Fraserburgh's Heritage was celebrated on Saturday with a series of events which included the unveiling of a new statue and memorial garden dedicated to Thomas Blake Glover and the first drawing of water from the Temperance Fountain.

The events began at the revamped Faithlie Centre at Saltoun Square in the town where an exhibition of before and after images shows the work which has been undertaken to enhance properties in the town centre, which have lead to the regeneration becoming an inaugural winner at the RTPI Scottish Planning awards.

Stories of the town's past were brought to life by storytellers at several locations, including the Centre, the Temperance Fountain and the Glover memorial garden.

Aberdeenshire Provost Judy Whyte was the first to draw water from the reinstated Temperance Fountain on Broad Street, with free water bottles handed out to crowds to mark the occasion.

Shortly after attention turned to Commerce Street and the site which marks the birthplace of Thomas Blake Glover.

The Glover Birthplace – the site of the house where Thomas Blake Glover was born in 1838 at 15 Commerce Street was officially opened by Maxine Mennie who cut the ribbon and she then joined Councillor Doreen Mair to unveil the new statue of Glover as a young boy which depicts him playing with a toy ship.

The Mennie family owns the land where the house once stood before being destroyed by a bomb in World War II and they have invested heavily in the project to make the garden a landmark in the north-east.

Thomas Blake Glover is credited with being a founding father of the industrial age in Japan, including playing a role in the beginnings of the Mitsubishi.

Visitors were regaled with tales from ‘Glovers’ mother’ who told the story of Thomas and the Fraserburgh of the time.

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Commenting councillor Mair said: "Thomas Blake Glover grew up on the house at this site and would eventually leave and go to Japan to form the shipping company that would become Mitsubishi.

"During his time there he lived in Nagasaki and this garden here reflects the one he created in Japan, with the pine tree being a central focus.

"The once derelict site has been tranformed into an oasis where people can come and reflect.

"The sculpture depicts Glover as a small boy when he lived in this area.

"Special mention goes to site owner Michael Mennie for his contributions to the project."

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