Send your memories to us (with photos if possible) and we'll include them here !
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Send your memories and photos to us, to put on here for all to enjoy ! |
Memories from Thomas Buchanan - Silversmith in Craft Village
"What was and what happened to Santa Claus Land?"
Baxter Family Winter Olympic Celebrations Aviemore 1998 & 2002
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Hi there. I worked At the Coylumbridge Hotel in the 1980's. Coming from London I found the place magical and have many happy memories of the place. I remember the Freedom Inn, Strathspey and Badenoch hotels and had no idea the place had changed so much? Where does the time go? I met some luvly people from all around the world and luvly local people. Helen Lowe Hi
Linda Kuhl Hello
I learned to ice skate there, and loved the scenery and town very much. Hi Julie and David, I read your fond memories of Aviemore with a personal interest as I lived and worked in the Badenoch Hotel during March-May of 1975. Together with 3 friends I left Hobart in Tasmania at the start of 1975, travelling ship-jet to London and train to Inverness then on to Aviemore. We felt quite at home with the cold and snow, just like “Tassie” we thought! The trains were great and on arrival the people friendly and helpful and it was suggested we enquire for work at the resort which we did. To our surprise there was a staff shortage and the assistant manager, a Mr Tough, was very pleased to offer kitchen jobs to us all with accommodation and all meals with 15 pounds in our pay packet each week, marvellous! So we helped feed 170 guests each meal time with the best food available in Scotland. My job was vegetable preparation, washing up all the many giant size pots and pans, kitchen cleaning, and food storage. I worked with an old gentleman called Val, I think he was Polish and a concentration camp survivor, we both spent many happy times together sampling the left over pots of tripe and onions, haggis and neeps, scampi and others, while the head chef was issuing commands to the cooks who were in a frenzy of food preparation. Val loved his food, probably making up for the times in the past when he had none. Outside would be bitterly cold with snow piling up against the service doors while we were indoors being warmed by the massive stoves. I also spent a lot of time on the ice! which was I believe the largest rink in Britain at that time. When they had the curling competitions I always admired the skill of the “sweepers” as I called them, to be able to speed up or slow the stone so it stopped where it should. My skating career ended abruptly after I over confidently powered out of the sweeping bend at breakneck speed down the straight where I was catapulted forward when the serrated tip on the skate dug into the ice. In agony I crawled to the rail and dragged my aching body with 2 broken ribs off the ice to the village doctor. So now even after 37 years I only come in contact with ice when filling the 'Eski' to cool the refreshments ha ha ha. Snow skiing on the Cairngorms was less drama filled and o boy what a view, magnificent! Every night at the resort when not working we would all wander over to the other hotels to have fun and dance the night away, then at home time would wend our way back along the snow lined pathways in the glorious fresh air. 15 pounds wages even those days wouldn’t cover expenses for the amount of fun we were having. The lads and I bought an old green Consul (Cortina) for £90, as transport for an adventure tour of the rest of Britain which we did and loved every minute of it. Hotel manager Tough was nearly in tears when we decided it was time make tracks. He gave us all glowing references upon departure and said he would re employ us if ever we should return.
Well Julie and David that’s my Tasmania to Aviemore adventure story 37 years ago when I was just 20 years old. I returned safely home nearly 2 years later after many more adventures including backpacking through darkest (as well as some of the lighter bits) Africa and wonderful India.
All the very best to you both and keep on having adventures.
Kind regards, Charles Pecats
Hi David & Julie
Excellent photo album.. Load's of memories for me from the early 1970's staying almost every summer holiday at the chalets. Breakfast at the pinewood and supper at the Das Stubel. I remember the Rover tickets that got us in everywhere. As I got older,Cythia's Disco.. the bars.. Nice to see the Winking owl is still there. Pity about Santa Claus land. (I sent you photos of that about 3yrs ago) keep up the good work,
Bob Brown
Formerly of Peterhead, now Nova Scotia Canada.
Hi Hi We were in Aviemore earlier this week and a young lady in the Coffee Pot opposite The Winking Owl told us about your site Still to look closely but …………….. I laboured on the site of the centre for 15 months before it opened, having left Edinburgh University after one year. Being raised in Boat of Garten, it seemed a good idea! Otto Panciroli , manager Badenoch Hotel, offered me a job as night porter in the hotel when it opened and I worked as such until I left to resit exams after 6 months. I rejoined the hotel after a break of 6 weeks, to find Lachie was now night porter but I was employed as assistant wine waiter working for Bruno Lucchesi (Head Waiter, now married to Wendy who was a receptionist at the time) Bruno became assistant Manager and Benito Cardinale became Head Waiter and I moved to station waiter, wine waiter and eventually 2nd Head Waiter. This was my job when my wife of now 40 years(Maureen) came on holiday in February 1968. Later that year I went to Ross Hall, Scottish Hotel School in Glasgow and became a fully fledged hotel manager, later joining Cadbury’s in sales and working for them for 30 years before retiring in my mid 50’s and living in Kilmarnock I am still in touch with Bruno and Janet Pamment– Howden as was – by e-mail. My former room mate in the hotel, Mario Brezianini, also married a girl from the same holiday group who came up in 1968 I have a few photos which I will try to send another day Thank for the good site!! Jay Ward Julie & David Allan Morton from Kikaldy sent us a few new (1979) photos of the Centre and Santa Claus Land (FROM ARTHUR "TRAMPIE" MACLEAN) - VIDEOS NOW ON "YOUTUBE" Hi David & Julie
Here is a photo of Peter Crawford, Manager of the Strathspey Hotel 1966-77, celebrating his 90th birthday with Bobbi Jean and the Scots Boys at Cameron House Loch Lomond on 22nd January 2011.
Among the guests were Stephen Carter and Bertie Shaw, who were assistant managers to Peter during that time.
 Regards Alastair MacLean (Bobbi Jean & The Scots Boys) Dear Julie & David
How your poignant words of Aviemore affected me! I just happened, in a fit of nostalgia, to Google the names of hotels I'd stayed in as a child, and was delighted to read your reminiscences. I went to Aviemore in 1967 and 68 with my parents and my best friend Caroline. My mother always had a bad back so each trip to Scotland involved driving to Euston from Brentwood in Essex and putting the car on the overnight train. That in itself was an adventure. Caro and I were 11 in 1967 and the excitement of the sleeper was immense! We had interconnecting cabins - with a washbasin and when you pulled a little lever in the wood beneath the basin, it tipped forward and a china chamberpot pulled out! As you closed the flap back down the chamber pot would mysteriously empty on the tracks! I kid you not! In 1967! But we thought it was magic.
Most of the journey was spent jumping out of bed to peep between the blinds as the train chugged northwards. At Crewe, or possibly Carlisle (not sure which, a railway buff would know) there was lots of shunting about, door slamming and activity on the station. We had to see, but not be caught looking. Thrilling! As dawn broke, we were climbing up past Perth and the scenery in the early morning August light was stunning. I appreciated it even at such a young age. On to Kingussie, and finally we drew into Aviemore, and my father had to get the Vauxhall Victor off the train sharpish.
We stayed both years at the Badenoch Hotel. It always seemed quite posh, but my mother would have me squirming in agony when she used to collect all the floury baps at breakfast (remember them?) and stuff them into her large 1960's handbag. She never cared if any of the waiters were watching. I've paid for a breakfast, she'd say to us, and I just can't eat all of it at the moment. Nobody ever challenged her. The baps would make an appearance at lunch, together with a little box of 6 Dairylea triangles, bought from the shop... How I cringed, but how Caroline loved it! Well, it wasn't her mum!
I remember the pine-clad chalet restaurant, too. Was it self-service? It always seemed huge. The entertainment was brilliant. One year we all trooped down to see the Troggs playing in the little theatre place and another year it was Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick and Titch. See, some useless things you never forget! We weren't old enough to fancy the waiters though.
Lots of ice-skating for us, too, and rides on the little cars round the huge concrete flower containers. I do remember the tartan shop, and bought Scottish cups and saucers from possibly there too. Caro and I both learned to ice skate there, like you did. There weren't many rinks in those days, and it was only when I was older that I was allowed to go to Queens Ice Rink in Queensway, London, We even had lessons at Aviemore from a woman called Mrs Patterson, who'd been a professional Scottish skater.
My father loved fishing, so armed with the floury baps and cheese we would go to Mum's favourite spot on Loch an Eillean. Midges! God those midges! Do you remember them? We were always hoping to see an Osprey at Loch Garten, but I think what we saw were other eagles.
Caro and I would muck about on the water's edge, Mum would read and Dad would take a boat out into the loch. Incidentally, one of my most embarrassing experiences took place there! Do you remember Aero paper disposable pants? Pack of 3 from Boots? They were supposed to be a Good Idea to save on washing undies....Hideous, baggy, one size fitted all, and ridiculous on an eleven year old. Well, I slipped off a rock in the shallows of the loch and the pants disintegrated and sort of dissolved. Everyone except me naturally thought it hilarious. I don't remember Mum buying them ever again, though.
We also used to visit Tomintoul, my favourite, and Grantown on Spey, but best of almost all, was dry skiing on the slope behind the centre. Up and down, up and down, backs of hands scratched by the revolting brushes you skied on. Horrible lift to get you up to the top.
The holiday must have been really expensive, thinking about it. I have 3 kids and we never went anywhere remotely like that with them while they were growing up.
But I'm so pleased I read your story. So sad that it's all changed now. It was really a marvellous time we had there. You've really made my evening!
Hope you enjoy my story!
