News
Peter has played a pivotal role in preserving and sharing the heritage of Cromar, particularly through his annual production of Echoes of Cromar’s Past and his history walks and talks. This year, he also contributed to an ancestry project at Tarland School.
A long-time supporter of Cromar’s Future Group, Peter has been a passionate advocate for teaching science to children. For several years, he attended Science Fairs across Scotland, showcasing the circuit kits he invented. Peter generously donated his remaining kits and components to The Future and schools across Deeside and Donside, He also trained a number of volunteers to continue the children’s learning.
As former Chair of the Tarland Development Group, Peter was instrumental in launching many early projects that continue to benefit the community, such as the walking routes. He remains deeply involved in community activities, most recently, the Community Apple Pressing
Peter is pictured with his wife Marjory and Lindsay Stewart who painted the Award.
Executive Summary of the results of Questionnaire October 2025
Thank you to everyone who participated in our recent survey
Membership & Attendance
• Many respondents are members and often or sometimes attend Winter Talks.
• A portion are non-members who attend occasionally.
When people can attend
• Evenings and weekdays most popular.
• Some interest in weekends and afternoon sessions.
Key barriers to attendance:
o Dark/night driving, especially from Aberdeen
o Travel distance
o Weather and winter conditions
o Topic-specific interest — attend only when subjects appeal
o Disability / access needs
o Being away at university — prefer online
Pricing
• The £5 entry fee is widely viewed as fair.
Event Format Preferences
• Strong interest in live events, but many also like online/Zoom options for accessibility
History Interests
Most popular themes:
• Local historical events and families
• Social & cultural history
• Archaeology, agriculture, architecture
Most common time periods:
o Medieval
o 17th–20th century
o Some interest in prehistory (Stone, Bronze, Iron Age)
Preferred Ways to Learn
Top choices:
• Talks
• Guided walks
• Publications
(Also workshops and digital content noted by several)
Importance of Interaction
• Asking questions rated as very important by many
• Networking valued by some, but not all (mixed responses)
Programme & Resource Priorities When ranking CHG activities:
• Publications and digital archive frequently ranked highly
• Winter talks and summer excursions are valued.
• Website and local networking projects ranked lower overall.
Satisfaction
• Group is rated very highly, often 8–10 out of 10
• Feedback includes strong praise for organisation and value of talks.
Volunteering
• Some respondents offered to help or provide ad-hoc support, but most are unable due to:
o Other commitments
o Living far away
Key Takeaways
Strong support and high satisfaction
Winter talks are well-liked; subject choice matters
Digital archive and publications important
Accessibility matters — distance, night driving & weather
Mix of live + online options helpful
Local history focus is central to interest
Other
The Committee will follow up with one potential volunteer to see how we can attract younger
members.
The CHG will continue with the current business model of charging £5 door fees and encourage
donations where appropriate.
The Committee want to share their appreciation for the support of the Marr Area Partnership for
running the survey and collating the results.