DORIC COLUMN ROBBIE SHEPHERD

I come not to be served But to serve. KING CHARLES III ON HIS CORONATION

Long Live the King!

Noo at the stue his sattl’t an the horse manure scrapit aff the cobble steens aroon the streets o Westminster, it’s time tae reflec’ an winner fit lies aheid for oor newly croon’t king efter at maist inspirin wikkeyn on TV showin the loyalty o millions, nae jist at hame bit fae aa aroon the warl. Nae only at bit it wis the time tae show aff the gurr, an dedication o oor armed forces, the discipline an pride ere for aa tae see.

Losh, bit the loyal loon his been a lang time wytin in the wings – I widna share’s life for aa the gowd an siller a-gyaun – bit, wi ma ain life span haein bridg’t nae less gin fower monarchs, Charles 111, Edward VIII abdicatin fin I wis bit aicht month aal an George VI prais’t for’s darin darg durin the blitz o’ WW2, bit naethin can haud a cannle tae the seventy eer reign o Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. Fit an act tae folla bit, bidin atween Don an Dee an witnessin’ his freenly menner throwe the likes o the Heilan Games circuit, I hae seen eneuch tae appreciate the man an’s aims. Ye only need think on’s Prince’s Trust an aa the gweed at’s been daein ere.

The role o the monarchy is still sairly nott the day in risin abeen the shenanigans o ilka day politics tho I unnerstan’ an appreciate the conter views, specially on the nam’t hingers-on within the Royals gettin a seat at the table. Here tee at the coronation we hae seen aa different faiths comin thegidder in a mission o guidwill anent the waesome wars caas’t bi religion.

Meevin on, efter aa the pomp, pageantry an carefree pairties an picnics scatter’t far an wide, I turn noo tae a lanmark jewel o wir ain neuk o the warl, Bennachie croon’t bi the Mither Tap, as we congratulate the Baillies o Bennachie on their Fiftieth Anniversary an makkin bold steps an a fresh approach wi protection plans keepin tee in es eco-freenly times. Bennachie in the wirds o Charles Murray,

The Vale o Alford! Bennachie! Yon is the Howe, an this the Hill!

Openin up the annual review ma een dachl’t at a photie o the sterling foursome at set the ba rollin in 1953 – the first Guardian o Bennachie, Sir Maitland Mackie an the three successive senior baillies, Dr Danny Gordon, James MacKay an Algy Watson. At in itsel’ hid me fest trackin doon the hill o sic happy memories.

Like mony ither tourist spots, the wild open spaces took a haimmerin fae Storm Arwen bit weel deen tae the reform’t committee led bi Trustee Chair, Peter Stock in gettin aathing snod again an they bid ye welcome tae an open event neist Setterday in Inverurie Toon Hall tae tell ye mair an recruit new members an volunteers.

Tae feenish it’s aboot time I gaed back tae the wird for the wikkeyn sent in fae Alastair Hendry o Mosstodloch an it kinda fits in wi the wird ‘stue’ I ees’t at the verra start o the column.

The wird is ‘flichters’. Fit maks ye o that an I maun say it wis a new een tae me.

See ye neist wikkeyn.