Best wishes
Clarissa Morgan
Hi NOW - here's a story....... 21/10/10 It lists all the acts that appeared there & showed my husband’s group in 1964. For some reason I paged onto 1965, knowing Patsy would have checked it but there this name jumped out at me, Bobbi Jean & Those Scots Boys! Then of course I checked the WWW & found your site BUT then I panicked thinking I had thrown the photo out of Bobbi Jean & couldn’t believe I had kept it for 43 years only to find a few months later someone would have wanted it!! A young “discovery” musical act of 1965 has just celebrated 40 years in showbusiness. The Bobbi Jean Trio enjoyed an anniversary night in a Kingussie hotel, with guests and goodwill messages from all over the world. We were sent these 3 photos by "KLB Hotel" - The "It's A Knockout" team, the Aviemore Ladies Ice Hockey team Thank you, whoever you are. Hi, Hey David and Julie Hello Hello
Been racking my brain and looking through your site. Things I remember. Firstly we were only there for a day trip so hope this counts! It was summer (August I think) possibly either 1978 or 1979. Myself (the blond) and my flatmate were visiting and staying with the Excise officer at Thamdu distillery (see attached). We decided to visit Aviemore for the day. It was hot I recall and the most memorable thing was "Santa" on one of those bikes chasing us around, or so it seemed, and he was dressed like Santa but with red shorts on. Well that has always stayed in my brain, Santa in shorts!
Unfortunately I remember so little now. The "North Pole" was solid ice even in the hot sun, and the bikes were hard work!
I suppose it was all a bit surreal in August. Are these any good to you? They were scanned a few years ago and put on disk so the quality is not too good. They have to be in about mid to late 1970s.
Regards,
Kath Johnson
        Hi, Love your website, which I came across by accident.
My name is James Milligan and I was Manager of the " Das Stubel " restaurant.
Attached is a photograph of the opening of the A9 Motorway, which runs past Aviemre centre ,by Tony Blackburn
and the das stubel staff.
If anybody has any details about any of the staff involved , I would be most obliged.
James
 Julie & David
Thank you for this wonderful site.
I was dreaming about Santa Claus Land and thought I would "Google" it to see if could re-kindle my memories. My visits were the late 70's early 80's and it was truly magical. I can remember the smell inside Santa Claus Land "sort of burning pine smell". I loved the ghost train and the wee buggies in the centre. I was saddened when I visited it about a year ago and I couldn't place where everything had been. I think I noticed a bit of Santa's home left but I am not sure. The ground where it had been seemed a lot smaller than I remember.
I am now 37 and wish my own children could have experienced the magic that Santa Claus Land offered all those years ago..
Thanks a million
Audrey Campbell
Hi Dear Julie Hello David and Julie,
Enjoying the website and all the memories and thoughts on Aviemore. Your efforts are much appreciated!
Perhaps I could chip in with a few recollections and experiences -
I worked at The Coylumbridge Hotel for a summer season in 1984. My colleague and I stayed 13 weeks and we were working in the various bars and restaurants, and at functions too. The split shifts were a killer though - you were up early to do the breakfasts and back again for evening meals etc.... - it meant the afternoon was yours but you always had it at the back of your mind that you had to go back to work later on! However the weather that summer was great - remember walking and cycling and enjoying the lovely countryside.
My colleague and I stayed initially at a Bed and Breakfast at the top end of the town ( on the left hand side ) - can't remember the name, but it was an elderly lady who looked after us and she was super. After a few weeks though we moved down to what must have been a hotel at one time ( the Alt Na Craig?? ) nearer the centre of the town, and this was totally for the workers at Coylumbridge.
The breakfasts as said were tough going - I recall getting up at 5.30am and you had to catch the Land Rover that picked folk up at the station - many a time I would miss it ( after running like the clappers! ) and would be forced to walk ( very quickly! ) the couple of miles out to the hotel. The result was you were done in before your shift started! At other times if you missed the Land Rover for the shifts then you had the luxury of going in the town taxi - there may have been more than 1 at the time, but I remember the yellow Volvo ( that made a whistling noise! ) parked up at the station waiting for hires.
Free time consisted of going up to the centre to enjoy the Space Invaders etc.. at the Amusement Arcade, looking ( but not buying!! ) at the comics ( yes - I was still a wee lad at heart! ) and magazines in RS McColl, and John Menzies at the station. Was only ever in the cinema once with a friend - to see The Lords Of Discipline - but that was earlier in that year I believe. Can't remember the disco in the centre, but DO remember going up to the DJ and asking for Soft Cell's " Tainted Love " - only to be told that it was the next track he was playing!
Other late night entertainment consisted of the chippie near the station after a stint in Mister Sirs - this was the nightclub/ disco along from the station. I don't know why we continued to go there as it was near empty most of the time! - some folks might remember for ages it never had a window at the front - it was a large wooden glaziers board and the rumour was that the owners couldn't afford to fit a window! Surely not?!!
The Red Mac and The Winking Owl were also frequented, and during the day you got a good deal at The Skiing Do - the cafe just across the road from the Red Mac - 2 rolls and bacon with a mug of tea for just 99p! Those were the days!
As for The Coylumbridge - I can remember so many faces, but names - sadly forgotten. Big Sue from Sheffield - I remember her though - lots of other characters including the guy from New Zealand who had been working there for several years, and stayed in a chalet in the hotel grounds.
I remember leaving the town at the end of the summer on a Citylink bus to Glasgow from the station - at the time I wasn't really too bothered as I had mixed feelings about the job. Looking back now though I guess it was all part of life's experience, and although sketchy in places ( ! ) - memorable for several reasons.
I have been back to the town several times since then - mainly as a stop on the way to Inverness or further north. My stop has never included The Coylumbridge though!
Maybe in time I will remember more - somehow though after 26 years I am not so sure though!
Perhaps some readers have a better memory than me of some of the things I have described.
But Auld Aviemore - we do remember you!
Regards,
Iain Preston
Hi there, Dear David & Julie Hi
Rachel Partridge
             Hello
My
name
is
Brian
Bruce
and
I'm
dropping
you
a
line
to
request
a
DVD
of
the
finals
in
87.
I
was
actually
a
member
of
the
team...I
was
number
10
and
got
the
five
minute
penalty
for
fighting
John
Lawless
in
the
third
period.
I
haven't
been
back
to
Aviemore
since
2001
as I
have
been
living
in
Aspen,
Colorado
for
the
past
14
years.
It
would
be
great
to
get
a
copy
of
the
DVD.
It
was
a
great
season
that
year
as
we
had
a
great
bunch
of
guys
on
the
team
and
went
undefeated
in
the
League.
I
was
a
Ski
Pro
with
Cairdsports
that
season
and
all
the
Instructors
would
come
to
the
game
and
in
was
such
a
great
time.
It
was
probably
the
best
ski
season
I
ever
had....not
for
the
skiing
but
for
the
people.
I
started
playing
hockey
for
the
Blackhawks
in
1977
and
went
back
and
forward
as I
was
away
living
in
Europe.
I am
originally
from
Dundee
and
played
for
the
Rockets.
Anyway,
if
you
could
send
me a
copy
of
the
DVD
I
would
really
appreciate
it.
Brian Hi David and Julie, Whilst surfing the never ending web I came across your Auld Aviemore site,, once I started reading and looking through all the pictures, past memories of Aviemore came flooding back, I started skiing in the cairngorms midsummer back in the 60ties and was fortunate to have a uncle called `plum Worrall` he taught many people to ski as an instructor with Glenmore lodge and the YHA he was one of the pioneers who introduced skiing in the cairngorms along with Karl Fuchs and other people. In fact it was plum who opened the new funicular railway, sadly he has passed away now but it was he who opened the gateway to some incredible times at Aviemore winter and summer for me, it’s strange but you never realize how we let the good times fade from our memories then you see the old pictures you can go straight back there, hear the sounds, see the sights, and even certain smells take you back,, for me when I hear the wind whooshing through the pine trees it always takes me back to when I was fishing in Loch Morlich and the smell of the pines wafting gently through the trees, and in the morning looking up at the cairngorms and wondering how much new snow had fallen overnight and rushing to get up the mountain to be first in the untouched snow. I remember the centre also, the ice skating and all the attractions there, as a child it was wonderland, wouldn’t it be nice just to go back and relish in all the memories and take it all in again, now I have found your site my favourites have an extra addition and anytime I want to travel back in time it is just a click away great site and thank you Dave Fairhurst
Ps, I now live
in Oklahoma USA,
but my parents
who live in UK
have lots of
pictures from
times gone by
from Aviemore I
will be in
contact with
them and hope to
give some of
your 17,000
viewers a chance
to remember
times gone by.
Long live
Aviemore
Blackhawks
reunion.
Dear David and Julie:- It was fine meeting you both at Scone Palace on Tuesday and I hope that you enjoyed your visit and also the trip to Broughty Ferry. I examined your Website on auld Aviemore and what a shame that things have to change.
I was a
bobby in
Pitlochry
during
the mid
70's and
then
again
from
1995
until
2001.
During
the
winter
the A.9
would
become
blocked
with
snow
somewhere
around
Drumochter
and all
those
skiers
heading
for the
slopes
would
become
halted
at Blair
Atholl.
Usually
but not
always
the
railway
was
still
open and
you have
never
seen
railway
carriages
so full,
cars
abandoned
all over
Blair
Atholl.
We were
in
regular
contact
with the
police
at
Aviemore
during
the
winter
months.
What a
length
of time
it took
to
travel
by road
to
Aviemore
and once
you
passed
Calvine
then
that was
where
mother
nature
took
over.
It's
hard to
believe
that
there
were
still a
number
of
families,
usually
game
keepers
and
railway
workers
who
lived
out in
those
exposed
areas.
During
the
1980's I
used to
"moonlight"
for a
local
butcher
who had
the
contract
to
supply
both the
Strathspey
and the
Badenoch
hotels.
I used
to set
off
during
the
early
evening
in his
van and
it was
usually
the wee
small
hours
when I
arrived
back in
Perth.
One
night he
asked me
to drive
him up
to one
of those
hotels,
I can't
remember
which -
he had a
business
meeting
and my
job was
to drive
him
home. We
ended up
at a
disco
with the
chef and
his
wife.
The
butcher
owned a
Ranger
Rover
and it
was one
of the
first
vehicles
in the
area to
be
converted
to LPG
as an
alternative
to
petrol -
very
temperamental
in those
days. The
snag was
that
before
you
finished
your
journey
you were
supposed
to
switch
back to
petrol
otherwise
the
thing
wouldn't
start
very
easily
when you
came
back to
it. No
one told
me that
and it
was
about
3am in
the
morning
before I
managed
to get
the
vehicle
running
again.
Kind
regards
once
again
and good
luck
with
your
Website.
