes