Celebration of Aberlour champion Hugh Fraser for 30-year contribution
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A SPEYSIDE man has been celebrated for his extraordinary commitment to improving village life over three decades.
Aberlour Community Association (ACA) held a presentation last week to show their respect and appreciation for dedicated office bearer Hugh Fraser, who stepped down in March this year after first joining in 1989.
The former bank manager served as ACA treasurer for many years before taking on the chairmanship – but his community involvement has reached far wider, helping the local hospital, Highland Games and the whisky festival to name just a handful of his other contributions.
New chairman Dr Bill Malcolm, and vice-chair Pamela Winchester marked Mr Fraser's service at his home within Aberlour's sheltered housing complex in Conval Court on Friday, September 11, handing over an engraved crystal whisky decanter and glasses, together with a fine Aberlour whisky.
Dr Malcolm said Mr Fraser was "an impossible act to follow".
Mr Fraser, a former manager for the Bank of Scotland, was born and brought up in Speyside. He spent his professional life in Speyside and elsewhere in Moray, with stints in Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
Besides his ACA efforts, the community champion acted as treasurer of Aberlour Strathspey Highland Games for 25 years and treasurer of Aberlour Senior Citizens Association for 26 years.
He is secretary/treasurer of the Alice Littler Memorial Trust, a position he has held since 1992 and is treasurer of Speyside Area Forum.
The inaugural chairman, and thereafter secretary, of the League of Friends of the Fleming Hospital, Mr Fraser also acted as Speyside co-ordinator for the Moray Scanner Appeal, from 1994, raising £57,000.
He was a founder member of the Money for Moray Participatory Budgeting Group, and served as president of Stathspey Farmers Club at Grantown Show in 1978.
After serving as an ambassador for the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival in 2016, Mr Fraser was presented with a lifetime award in 2018.
Mr Fraser's business acumen helped Aberlour secure an agreement with Moray Council to take over the running of the Fleming Hall. He also processed a business plan in 2014 leading to securing ownership of the Old Station Building from the council under a Community Asset Transfer. And he managed improvements in excess of £120,000 and £25,000 invested respectively in the hall and the Old Station Building.
Mr Fraser himself believes his finest hour to be co-ordinating the commemorations to celebrate Aberlour’s bicentenary in 2012. This was crowned with a visit by the Duke of Rothesay.
Dr Malcolm said: "What Hugh Fraser has done for the community of Aberlour in a host of different guises is phenomenal, and he’s an impossible act to follow as chair of ACA.
"Hugh is one of the old school of local stalwarts who assume that their sense of belonging to a particular community involves active commitment to the innumerable causes that feed into its conservation and development for the greater benefit of the local folk.
"He thoroughly deserves now to take a well-earned rest and enjoy sampling some fine drams of special Speyside malt whisky."
Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire Andrew Simpson said Mr Fraser had worked tirelessly for his community. In a letter to Mr Fraser, Mr Simpson said: "For over 30 years you have been a stalwart of the Aberlour community.
"Your contributions to Aberlour and the surrounding area have made an immeasurable impact to enrich the lives both of local residents and visitors. Your leadership, practical actions and support for others have made a difference and are greatly valued.
"There are so many examples of what has been achieved from your initiatives – ranging from keeping alive local heritage, such as by overseeing the return of the McCorquodale stone, to promoting local businesses by ensuring that Aberlour has an important role in the Spirit of Speyside Festival."
He added: "By providing leadership, you are also a wonderful servant of the area."