Willie
MacFarlane.
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Hi there
Being brought up in
the village till I
was around 10 then
returning to live a
few times, I have
some memories.
Hopefully they will
be of use.
I noticed Julie
could not remember
what was on the site
of Tesco before it
was built. Let me
remind you.
Originally, Coopers
the supermarket (Im
sure it was
something else, but
was affectionately
known as Coopers).
Then it changed to
Somerfield (yes,
Aviemore DID have a
Somerfield at one
time!!). During the
whole of this time,
there was a house
situated directly
next to the brae
(station direction).
The reason this was
knocked down is
because Tesco (being
the bullies they
are) started
throwing tantrums
and saying that they
were going to get
planning permission
to knock the house
down in order to
build on the site.
The family who lived
there (I went to
school with the son)
resisted and
resisted, but as far
as I am aware, Tesco
eventually made them
an offer they simply
couldn't refuse. Its
a shame really, as
generations grew up
in that house and
now its no longer
there.
I also remember just
up from that
(heading towards the
car park next to the
public toilets),
just down the brae
was a quite rundown
house which was at
one point lived in
by my primary 6
teacher, Miss
Kellett-Smith. (She
was Australian and
lovely). I remember
myself and 2 friends
(pupils of hers as
it happens!!)
picking raspberries
from the trees, and
Miss K-S inviting us
in and giving us
more tubs as we were
running out!!! I
remember my Nan
then, when we got
back to hers, would
make jam from the
raspberries and we
would always get to
taste it just after
it was made. The
house has since been
knocked down (around
3 years ago perhaps)
and now Spencers
funfair is located
there (at least it
was when I came home
around 3 weeks ago).
Talking about
Spencers, it was
always situated in
the big field next
to the Winking Owl
and old Chevvy's.
The land at the time
was owned by Davy
Cameron (I think). I
remember when the
post office/shop
next to it was
situated down the
stairs (where royal
mail is but along a
bit) and MacDonalds
taxis was in the
office next to royal
mail but on the side
next to the stairs.
MacDonalds taxis
then briefly located
to the centre (in
the huge car park
not far from SCL as
it happens!!)
I also remember
where the youth club
is now, was a
community hall (a
bit like the one
next to the
ambulance station)
and it was the site
of many sales and
community events.
Talking about halls,
the big hall used to
be site to brownies,
summer clubs and
nurseries amongst
other things. Bingos
were popular then
too. The Red
Mcgregor (later
siting Anglers Rest)
- i used to work
there but also the
leisure club was
well better than
Dalfaber!!
In the Centre, the
main entertainment
complex housed the
cinema, Crofters,
Osprey suite and
many more things. I
only ever went to
crofters once and
hated it!! My dad
(Brains) used to
work the doors of
crofters for years
and years. All the
kids discos were
happening in the
osprey suite, and as
for the cinema,
whoever was in
charge at the time
used to tell me and
some friends to come
up once a month and
all the films which
had now finished, we
could take the
posters off. WE HAD
LOOOOOOOOOOOADS!!
RS McColls - my Nan
used to work there.
There was like an
art gallery sort of
thing next to it. I
remember there was a
radio station or
something next to
the shop. The
swimming pool as
well. Good
times were had there
and that really WAS
the heart of the
community. To be
honest the whole
Centre was the heart
of the community.
The freezer shop run
by Mr Howe (its now
a electrical shop or
something), and
Chevvy's. Both
sadly closed down.
I also remember when
you used to be able
to walk from
Dalfaber to Coylum
down the back road
before Big Brother
was introduced. I
mean by that that
although security is
good, you always
used to be able to
do your thing and
know you were never
being watched. Now
its like any street.
To be honest,
there's still loads
more I remember, but
I think you'd be
slightly exhausted
by the end of it
all, so I will leave
it there!!
Thanks,
Beverly
** Sorry, I forgot
to include these
ones:
The Strathspey Lawn:
This was another
central part to the
community. Locals
and visitors alike
would use it, even
up to 2005,for the
likes of sledging,
galas, events. Now
sadly its been
closed off, like the
rest of the centre.
The Freedom Inn:
This was a place
where everyone went
post-teen age. There
were discos events
etc, and it was THE
place in Aviemore
where anyone
underage could
actually get away
with it!! I also
worked here in 1999
and had some good
times, apart from my
supervisor being a
bitch!!
** Sorry I just
logged onto Facebook
again so just got
the message. Am
gutted "Santa" has
sadly passed away,
but he was brilliant
in the original
Santa Claus Land. i
remember going there
with my mum and a
friend and the
grotto was our
favourite bit of the
whole venue.
He was always
friendly and made
you feel safe (if
that makes sense!!)
I was gutted when
Santa Claus Land
shut down.
When the new one
reopened it was okay
but had nothing and
i mean nothing on
the old one. even
the shops in the
square were cheap
crappy imitations.
my thoughts are with
Santa's friends and
family and everyone
lucky enough to meet
him
Hello
I've just returned
from a stay up in
Aviemore - first
time in 20 years
I stayed in the
Aviemore Inn and
whilst there could
not get my bearings
on where I was
within the "Old
Centre" - until I
looked at your
website and put the
pieces together
using old photo's
Unbelievable to
think that the new
shopping area is
built over the old
cinema building - I
had a feeling it was
Whilst "Macdonald"
are obviously trying
very hard - there is
something missing
and the vast
expanses of car
parking / wasteland
are just a plain
waste.......
In the current
climate it is likely
to stay that way for
a while too
I had a very sad
feeling when I was
there - I knew what
used to stand there
being the reason...,
that's progress I
s'pose
Just makes you
wonder - what is
being planned in the
resort next?
It's crying out for
something but my
stay was enjoyable
none the less
Best wishes to all
and keep up the good
work !!!
Best Regards
Simon Tough
Hi
Please find attached
photos of Santa
Claus Land outside
Santa's house.
(can't remember the
occasion)
Pictures of the
bikes after the pony
rides not sure who's
riding the bikes,
and a photo of me
with a shiner after
being hit with a
soft ball bat by the
headmaster of the
local primary school
(accident) My
mum worked at the
park for many years,
so many photos to
follow.
I hope you can use
the pictures. I have
many pictures to
share from all over
the Centre - staff
night's out, ice
hockey games, ice
rink , Pinewood
restaurant and
around. I have
enjoyed your website
greatly. Reading and
knowing about
Santa's death has
made me look out the
pictures because
being there as a
child, I have very
many memories of a
great place with
great staff.
For everyone to
enjoy.
Kathleen Cameron
Dear David & Julie
I thought, "never will
my tongue stick to the
North Pole" and it was
Santa that poured warm
water on my tongue to
release me without
taking the skin off.
Only one of his handy
tricks. The worst
thing was, I was 19, and
all the kids were having
a good giggle at me
saying, "Did you not
read the sign -
DO NOT TOUCH?"
In one off your photos
with Bert Mackay there
is a guy with a black
beard. I know that
guy but his name eludes
me at the moment, but
boy, do I have some
stories to tell of the
old times and of what we
got up to, except it's
not for "family
viewing." If only
we could turn the clock
back.
Regards
David Stark
48 page PDF download
(nearly 10MB !!)
Thanks to Debbie Regan
(Lots of new photos from
Debbie on "Your Photos" page
Hi there,
Just reading your website
with great interest. I was
browsing through the web as
have just read the story
about the Aviemore Highland
Resorts going into
administration.
Myself, my 2 sisters + mum &
dad visited and stayed in
Aviemore in the early 80s
one year and it was memories
that we will not forget. I
was probably about 8 at the
time. I remember very well
the Ice Rink, Go Karts,
swimming pool, some sort of
Karts that you could pedal,
Santa Clause Land etc. we
stayed at the Badenoch
hotel. I have pictures of
us at the Ice Rink & my dad
go-karting somewhere, and
will need to dig them out.
To relive my childhood
moment, I booked my
boyfriend and I into the
Coylumbridge Hilton in Feb.
Alas my childhood dreams
were shattered as we took a
walk round the resort. I
wanted to show my boyfriend
Santa Claus Land etc but it
was all gone! Instead was
this posh overrated "shop"
called Macdonald resorts.
Most disappointing.
Karen Dillon
(COMMENT: We agree so much
with you, Karen. David &
Julie)
Some new photos from a new
contributor - Isabel
McKenzie
a Post House Staff Party, Aviemore Curling Team, Aviemore FC c.1946
& a "not so old Aviemore FC"
Thanks Isabel
Another set of photos
submitted by our friend
Helen
"PostHouse staff"
and also some of Bill Paul,
Donnie Trampy, Alan Brand
and the old Ptarmigan (Sheiling)
and
the Ice Hockey team
(Thanks Helen)
Hello, my now husband
stumbled across your site
….. W O W!! We have so many
pics we could add to this
collection, just need to get
round tuit!! We are the
couple sort of centre front,
we would love to know who
owns this pic as we can
remember the day so well,
but not who took the pic. In
fact, Ronnie took a pic of
me strolling along the very
same walk in the very same
clothes so must have been
minutes apart, it was S O
HOT!! There are
so many memories,
lots of the pics we
recognise ex-staff of
Freedom Inn where I was
employed. Teresa Brown
then, along with my greatest
friend Gail Tongs, and
darling beloved long
distance lover from
Birmingham Ronnie Palmer
whom you cannot fail to i.d.
– had a thing about
Basketball then and still
has!!!
Teresa Brown
Here are some photos of
Cyril the Squirrel - sent to
us by our friend Helen
You can see a video of Cyril
appearing on "Richard &
Judy" here
Dear David & Julie
re. Mary Paterson.
I could have written exactly
the same letter about my
first visit-we must have
known each other.
My father was also a
journalist, albeit with the
Daily Express, holidaying
courtesy of the centre as
it opened on a Press week.
My little brother skated on
his double bladed skates,
with some of the rink
cordoned off for the
curlers. The dry ski slope
was too muddy to use but we
swam in the pool.
We were young, I was a young
teenager, my sister 8 and my
brother 5, but we were
perfectly
safe to run around
unattended. My parents dined
at the super sophisticated
Das Stubel while we
stayed in our new and
exciting chalet, all pine
panelling and reminiscent of
a sauna.
