The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
North-east loses culture and heritage champion
The north-east has lost one of the most ardent supporters of its culture and heritage with the death of Cecilia Penny, who was better known by the affectionate name of “Bunty”.
Born in 1932 and bought up on the family farm at Newmachar, she was educated at Ellon Academy and Aberdeen University from where she graduated with an MA in 1953.
A year at teacher training college was followed by a short spell of teaching at Tillydrone, until the wanderlust took her off to Montreal for a teaching post in the Canadian city.
During her seven years in various Canadian schools, the Scot met former Aberdeen University colleague, Bruce Penny; romance blossomed and they journeyed to the Granite City, where they were married in King’s College Chapel.
Later, their permanent return to Scotland saw the family set up home in Fife, as the prelude to the birth of their only son, Alan. Mrs Penny subsequently continued her teaching career with playgroup and nursery schools and further diplomas in teaching children with learning difficulties followed.
A return to Aberdeenshire ensued, where her husband took over the local shop in the village of Hatton and that saw Mrs Penny involved in setting up the first schemes for teaching children with learning difficulties in the Ellon area.
With the opening of a special school in Fraserburgh, she joined a group of other dedicated teachers dealing with children who had behavioural or emotional problems, a task she lovingly carried out for 16 years until her retirement.
Following the disposal of the shop in Hatton, the family retired to Stuartfield in Buchan where she was now able to devote her whole time to her great passion, the history and culture of her beloved north east.
Her interests led her to being actively involved with many local organisations, including Buchan Heritage Society where she was a regular “storyteller”, Buchan Field Club, Ythan Speakers’ Club, Buchan Writers Group, Buchan Tourism Group, Epilepsy Support, BBridge and Buchan Countryside Group.
She was particularly interested in supporting the use of the Doric dialect and was a long time trustee of the Charles Murray Memorial Fund, giving many talks to local organisations on the life and work of Murray, her favourite poet.
The instigation of the Book of Deer Project saw her take a major role in promoting the book and its historical significance, while organising and giving talks, seminars, visits and lectures on its history and importance.
She was a dedicated member of Deer Parish Church where she could be seen seated in the choir even on the Sunday before her death on January 20.
The major achievement of her retirement was the collecting of information, writing, editing and publishing her magnum opus, Stuartfield, Our Place, a definitive story of her adopted Crichie and its people.
Her passing is a great loss to the many organisations she supported and encouraged, because her enthusiasm for the local culture and dialect was unsurpassed.