Buckie set for a right royal knees up!
LOCAL communities are gearing up to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla.
The finishing touches are being put to a whole weekend of festivities, getting under way on Saturday, May 6 and running through to the Monday across Buckie and the surrounding area.
In Buckie, the Fishermen's Hall is set to host not one but two events.
On Saturday, the clock will be turned back at the Blast from the Past event from 2pm to 4pm then again from 6pm to 8pm.
A memorabilia exhibition will run alongside a wartime food experience and a sing-a-long to some timeless classics. Entry is £2 (£1 for veterans) at the door.
On Monday – a change from the originally advertised day of Sunday – the scene is set for a good old knees-up at the hall in the shape of an indoor street party from 2pm to 4.30pm. All are welcome, with entry costing £2.
The proceeds from these events will be donated to Clan Moray and the Oaks palliative care unit in Elgin.
More information on these events can be obtained by emailing squires0691@outlook.com or hallcoordinator@fishermenshall.co.uk
Details are also available on the Fishermen's Hall Facebook page
Sunday will see a drive down memory lane in the shape of Rotary Club of Buckie's Coronation Vintage Vehicle Run. The event starts at 9.30pm at Cunningholes Industrial Estate with entry costing £10, where there will also be stalls and entertainment on hand.
The run sets off at 10.30am and is due to arrive back in Cluny Square at 3.30pm. The planned itinerary is: Deskford (arrive - 10.50am/leave - 11.05am); Fordyce (11.25am/11.40am); Portsoy (12 noon/1pm); Sandend (1.20pm/1.35pm); Lintmill (1.48pm/1.53pm); Cullen (2pm/2.15pm); Portknockie (2.25pm/2.35pm); Findochty (2.45pm/2.55pm); Portessie (3.05pm/3.15pm).
Proceeds for the run will go to MS Society Scotland and MND Scotland.
For more information phone either Dave on 07840 115287 or Robert on 07900 605455.
There will be plenty going on in Fochabers over the course of the Sunday and Monday.
The Village Association is celebrating the coronation by shining the spotlight on volunteering, thinking of others and supporting fellow community members through acts of kindness.
With this in mind, the group will be hosting a Recycled Summer event on Sunday from 1pm to 4pm and again on Monday between 10am and 1pm at the Public Institute. This event will mirror a similar one held in December.
The two sessions will follow a pop up shop style event featuring good quality, pre-loved items which people are invited to come along and help themselves to. In addition there will also be a coronation-themed stall for children and refreshments will be served.
More information on this event, including drop-off times for donations of goods, is available on the Fochabers Village Association Facebook page nearer the time.
On the Sunday Bellie and Speymouth Church will be holding Messy Church Coronation Special on from 4pm-6pm.
At the time of writing plans to hold a community picnic on Monday, May 8 at the harbour are looking unlikely to go ahead.
Findochty will be pushing the boat out for a three-day celebrations to mark the coronation.
On Saturday, all eyes will be on the harbour green from 12 noon to 4pm where there will be a whole host of activities for all the family. There will be a cake decorating competition – entries to be in by 2pm with judging at 3pm – while at 2.30pm there will be a parade of youngsters all sporting hand-decorated crowns.
Also featuring during the afternoon will be inflatables, tea and cakes, rowing taster sessions with Findochty Water Sports Club, games, children's arts and crafts and entertainment and music in the Admiral's.
The following day the focus moves to the town hall for the Findochty Big Lunch from 12 noon to 2.30pm. Grab a free afternoon tea box, while they last.
The festivities come to a close on Monday at the village bowling club's open day where there will be taster sessions, kids' competitions and teas and cakes. At the time of writing there were no confirmed timings for this event.
Visit the Findochty Community Council Facebook page for updates.
There is a right royal knees up on the cards at Portknockie when the Big Lunch gets under way. Boosted by a grant of £2900 from the National Lottery to Portknockie Community Council to help fund the event, the party gets started at 12 noon with food and drink aplenty, along with live music from local music group The Cool Jam Cats, a chocolate tombola, face painting, exotic animals, bouncy castles, a fancy dress parade with prizes and a bottle stall among the many attractions.
The event is scheduled to run until around 4pm.
The same afternoon in Cullen the spotlight will be on the Hall Church when a coronation tea and quiz, including entertainment from The Singing Bobby, will be held from 2pm. Admission is by ticket only, which can be bought for £6 from church elders, the local mini-mart or by phoning Rachael Shearer on (01542) 840525.