Sue Cameron
Here are a few photos of
ex-Freedom Inn staff, sent
in to us by Jane Cummings
Recognise yourself ????
Let us know and tell us
about your time there
Dear Julie & David
I remember all the staff at
the Post House THF. I
worked in the restaurant up
stairs later ended working
with Bert in the kitchen,
and I did work with
Nick, Later we lived Next
door to Bert Mackay in
Railway Terrace in the
village
I think it was No 2 and Bert
was No 1. The last time I
saw Bert he was
working in the
Craigendarroch in Braemar,
old Nando is still "uppad
house" at
the High Range. I remember
the fancy dress inter Hotel
football Games on the
grass behind the ice rink
and when Bert or the Kerr
Brothers (from Boat of
Garten) got the ball the
majority of the rest of us
ran away to the Illicit
Still Bar. Also there was
the CAMPARI sponsors
Scottish down hill skiing
Championships when that
ended (it was Rothmans took
it over with ski
displays in the centre)
there was CAMPARI in the
staff accommodation in
bottles coffee pots it was
every where and the bottles
of BRITVIC juices in a
bottle bin in the staff
lounge. Those were the days
that you would party all
night and work in the
morning and ski all day work
at night then dance & party.
I won the first
and second waiters race held
in Aviemore You had to run
around the centre
with a tray with a half pint
of Hinigen Beer (sponsors
staff block full of
beer this time)
and the time and how much
you had left in your glass
was the winner. I am
trying to track down the
radio Highland interview and
if I do I will send it
to you as a WAV. Your
site brought back many happy
and funny times these are
just some of my ramblings. I
am now a paraplegic and in a
wheelchair after a
accident in Skye in 2000 It
would be good to hear form
any one from the old
gang and yourselfs.
You can email me at
david.stark7@btinternet.com
David Stark
Hello David & Julie,
I came across your website
while looking through
Facebook and thought
I might send this photo. It
was taken by my father,
Freddie MacKenzie
while they were building the
Centre. There was no date on
it but we do
have some slides dated July
1965 when they were still
building the
Strathspey Hotel. This is
very shortly after opening
and the extension
was built at the same time
as the rest of the hotel.
I hope it's of interest and
I have many more of the area
dating from
the late 60's.
Rob MacKenzie.
Auckland, New Zealand.
Hello David & Julie,
Had great fun looking at
your website!
My wife Jacquie and I worked
at Aviemore Post House
during the time of GMs Brian
& Brenda Birch and later
Peter MacNamara. We worked
in the restaurant initially
(wine dispense) and remember
well the Christmas/New Year
fancy dress nights. At that
time the restaurant was
managed by Cosmo Imperiale
and Tony Warner. Rosie Rudd
later to become Rosie Warner
was in the cocktail bar.
Head Chef was Bert MacKay
and his better half Marion
worked in the restaurant
with us.
Cathy Baxter was still in
reception when I started
there. So was her sister
Marie (Genini) – her husband
Savio was chef in the
Buttery. Elaine Richards
came to work on reception
and I also did a spell on
the desk as I passed onto
in-house management
training. In the Illicit
Still were Jim Much and the
immortal Andy White. Len
succeeded David Christie in
stores, Sue Smith was in
accounts with Alan Saunders
and Maureen Hendry succeeded
Martin ? in Personnel. Later
Jacquie moved from the
restaurant to work in
Personnel with Hazel Helik
(Young). Mrs Edwards and
Gladys looked after the
staff canteen. George
Robertson the porter was
there along with Big John
and Arthur (aye, right
enough) who were in the pot
wash.
Yes, those were the days!
Slainte,
Nic Thorpe
* * * * * * * * * *
Julie wrote back to Nic, explaining that he was one of the waiters that
she met whilst on holiday,
and that we have some old
menus
- one of which has a load of staff signatures on..... they're now on the
website - see "XMAS '77 &
78" page
* * * * * * * * * *
Hi Julie & David,
Well that is just
amazing! You must have
been one of the guests
we served. Do you
remember the MacPhails
and the Laings by any
chance? They were two
regular families that
came every year, along
with the Rowntrees.
Gary MacLennan was the
junior manager then. He
came from Connon Bridge
up north and ended up
marrying one of the
accounts team. Frank
the Aussie was Frank
Biddis who worked in
wine dispense with me
for a while. I also
remember Karen Senior
and Iain MacRury. Burt
MacKay was a big chap
with a ginger beard –
I’ll check the photo.
I saw Tony and Rosie
Warner not too long ago
and we stay in touch.
They are semi-retired
now and live in Kincraig.
Cosmo and Ainnie are
also retired and still
living on Burnside. I
think Burt MacKay
followed Cosmo to
Inverness – Eden Court
Theatre – but we lost
trace of him since.
Wendy Walker who worked
with us at the Post
House married a local
lad (Elgin) and settled
in Grantown.
I’ll look out for the
menus and photos on the
website. If I can find
any old photos of that
period I’ll scan them
and send them to you.
Best regards,
Nic
Hi Julie and David - I found
your site by reading about it on
Wikipedia.
I went to the Aviemore Centre for a week back in August 1979. I was 10 at the time and I went with my Mum and Dad and younger Brother who was 5. We went to Scotland every year, as we had a holiday cottage in the Galloway area, but we would always go somewhere else for a short time in the Summer as we would typically be up there for 3 weeks for our main holiday. Our week at Aviemore probably ranks as our best break (after Portpatrick 76).
I can remember we stayed in the Aviemore Chalets Motel as it is described as being called on your site. The things I can remember most about it are the bunk beds which had 4 in a room, one for myself, my brother and my Mum and Dad and making Airfix models (which I was really into at the time) on a piece of newspaper on the floor. I think they were for sale somewhere in the centre I think there must have been a kitchen of sorts there as I don't remember having breakfast out.
I can remember the centre very well indeed and your photos brought it all flooding back. I can remember the square with the arcade which I remember playing Space Invaders, Asteroids, and a very basic driving game with white dashes resembling the roadside. I can remember a pinball machine based on the rock band 'Kiss'. There was a plastic egg laying machine outside which I could see on one of the photos (although it may not be the same one) which was malfunctioning one night and to myself and my brothers delight laid dozens and dozens of toy filled eggs (so many we had to carry them back using any means possible including my Mums umbrella!). We didn't go Ice Skating as I thought it was for girls! I can remember eating at the Pinewood restaurant and having a Hamburger, which was a bit more of a novelty in the late 70s as McDonalds didn't really exist outside London. We also ate at Das Stubel (where I sulked because I thought it too posh!) and a place in the village called Bumble's. We saw a cartoon version of the Lord of the Rings at the Cinema and I also remember a Fortune Telling Machine in the foyer (although it may have been at the Pinewood restaurant), which had a model of a head which when in operation had a face projected onto it and would finish with the words "And now I must depart". We went swimming every day at the pool as well. It must have been a pretty safe place too as my parents felt confident enough to let us kids play out round the centre on our own one night while they went to see an Opera somewhere in the centre. It may have been the night of the malfunctioning egg machine!
We also paid several visits to Santa Claus land, which was, unless you count Wicksteed Park the first theme park I ever visited. I thought it was fantastic. Looking at the old photos reminds me just how special it was. I think it would still do OK today, as there are much more mediocre 'attractions' in the UK still doing business.
Other excursions we went on
included a trip up the
chairlift, to Loch Ness, a ride
on the steam railway and a visit
to Inverness.
It is a shame to see that it
went to rack and ruin, as when
we were there it was full of
holiday makers. True the
architecture was very 1960s, but
that was the only thing wrong,
and I am sure it could have been
brought up to date with a bit of
imagination and investment. Also
regarding the lack of snow,
there is such a thing as snow
canons which are in use all over
Europe so I sure they could be
put into use in the Highlands.
A snowdome could even be built
to compensate for snowless
periods.
Although, we visited Scotland on
many subsequent occasions, we
never returned to Aviemore. My
parents sold the cottage in
Galloway in 1985 and bought a
place in France. In 1996 I took
the wife on holiday to Scotland
(She was many months pregnant
and we decided against going
abroad) staying for a few days
in a caravan in Tummell Valley
Perthshire and 2 nights in
Edinburgh. Just seeing the
white cottages with painted
black windows brought back
memories as we crossed the
border. It was her first visit
to Scotland and she was most
impressed by the scenery, but
less by the cold! We will go
back one day, perhaps next year.
Tom Pitchers
I came by this site via a rather
circuitous route which started on a
football messageboard discussion
about
skiing in Scotland. It is sad
to see places where I spent many
happy times either in decline or
gone forever.
These are some of my recollections &
memories of Aviemore and the skiing:
My first visit to the Spey Valley
area was in the summer of 1975. I
was five years old on a family
holiday.
We stayed at the Struan Hotel in
Carrbridge which was the home of the
Austrian Ski School.
The hotel was run by Karl Fuchs who
had represented his country at the
sport and had been a major
player in bringing skiing to the
Cairngorms. There was a small
artificial ski slope at the back of
the
property on which we learned the
basics, we also saw ski films at the
plush Landmark Centre across
the road and so it was decided that
we would return in winter to
experience 'proper' skiing in the
Cairngorms.
Not only did we come back in winter
for the skiing, we came back every
winter and stayed at the Struan
up until 1983. The hotel was
extremely popular and had a unique
smell which was a mixture of drying
skiwear,
pipe smoke and gluwein. The
residents bar would be packed in the
evening with drinkers exchanging
tales of their exploits on the
pistes. We occasionally stayed in a
prefab annex at the back of the
hotel which
was extremely basic and usually
freezing cold.
The skiing was not for the faint
hearted and, as with all mountains,
carried many dangers. I can recall
the
punishing walk from the skiing car
park to the queues at the chairlift
in those cumbersome ski boots
whilst trying to balance a pair of
skis on my shoulder. Sometimes we
would actually walk to the Sheiling
mid-station to avoid the queues.
