A new book on the history of Newmachar, written by the Aberdeen University historian, Professor Roy Bridges, will be officially launched at a ceremony today (Tuesday, February 19) by Professor C Duncan Rice, Principal of the University of Aberdeen.
The new book, People and Places in Newmachar: Past and Present, is written by Roy Bridges and presents for the first time a published written history of the Aberdeenshire village and parish. It is based on testimonies, recollections, documents and photographs provided by the people of Newmachar today as well as evidence left by their forbears in previous centuries.
Principal Rice will officially launch the book at a ceremony tonight at 6.00pm at Newmachar Village Hall.
The Community Council originally conceived the project as a small pamphlet to be delivered to every home in Newmachar. A Heritage Lottery Fund grant met a large part of the production costs of what became in practice a 240-page book. It was made possible by the contributions of the local people and a number of former residents including some living as far away as Canada and New Zealand.
Professor Bridges said: “This will be an evening to celebrate and to thank the people who have directly assisted in one way or another in the book’s production by providing oral testimonies, written pieces or photographs. The Community Council and I are also very grateful to the people who took on the considerable task of delivering a copy of the book to every house in the parish.”
Speaking about the book, Principal Rice said: “It is in every sense a book that has been produced by the community and is a wonderful work of community history in its own right.”
Principal Rice is very pleased to be officially launching the book for a number of reasons: “In one sense I am here to represent the University because of the extensive use Roy made of the Aberdeen University Special Collections, but also because of the fascination I have as a historian in the whole concept of the book.”
Members of the Community Council, Mrs Nora Radcliffe, the MSP and Dr Martin Ford, Councillor for Newmachar and Fintray, will also be attending the launch this evening.
Further information:
Principal Rice will launch the book People and places in Newmachar: Past and Present with Professor Roy Bridges at Newmachar Village Hall this evening . (Tuesday, February 19) at 6.00pm. The Chairman of the Community Council, Mr Robert Loughridge, will preside.
Interviews with Professor Bridges can be arranged at any time during this morning or afternoon (February 19) or members of the media are invited to come along to Newmachar Village Hall tonight. Please contact:
Angela Begg, Public Relations Office, University of Aberdeen, telephone: (01224) 272960; mobile: 07773 358962; or email: a.begg@abdn.ac.uk
Issued by Public Relations Office, External Relations, University of Aberdeen, King's College, Aberdeen. Tel: 01224 272014 Fax: 01224 272086.
University Press Office on telephone +44 (0)1224-272960 or email a.begg@abdn.ac.uk.