Rock-solid friendship paved way for quarry dream

HUGH BLACK and Sandy Whyte had known each other since they were lads.

Whenever they got the chance, the teenagers, like many others in Aberdeen, would hang out at the disused local quarry, having a joke and a laugh.

But the pair grew up, got jobs and settled down.

Sandy became a respected voice in the oil industry and Hugh, left, became a managing director in the world of construction.

The pair hadn’t given their beloved Rubislaw Quarry – Europe’s biggest man-made hole – much thought until 2010 when it came on the market.

It was the first time in 150 years it had come up for sale.

More than 10 million tons of granite had come out of the 466ft-deep water-filled space, dormant since quarrying had ceased in 1969.

No surprise then that the quarry attracted bids from around the world.

But the local lads prevailed, paying £50,000 for the privilege.

The pair hadn’t seen it before buying it, so there was a sense of excitement as they retraced their childhood steps, cutting their way through the undergrowth.

Forty years had passed since they had played there as youngsters and they had forgotten how stunning the unobstructed views were.

They were dumbstruck as they found themselves standing at a fantastic vantage point.

The pair had initially just wanted to own the quarry for what it is and bought a boat to enjoy it.

But pretty soon they were hatching plans to turn the historic but hidden Aberdeen gem into a lasting legacy.

Sadly, in July 2015, just as they were close to landing planning permission for the project, Sandy lost his battle against cancer, leaving Hugh to carry on without him.

And Sandy’s old pal has not let him down.

The permission was secured in December that year and now Hugh is on the verge of building a £6 million granite heritage centre and observation platform at the quarry in honour of his late friend.

He hopes Aberdeen City Council will find the funds to help support the plan.

And if it doesn’t? Hugh will pursue other avenues – like crowd-funding.

Money may be currently lacking, but the determination to succeed is not. It’s there in Black and Whyte.