There were few ski lifts in those
days and those that did exist were
contraptions that would put lives in
danger. There were the chairlifts,
open to all the elements, where
hypothermia was a real risk and
dismounting was terrifying. Then
there were the White Lady & Coire
Cas
'T' bar tows, virtually impossible
to get on and virtually guaranteed
that you would fall off at some
point.
Flying 'T' bars were a constant
menace and piles of fallen skiiers
littered the lift runs. I always
seemed
to get mismatched with my co-rider
which meant that the bar was behind
their knees and above my shoulders.
A lady at our hotel broke her leg in
a number of places after she ran
into someone who had fallen off the
White Lady tow. On another occasion
a boy on a sledge went through the
snow covering a river and despite
frantic efforts to locate him and
dig him out by many members of the
public, he was found dead.
The facilities on the mountain were
fairly rudimentary – the Sheiling
and Ptarmigan 'restaurants' were
usually packed with sweaty bodies,
discarded ski equipment and brown
slush on the floors. I understand
that skiiers are now 'mollycoddled'
and have an enclosed funicular
railway to the top of the ski runs.
The unpredictable nature of the
Scottish weather meant that if there
was no skiing then we would
visit other attractions such as the
Osprey Centre or the local trout
farm. However, a visit to the
Aviemore Centre was seen as a real
'treat'. I thought that the centre
was the bees knees.
It was clean and modern with a
variety of amenities and seemed a
world away from the lines of
terraced
houses back home in Lancashire.
I learned to skate at the ice rink
(I seem to recall that there was
another ice rink in the area –
a sort of open air venue ?), I
visited Santa Claus Land, watched
films at the cinema and I can
remember
spending hours looking at the ski
equipment in Cairdsports. One year
my parents bought me a ski suit in
the shop and I added my entire life
savings to purchase a matching pair
of ski gloves. I longed for the
day that I would be old enough to go
on the go-karts. I hoped that one
day we would be affluent enough
to actually stay at one of the
'posh' hotels in the centre but this
never came to pass.
By the early 80's The Struan Hotel
and Austrian Ski School were in
decline. Karl Fuchs had intended to
hand the business down to his son,
Peter, who was a member of the
Scottish Ski Team.
However, Peter was tragically killed
in a car accident on the A9 in
1980. The business was sold in 1983
and we never returned.
I recently came by some photographs
on the internet which show the
Struan Hotel in a boarded up
and dilapidated state and so I then
searched for images of Aviemore
Centre which brought me to this
site.
To be honest I wanted to see the
same hotels and amenities in
Aviemore Centre, modernised and
possibly expanded over the past 25
years, not closed down and
demolished. I suppose that the
advent
of cheap air travel and guaranteed
snow in the Alps & Pyrenees
contributed to ending what was an
era of boom for the Scottish ski
industry.
It may now have gone but the
memories live on.
Paul, Burnley.
Hi, I think your web is a great
idea. Here are some recent
pics of the 'hill', Loch Morlich,
and Loch-an-Eilein.
These were taken this summer
Jill Thomas
David and Julie
Visiting "City of Truro" steam
locomotive on Strathspey Railway.
This was the first locomotive to be
officially timed at 100mph.
More later, Duncan
Dear Julie & David
Some more photos... Brother and
sister win the instructors race
being presented by John
Duncanson of Grampian T.V.
presenter of North Tonight (I
shall advise the year later).
Raymond Brown known at that time
on the slopes as "BOD" hence the
day ticket for the next day was
called BOD1.
Sister is Elaine Brown now Stenz
and living in Frankfurt.
The Scottish Ski Team
Juniors in the Scottish Ski Club
Hut 1982
Waiting to get on to the "T-bar"
at the foot of the White Lady
chairlift
Regards
Hamish Brown
Hi Julie and David,
here is a pic of the Cairngorm Hotel
with the Butterfly House behind.
There is an exhibition marquee to
the right of the ice rink (green
roof). It looks like the new A9 is
still a work in progress, that
should give us a date.
and a couple of balloons over
Aviemore
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Duncan
Hi both,
A couple of pics of the "Black 5"
type loco that was the favourite
workhorse of the Strathspey Railway
for many years. The Fireweed blooms
are to be found wherever railways
went. Brought in from the
Mediterranean area on the rocks used
for ballast on the track. Also
found some pics of the various
Aviemore Balloon Festivals too, will
send when I get them organised.
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Regards
Duncan
Hi Julie and David, I came across a
pic I took in Chevvy`s Bar in it`s
heyday as the "in place".
DJ Chris ,(Barley? might be Barling)
Feel free to use it if you like.
Regards, Duncan.
Hi there
I am from Oban in Argyll and my Mum,
Dad and older Sister visited The Old
Aviemore centre many times in the
very early 80's.
They were both Art teachers in Oban
High School, and in their spare time
made all sorts of craft
brick-a-brack (they were kind of
hippies in the 60's) and every year
went to an annual craft fair in the
Ice Rink, of course they would put a
floor down and thaw the ice for the
duration of the craft Fair!
The first year ( I think was 81) we
went we borrowed a tiny caravan from
some family friends and camped at a
caravan park just outside the centre
and we all shacked up inside at
night.
This is my earliest memory of
having asthma, as we had Duck Down
duvets and it sparked off my
wheezing, it was actually a few
years after this before the doctor
diagnosed me as being an asthma
sufferer (bloody 80's) and my dad
actually took me home to Oban 4 days
into the trip it got so bad bad I
had had my first taste of Aviemore!
During the day my mum or my dad
would sport their crafts at the
craft fair trying to make some extra
dosh to top up what was a shit wage
really back then as a teacher while
one of them would entertain us.
Santaland! it seemed incredible as
an 7 year old kid, go karts but I
don't think we actually went on them
because they were so expensive!
I saw Raiders of the Lost Ark, I
vividly remember the Arcade games
...Space Invaders, Asteroids, I
remember the things like The lit up
fountains at night full of coins,
the huge osprey on the front of the
hotel that feeling of awe, like it
was really somewhere magical tucked
away some place special miles from
anywhere.
We went again a 2nd time a few years
later this time staying in a caravan
outside the village, it really was a
shed of a caravan totally run down
but we didn't care we just loved
being back!
Fast forward to me leaving Art
School in 92 and I took it upon
myself to organise a boys holiday in
Aviemore in July 92.
It was already starting to look
rundown, weeds growing through the
unique paving slabs in the old
centre forecourt, boarded up shop
units, dated signage, miserable
looking staff deserted ice rink, we
ate alone almost every night in the
ice rink cafe.
Despite that, we made the most of
it, we danced our arses of in the
Crofters Bar/disco, we went to see
Basic Instinct at the Cinema, we had
a great time but I couldn't help
thinking that it was all coming to
an end for the Aviemore centre, and
I had a sad feeling when I left at
the end of the week.
Fast forward to Last Friday Nov 28th
2008
My older Sister now lives in the
beautiful town of Nairn and I was on
my way up with my partner and baby
son to visit them and do a spot of
shopping in Inverness on Sat.
Now I have been to Inverness about a
hundred times since 92 but always
always went the Fort Augustus, Loch
Ness route but for some reason I
decided to go via Newtonmore and
Aviemore, this was something I have
always avoided......I don't know
why.
As i drove past I could see that it
had vastly changed and of course I
didn't want to stop as it was
snowing heavily and I wanted to get
to my destination sooner rather than
later so I kept going. When I
reached Nairn I asked my sister what
had happened to the old centre and
she informed me that it had been
demolished 10 years ago!
I only live 90 miles away and I had
no idea!
I am going to go back as soon as my
son is a bit older, I think it will
still mean the same to a kid, it was
because of all this that I decided
to look for old photos to show my
parents.
Golden times
All the best
Mark Gowdie
David and Julie
This is a copy from the Aviemore
Curling Club record of matches from
1967/68 to 1979/80
From Hamish R. Brown current
President/Match Secretary
OPENING BONSPIEL and the members
List of games to be played in the
season 1967/68
Club League 67/68 dates and names
The League Table for 1967/68
Club Members with no date but I
would think about the early 80's
Club
Members cont.
The Aviemore Curling Club today
has 13 playing members
and two Non Playing Honorary
Members
who are original club members
i.e. Dennis South
and Sandra South
We are also looking for new
members to join the Aviemore
Curling Club and any
person interested can contact
Hamish R. Brown on tel. 01479
810 777
Hi David & Julie
This is a great idea and a great
site I was involved with the
Aviemore Centre from about 1976
until its demise. The 70s were the
wonder years for me where everyday
was an adventure and everyone was
your friend. The Osprey room rock
nights or a quick boogie in
Cynthia’s a swim or skate in the
afternoon. And we all got paid for
it!!!! Reading this site has brought
back so many memories. Grabbing a
broom in the arcade when the boss
(my dad Bob Murray) appeared. To
chatting up girls, mostly
unsuccessfully in the ice rink. My
memory of Morris Marshall walking
into the arcade with a chocolate
wrapper that he had picked up form
the square and asking why I hadn’t
spotted it and picked it up while I
was looking after the kiddie cars
typifies his style of hands on
management and attention to detail
that made the place work.
The other important thing I remember
was that we were told that we were
entertainers and to enjoy what we
did and the customers will enjoy
themselves as well. The atmosphere
was electric and especially at the
beginning the best part was that
everyone knew everyone but not only
them but there brothers, sisters,
dads, mums, cousins and even their
pets. So you always felt included.
You would go to the cinema and Chris
or Carol would be there Alex the
boss would smile and let you in.
Steve the projectionist would be in
his box and after the film me and
Terry would clean the cinema before
the next performance race each other
from top to bottom on the backs of
the seats to make it more
interesting.
Then a trip to the rink again
meeting Kevin or Brian or Johnny
chatting to Roberta in the Curling
Club, Then off to the pool with
little Ronnie the deputy manager. Or
off to the café for a tea staff
concession of course from Mrs Clerk
or if more hungry get a tray and
grab some food from the Pinewood.
Running the gauntlet, of Chrissie
the sentinel of the cash till. And
be served by Sheena (Easton) the shy
new girl from Glasgow, fish and
chips was best. And after work a
pint in the Viking bar with Dougie
the manager. And a million other
friends that my terrible memory
fails to release names at this time.
My world mostly revolved around the
arcade with big Roy Anderson
(assistant manager) a real character
and gentle giant with his Hulk
(Honda Bike) . Alec the manager
always with a fag in his mouth. And
Graham, Peter, Gordon, Clive, Kevin,
Allison Phillipa and Benny. All
great people but also some had
secrets and problems that were
hidden even in such a close
community.
The other memories from the Badenoch
Hotel with Geoffrey the night porter
or Wally the organist Ian the
manager and the big blizzard when we
got stuck in the hotel for a
fortnight with bread being delivered
by helicopters. Happy days.
And I will always remember the
junior skating championships where
hundreds of beautiful young fit
girls in skimpy outfits descended on
the Centre for a week culminating in
a big party in the Osprey room with
drink flowing like water. Sitting at
a table with Blink, Johnny, Dom,
Kevin, Gordon, Brian listening to
Duran Duran and Human League dancing
terribly with the pretty girls. Life
doesn’t get much better for a
14/15/16/17 year old
The Centre was a right of passage in
my life and I wouldn’t trade my
experiences and memories for
anything.
I have some photos etc that I will
prepare and post soon.
If anyone remembers me from those
days please contact me
stukimurray@hotmail.com
Stuart Murray
Hi Julie & David,
Have managed to locate quite a few
photos and some of them are ones you
have requested. I thought I had a lot
more and then remembered when Mam died
poor dad thought he was throwing out
rubbish when in actual fact it was my
brothers old suitcase full to the brim
with Cinema Posters etc. A crying shame
as that was my first job in Aviemore as
a full time Cinema Person. I saw Star
wars 157 times!!! The Cash Desk, Sweetie
Shop were manned from 2.30pm until 12
midnight every day! We also sat in the
Cinema with our torch and then went
round selling ice creams at the
interval. There was a small room at the
back of the Pinewood Restaurant that
they used for ski movies and one night I
was on Duty and walked out of the small
cinema and promptly fell down a
man-hole, thank God for the ice cream
tray as it stopped me from falling to
the bottom. I was stuck there for 90
minutes! Got told off for skiving but I
did not take it too badly as I ate 2
choc ices while I was stuck. Oh the
memories are flooding back. I have
written on each photo my memory, some of
them may not interest you but I am sure
that people from far and wide will
recognise themselves from those mad,
glorious days in the best place in the
world.
Regards
Christine Treanor
A few more pictures from Suzanne Grant
.jpg)
Hi Julie,
Just found out about your site Auld
Aviemore from Dexy and Caroline and
thought I could send you some of my
memories from Aviemore. I arrived in
1978 for a Season and stayed 19 years -
some Season!! I have and always will
think of Aviemore as my home and will
someday return to live there and that is
a promise. I have some great photos
from around that time and would like to
share them on the site. I have noticed
that there is a lot of Hockey fans and
it is the only sport I loved and managed
to sit and watch.
Many thanks
Chris Treanor
Hi.
I used to work in Reception at the Post
House when Steve was manager, I married
Stan Watt who was a waiter and had two
children Angie and Andy. I am remarried
now and live near Glasgow. I have four
grandchildren and have just retired from
work. I moved from Aviemore to Glasgow
18 years ago but still visit and have
just returned from a visit there. Sadly
Tina Shields the school teacher died on
Tuesday 18th Sept and I am sure many
will remember her well. The days at the
Post House seem a lifetime away. My
daughter Angie presented a small posy to
the Queen Mum when she visited, she was
blond and wearing a green raincoat.
I worked in Reception with Lille Finlay,
Sue Smith and Cath Baxter - I am sure
you will remember them. I saw George,
the porter last weekend when I was up
but he did not see me.
Best regards
Heather Bovell (was Heather Watt)
(text edited)
Hi Julie & David
Here are those pictures I
promised you - sorry they've
been so long coming, things are
just crazy around here at the
moment. We're just off down to
Nottingham on family duties (
what joy!) and I remembered I
said I'd send these shots.
The class 44 was in 1981 when I
first visited Scotland and the
'peak' ( originally D8 'Penyghent'
) had just been withdrawn from
Toton shed near Nottingham and
had been nicked by the Scots and
brought up to Aviemore, I don't
know where it is now but it does
still exist. The picture was
taken in front of the old engine
sheds which are no longer
accessible to the public as all
operations now begin at the BR
station.
The class 47 is an operational
engine whish I happened across
just the other day whilst in
Aviemore. It was waiting to pick
up the Royal Scotsman train
which was brought up from Boat
by a preserved diesel. Given the
way the engine was facing and
the fact that the train
headboard had been put on one
end I guessed it was going out
south so I set up just out of
Aviemore at an old bridge and
waited for three quarters of an
hour. Anyway it ran round the
train and buggered off north,
thanks a lot!
Good luck with the site
Cheers
Mark Hicken
*** Julie says:- he's a famous
Scottish wildlife, landscape and
natural history photographer !
(and a train spotter)
http://www.markhickenphotography.co.uk
Julie and David,
Here is a few photos when we were young and handsome? There is a ton more buried in the house somewhere, I'll send more when I have a chance. Thank you very much for your offer of the DVD, can't wait to see it. I'm sure Roddy "the train" is in as good of shape as he was back in the day. Probably best pals with Roddy, Jimmy Gilaen, John Gair and sadly Brian Dickson. As well as our #1 fan at the time Andrew Molloy. Hello to any and all.
Cheers
Tony Correale
PS Anyone have a copy of the
televised Cardiff Matches?? ***
FOUND ! WANT A COPY ? CONTACT
DAVID AND JULIE ***
Hi there "Emma
Shipley's 5th Birthday"
Just visited my
local dentist in Glencoe where I now
live, and picked up a magazine with
your ad in it and rushed home and
looked at your web site.
My name is Vicky Shipley and I was
married to Steve Shipley (now my ex)
and he was General Manager at the
Post House for three years from
April 1984 until January 1987. We
arrived with our two young children
and lived in the house in the car
park beside the hotel called The
Moorings. In 1985 my third child was
born while living there. I remember
the District nurse well her name was
Ella or Ellen.
My eldest went to Play school in the
local village hall and started
school in 1985 and was in Mrs
Wedderburn's class. We have a copy
of the whole class from the local
paper.
The vet from Grantown, who later
became famous as a telly vet held
surgery in the village hall every
Friday afternoon.
The biggest food shops were the
Co-op and Mace. I think the old Mace
is now the new Tesco.
I used to go to Church at St
Andrew's C of S every Sunday and my
daughter used to go to Sunday
School. The Sunday School children
would stay in church until the first
lesson and then go with the Sunday
School teacher to her cottage in
Main Road and do Sunday School work
and she would give them all lolly
pops and then bring them all back to
church again for the last hymn.
The Queen Mum came and open a part
of the Ice Rink and all the school
children came into the centre and I
have photos.
We still go to Aviemore for day
trips and had a meal recently in the
Tavern and it is still run by the
same family as in the 80's. The son
Nando is the manager and he started
school with my daughter Emma and
they used to go to each others
birthday parties. Unfortunately I
was too embarrassed to go up to him
and introduce myself and I just
thought old Aviemore as time gone
past. I loved my time living in
Aviemore and a great place for young
children. Every year there was a
Christmas party in the village hall,
and for every child in the
village, there was a present from
Santa.
Do you remember the North Pole in
Santa Claus Land. The old Santa used
to get his bead bleached at
Steiner's, my hairdressers told me
as I used to go there too.
I could go on and on, very happy
memories there. Now I live in
Glencoe opposite the loch and have a
self catering holiday cottage next
door. My partner and I both come
from Essex but love Scotland.
Keep up the good work
Vicky Shipley
Glencoe
The children include:-
Claire Steinley (top
right) whose dad managed the
Coylumbridge Hotel on the Ski
Road
Louise Evans (middle bottom
below Emma) whose dad was the
local potter and had his studio
next to the whisky tasting shop.
Nando Vastano Jnr (The boy on
the right in the red shirt) is
now manager of La Taverna
Italian Restaurant which used
to be called The Tavern. His
pictures are on their website
here:-http://www.highrange.co.uk/la_taverna_ristorante.htm
Duncan Farquhar (bottom row 6th
from left)
Jennifer ? from Dalfaber
(bottom row 2nd from left)
Marcia ? (bottom row 3rd from
left)
Dear Julie
and David
Thank you for your email I have
lots of news, and when you
mentioned Cairdsports it
reminded me of Ken Bruce the
Radio 2 presenter 9.30am to
midday every weekday. His
brother worked there and lived
in Carrbridge. I was Chairman on
the play school committee and
Ken Bruce's sister in law was
the Secretary. The Treasurer was
the wife of the manager of
Scandinavian village. Billy
Connelly did his turn at the
theatre. The local piper used to
blow his pipes at 11am every
morning from the top of the dry
ski lift. Our house was at the
bottom and I would just put the
baby down for a morning nap and
the piper would start. What a
wonderful sound for a new born,
better than traffic!
Just one quick memory is that we
had very bad winters in the 80's
and the centre often was cut off
for cars. I had ordered a pig
for the freezer from the
butchers down the back next to
the old post office. The butcher
had the pig and decided to
deliver it. I told him not to
bother just keep it in his deep
freeze and I would pick it up in
a couple of days. That night he
and his son bought it up to my
house on a sledge. What service!
All the best
Vicky
Hi Julie
I am a local to Aviemore & a very proud
one at that, I’ve just read through *Julies
Aviemore* & I wanted to email you
to say a
HUMUNGOUS thanks for taking me
back to all those wonderful memories of
growing up in such an amazing place.
I have snaps & lots of them but I’ll
need to get them scanned before sending
them down ok
*Keep up
the GREAT work on your website*
Lots & Lots of Love
Isla Mackay
Hi David & Julie!
Sorry it's been so long in replying to your
message (like a year!)
Here are a few pics which you are welcome to
use. I have loads more which I've yet to
scan & tart up in photoshop.
I'll send them on when they're done.
Suzanne Grant
Hi Guys
At the tender age of 42 I have recently dug
out my iceskates and joined Sunday morning
iceskating lessons
I was just looking up on google all the ice
rinks in the uk for when I'm out and about
or away for weekends and can get in any
extra practise, remembering a visit to
Aviemore when I visited aged about 13 I
stumbled on your website!! and it really was
a trip back in time.
My brother and I were kindly taken to
Aviemore by a close family friend and their
two girls in a motor camper van. We drove
from Sidcup kent up to Scotland with fish
and chips and fun all the way.We stayed on
the site and had a weekly rover pass which
I remember cost £13 and enabled us kids to
take off and use all the facilities as much
as we wanted.
It was there that I first took to the ice
and like you wore badly fitting boots and
had blisters upon blisters! but loved it,
went dry slope skiiing, cinema ..
everything.
The highlight was at a dance evening when
'Auntie & Uncle' took to the floor and did
the highland fling wining first prize.
Our friends had kindly taken us along as our
father had leukemia and was too poorly to
take us away that summer and the trip has
many fond memories, I can't wait to catch up
with the others. It was great to see your
photos it all came flooding back.
Sadly our father died the following year,
but a year or two after I bought my ice
skates and now use them every Sunday!! I
always remember stepping on to the ice for
the first time at Aviemore and like you
clinging on the side and then gradually
being able to get around by myself to the
latest disco sounds.. I still love the smell
of the ice rink and now after 8 lessons
I've passed my Grade 3 and working towards
Grade 4.
I will endeavour to find some photos and
send them on.
Kind Regards
Lisa Whitter
Hi,
I have only just noticed your site: it's
very interesting and brings back lots of
memories of skiing in blizzards and then
rushing down to Aviemore to listen to Bill
and Gilly. I have many photos of them lying
around somewhere, plus various CD's Bill
gave me. I will dig them out in memory of
Bill, who is, and always will be much
missed. I have also got a poster Bill made
which I will get my husband to copy and send
to your site.
Carol Whalley
UPDATE:
Hi Guys,
I have sent a picture of Bill and Gilly
where they used to play at the High Range
Motel or "the Tavern" as we used to call it.
I have also included a home made poster that
Bill gave me, which he was very proud of, it
is similar to the cover of their first
recording. Keep them by all means I
have loads of stuff from Bill. Good
luck with your site: it's much fun and
brings back wonderful memories. They
have been sent 'snail mail' so it will take
a few days.
Cheers
Carol Whalley
Hello and congratulations
What an amazing journey I've just had
looking through this site.....great memories
and pictures from an era gone and never to
be seen again - thanks a million
What a loss the centre is to the area - I'm
sorry but the NEW Aviemore just has no
spirit .
I was a relative late visitor to the
centre having been born 1976 but probably
saw it at the tail end of it's heyday and
for that I'll always be grateful.
It was still a great place to be when i visited
on numerous occasions - Police academy was
showing in the cinema and remember standing
in the front of this building looking down
the steps
I estimate the date was around 1984 -
unfortunately I would never have the chance
of visiting as an adult where I could enjoy
other activities such as the bars go karts
etc. I remember it fondly standing at
the fountains in the centre during a hot
summer or on the motorbikes outside
Cairdsports...I also remember being in the
ice rink while my young sisters skated I
also remember being inside the swimming pool
looking down from a gallery with a diving
board close by (could be wrong on this part)
it was a yellow coloured interior with
wooden seats. Thinking about it is
like a strange dream - you know it existed
and you remember specific parts but you
can never go back....there was just
something about the place. I remember
the arcade (was never allowed in them) but I
was treated to a magic egg out of the
machine which was outside the building - how
I smiled when I see that it was still
outside in one of the pictures on your
site....... fantastic trip down memory lane.
And so onto Santa Claus land - what a
privilege it was to go there as a child....I
recall the front reception I used to gather
excitement at before we paid and went
in...the huge toyshop where I bought a Corgi
Ferrari or sat on the electric cars or just
running around excited by the scale of the
place - the polar bear as a touch scary to
me !!
Then something happened....a cloud appeared
over the cairngorms and cursed the centre
How did something as unique as this in
Scotland pass us by....??
Another memory has just appeared into my
mind - there was a crazy golf circuit (not
within) Santa Land but outside.....
I presume this is long gone also !?
I remember returning to Aviemore late 80's
early 90's where it had died a death...very
very sad and strangely fitting that day it
was pouring rain.....the boards were going
up and the gates closed the essence and
spirit had long gone out of this fairytale
land from my childhood
all the best with your site......better to
have loved and lost then never to have loved
at all
I often think to myself wouldn't it be
something if they re-built same
facilities in that area again, like a
rejuvenated centre but with a modern
feel - just like it was - It would be so
so popular with old and new and it would
all begin again..... but I guess
times change and things move
on.....there really isn't much left
there these days - it's all very sad
Thanks to all
Simon Tough
Morning guys
Here are some more photos taken in old Cairngorm
Hotel on 18 July 1983.
It was a Freedom Inn guys night out - we called
it a "hat party", hence everyone with a hat.
The guy getting held up side down is Ian Turner
who was the hotel manager.
He's still here in Aviemore.
Brian Partridge
Hi David and Julie
Attached are photos of the Blackhawks Ice hockey team from the late seventies, also the team which represented Great Britain in the "Its a knockout" tv show which my husband took part in and a photo of my hubby John (lugs) Mackintosh at the ice rink in his Blackhawks gear.
Hope they are of use, I will have a look for some more, your site it brilliant well done.
Regards
Allison Mackintosh
Dear David and Julie
Having grown up in Grantown (born 26/04/62)as a wee
lad almost every Sunday we would go to Aviemore for
a swim and a wee shot of the electric carts which
were in the centre outside the icerink and
downstairs from the pool entrance run by Roy
Mcgregor/Mcpherson he raced motor bikes and came
from the Boat.
At 10yrs old started working in the Craiglynne hotel
Grantown and competed in the waiter and waitresses
race which was great fun.
Still going for a swim on Sunday’s but now old
enough to go on the gokarts where the freedom inn
and santa claus land were built.I always remember
the large crowds watching .The swim and gokarts
changed as we got older to a swim (for the hang over
from Cynthia’s disco the night before) and a few
beers in the Freedom Inn.
Kind regards
Ray
Dear David
and Julie,
Congratulations on an
absolutely fantastic site. As I was only born in 1982,
my memories of Aviemore do not date back as far as many
other people's, but i can still remember the central
square, the ice rink, the go-karts and of course Santa
Claus land, plus it's "winter sport capital" status
clear as a bell. I am, like most of the other
contributors, very saddened by the way it fell into
disrepair, as it one time it was a truly special and
unique place with a wide range of facilities and a warm
family feel. The fact that perhaps it wasn't as
new-fangled as some of the other holiday destinations
was almost part of its charm although towards the end of
the old centre's life more could have been done. I still
remember in the 1990s coming back year after year in the
passing, hoping something had been done, but instead
finding something else smashed, boarded up,
semi-demolished or closed. Not a good advert for
Scottish tourism!
I still drive around the new Highland resort, feeling as
if something, or in fact many things are missing, and in
particular an ice rink. Then having visited Xscape in
Glasgow (www.xscape.co.uk) with the cinema, restaurants,
bowling and indoor snow ski slope etc, it seemed like
the perfect thing for Aviemore to secure it as
Scotland's wintersports capital once more. If we can't,
through climate change, get the natural snow, then we
must find other ways to sustain Aviemore by providing
more indoor sporting faculties, and in particular things
to appeal to the skiers and to set Aviemore apart form
other places not just in Britain but in Europe. The only
problem being raising funds! Imagine my delight when I
found
http://www.aviemoresportscentre.co.uk/talk.htm which
seemed to answer all my prayers. Go check it out and
lend your support!
Once again, thank you for facilitating so many happy
memories. I sadly have no photos, but thank you very
much to all the wise snappers who got them before it was
too late. I would be really interested to see any
pictures of the inside of the swimming pool as sadly I
never got round to venturing inside if anyone has any!
Kind regards,
Alan Simpson, Perth, Scotland
Hi there,
My name is Gavin Christie, an Aberdonian now living in
New York. I spent many holidays in Aviemore and I really
miss the old centre, so many good memories of it. You
have such a great site. It's great that someone finally
started a website about the Aviemore that used to be.
Keep up the good work !
Gavin Christie
** Gavin sent us B+W footage of the old centre - see it on our scrolling news pop-up on the HOME page **
Hello Julie and David,
As promised, I have typed and attached to this email a
small article for
your website. The article gives readers a small piece of
Aviemore's history
focused on our house but with some references to the
village in general.
Hope you like the article and find it suitable for the
page you will
eventually create on the website for our house.
All the best,
Kyle.
Download the article here in either
MS-WORD format or
Acrobat Reader PDF format
Hi Julie & David,
I worked in Aviemore in the late 70’s with my friend
Debbie (both from Australia). I met my husband there
in 1979. Married in 1980 and had three children then
moved to Australia in 1991 where we have been since.
I have attached a photo of Santa, Barbara (Mrs
Claus’s daughter in real life) and myself taken in
1977 by Aviemore Photographic. I am still searching
for more photos. Santa’s name is George Sweeney and
he was a sweetheart.
My husband, George had come to Aviemore on the
Scottish summer break when we met (at Cynthias
disco). He returned home (to Blairgowrie) but
returned to work there and we have been together
since. He worked in the Ice Rink and I worked in
the Reception area for the centre. I had worked in
Santa Claus Land a few seasons before that. We
were both saddened to see the photos of the derelict
Centre after all the great memories we have. Too
bad the National Trust didn’t take it under its wing
as a Scottish icon town. We had taken our two
eldest kids back there in the 1980’s when it was
still a popular spot. But sadly my youngest will
never see it now (he is 20). I will send more
photos as I find them.
(Dianne here on right)
All the best with your site.
Dianne McKenna
(All the way from Sydney, Australia)
Dear David
and Julie
As a young, long-haired hippy in the early 1970s, I
wandered into the Aviemore Centre carrying a backpack, a
tent, a shoulder bag, and a guitar -- with about two
pounds (all the money I had in the world) in my pocket.
It was October and I knew that sleeping under the stars
wasn't going to be possible for much longer. To cut a
long and eventful story short, I got a job as the
dishwasher at the Das Stubel restaurant. I have lots of
wonderful memories of that time but, unfortunately, no
pictures.
As the years rolled by, my hair became shorter, my
ability to carry a fully-loaded backpack diminished, and
I moved down the professional ladder from dishwasher to
writer. At the beginning of August this year, my second
novel, The Holy Well, was released. Most of it
is set in the Highlands, and one particular section was
inspired by my time in Aviemore. It's one of the few
locations where I've kept the place name as it is.
Colin Macpherson
Australia
www.mopoke.com.au
Dear Julie,
I must congratulate you on your Scottish masterpiece (see
it here). I also enjoy cross stitching Scottish
themes and I am hoping you can tell me where I can obtain
the round thistle and also Glenbogle. I have stitched the
large thistle and I am hoping to take this over to Poland at
the end of August and present it to The Polish Art Council.
We have a Scottish dance group in Bournemouth and 18 of us
are going out for 5 days for the Bedzin Celtic Music
Festival 2007 as their guests and hold a workshop for
Scottish Country and Ceilidh dancing.
Regards
Joan Donald
Dear Julie and David
I thank you for the time and effort you have put into creating such wonderful memories for me. I came to Aviemore as a young 17 and half year old boy with seven mates having just left school for our first holiday not with parents. I had just started in the Bank of Scotland whilst my friends were all apprentice engineers in Timex/NCR. We were all from Dundee and arrived by train almost 37 years ago to this very day.
We (5) stayed in a friends dad's caravan in the park just outside Aviemore under the bridge leading to the road to Loch Morlich. The other 2 guys in our group had to say in the Youth Hostel up at Loch Morlich. None of us had ever seen anything like the entertainment with the Ice Rink, Swimming Pool, Ten Pin bowling in the basement of one of the Hotels {This location featured in a TV advert in 1969 for Younger's Beer}. Needless to say we drank copious amounts of alcohol, went to the Wolf Bar, Theatre where we saw the Beatles in the Yellow Submarine which had just been released and enjoyed many a night in the disco. We ate in the Pinewood but had our last meal in the Das Stubel before heading home.
I remember fondly the Go Kart Track and for the first time in my life saw hand drying machines in toilets!! We also lunched in a cafe across from the entrance to the Aviemore Centre and also frequented the "Happy Haggis" for our Tea. After the disco at night there was a mini van parked outside which had an extended high back. A girl would stand inside the back of the mini and sell hot hamburgers at 2 shillings and six pence each {15p in today's money} {fortune then}. I am 54 now with two girls aged 20/17 and about to have our last "family" caravan holiday together so we decided in January this year to come back to Aviemore for one last time.
We stayed here
about 14 years ago in the Caravan site just down from the
tourist office but there was a lot of trouble with drunken
older Irish people fighting in the toilet at 2 am.
Scary for our two young girls who didn't want to return.
Anyway I found your site today which I think is superb and
saw photographs of some of the above which I haven't seen
since t1970 {Das Stubel}. That was the Costa Del Sol
equivalent for today's teenagers. Sadly one of the group of
guys I was with in 1970 has died whilst another emigrated to
Australia in 1975. I still meet the others and often talk
about that holiday in 1970. We did take some
photographs so will try and trace them for you.
Music of the time included Mungo Jerry "In the Summertime", Free with "All right Now" and The Kinks with "Lola" were some of the tunes in the charts. every time I hear thee songs it reminds me of that week. Much appreciated for the work done here.
I came back for the odd week-ends up to 1974. I remember in May 1974 being in the Red McGregor Hotel and watching Scotland beat England at Hampden Park live on the TV . I met a girl, got married and have camped/caravanned UK all over since then. I was hooked on caravans after that week.
Kindest regards
Ian Wallace from Carnoustie.
Dear Julie and David
I enjoyed reading your article on 'Our Readers Ask' page in the Scots Magazine (April 2007).
It didn't half bring back very fond memories and made me dig out the old photographs (which I have enclosed).
My husband and I first visited the Aviemore Centre in October 1978 with our 2 children George and Lisa, during school holidays. We had a fantastic time! We had never lived in a Scandinavian type chalet before but it was adequate, clean and introduced us to the delights of a Downie which kept us exceptionally warm during the cold weather.
It was a very well planned centre with plenty to do: skating rink, Santa Clause Land and Restaurant; cinema, indoor sports hall, North Pole, go-carting, mini railway and various shops. We also saw real reindeer and along the road from the Centre there was a Trout Farm where you could buy food to feed the fish. Of course, the scenery was spectacular, especially with the autumn colours on the trees.
We returned a couple of years later and stayed in the Badenoch Hotel. About the same time we brought other family members up by train to experience the delights. A good time was had by all!
MARION MARSHALL,
Edinburgh
Julie and David
Hi, here are some photos from "La Pigalle" disco in 1983 of
Freedom Inn staff
Brian Partridge
Dear David and Julie
Funny how life goes, having returned to stay in Badenoch (Kingussie) after a long long time I was in Tesco at Aviemore today where I met an old friend called Rosemary. We both ,like many worked in Aviemore Centre in the hey-days, i.e., late 60 s., those times were good, winters were winters, snow arriving late November and still there in March, how times have changed.
Anyway, thought you and all viewers of site might like a bit of a laugh. About 1968 a former school friend of mine (Angus Kerr from Bridge of Allan ) was working in the Badenoch hotel as a chef, I used to go up to Aviemore at weekends to see him and sneaked a bed in the hotels staff quarters. He let me know that if I wanted to have a job in the Centre one was available in the Ice Rink, whoever got the job had to be good at ice skating as it was full time on the ice. Never having been on skates as he well knew I asked him how he thought I could get it, reply was, come up "my mate works in the swimming pool, he knows one of the guys in the Ice Rink who will give you a crash course." Crash course indeed, just what I needed.
Off to Aviemore I duly went on a Tuesday, interview was arranged for the Friday, didnt even have skates!!!!!. Bought a pair of Hockey skates, they do not have the serrated barbs at front but since the Ice Rink manager was a Jack Dryburgh who had been a pro ice hockey player in Canada I think it would hold good impression with him. Three nights, five hours a night, through the night when the Ice Rink was closed we entered on the q.t. with only the night lights on in rink area. Who says it can take a lot of time to learn, by the end of the three nights, and as a paying customer during the day ( when the manager was not in) I was good, backwards, no problem, a few tricks, no problem.
Now the big interview day, blah, blah, blah etc, how is your skating?, good was the reply. Lets see he said, not expected though, but off we went, he was obviously impressed, got the job, Great.
Had a good year plus in the Ice Rink, met a lot of great people who worked in the Centre, showbands at weekends were first class and all the entertainment was if you knew the right people, i.e. doormen . Never to be repeated I fear. Many a free meal, no, most in fact could be obtained by the few who had contacts in the Pinewood Restaurant, but, the Das Stubel, well, totally out of bounds, staff there all had different backgrounds, ( think about it folks, see what I mean now) Any, only a distant memory now, but a very very pleasant one.
PS. Angus Kerr, wherever you are in the
world try to contact.
Dennis Hyndman,
Kingussie.
Julie,
I just had an email this morning from a very old friend from
Aviemore and he got in touch with me via your site - i cant tell
you how chuffed i was!
My family and i are moving back up to Aviemore in August and
cant wait!! I'm away to have a look at your site gain, havent
been on for about a month but all the very best, and keep up the
good work!
Regards
Brenda
Dear David and Julie
Bread Units!
After the war bread was rationed for a while. Everyone was issued
with a sheet of "Bread Units" like as sheet of stamps , every time
one bought bread the shopkeeper took the required BUs, 1 unit per
lb .
When one ran out of BUs one ran out of bread.
A friend and I had climbed Ben Nevis to see the sun rise,
came to bridge that went half way across, climbed straight up in
the dark, thought better of it and pitched the tent. Following
morning, my rucksack rolled down the hill, so we went to the top
without it and searched on the way back down. Found it in a burn of
course top open full of water.
Down to Fort William, managed to con the priest into allowing us to
sleep on the floor of the school. Next morning, first day of bread
rationing so I went in the coop for rolls and used my fist BUs. Then
we caught the train home to Edinburgh, dried ou reloaded and went
back up on the thumb.
Fabulous holiday, My nickname to this day is Ben Nevis among the
climbing fraternity.
thanks for the site
Pete
Hiya
I wrote a piece for your website some time ago, thought you might
like an update.
Recently I've been home for a visit, we took some photos of what's
left of Santa Claus Land, you can still get access if you go in via
the new "one way" roundabout near the police station (one way
because you can only enter the centre via the centre brae at the
other end of the village but this new roundabout will only let you
exit the centre - very peculiar, it's been like that since it was
built a year or so ago no one seems to know why...)
Anyhoo, we sneaked in to what's left of Santa Claus Land and were
greeted by a very sorry sight - remember the old wishing well at the
entrance to the park ? well it's still there - vandals have thrown
bits and pieces down there and I'd imagine that the mountain of cash
is long gone, behind it, Santa's big house is still standing, but is
surrounded by overgrown shrubs, the windows are smashed and the
place is locked up for obvious reasons, they have left the more
recent furniture in place as it is bolted down, so there are a
handful of tables and chairs and some painted scenery boards here
and there, it's a ghost house now, if you stand for a while you can
still imagine the children running around and the big jolly santa
sitting in the corner near his sleigh. We took a walk behind the
big house and found the old walkway where the traction engine used
to be, I think it was given away to a museum somewhere (unless it's
underneath the shrubbery !) if you tread carefully around the glass
and debris you find yourself at the buildings which used to hold the
Lego shop, some of the giant bricks are strewn around outside -
amazing, seeing that it stopped being a lego outlet many many years
before the demise of SCL, this building is a wreck, there's no roof
- we couldn't tell if there had been a large fire or just someone
building a camp fire - no matter - it's a mess. Further still we
found the building (still standing) which housed the Sleigh Ride,
some of the cars are still there, and the track is still in place, I
remember that being a scary ride in the dark with lots of neon
toadstools painted on the walls, amazing how they can fit so much
track inside a tiny little building.
We found the Crazy Golf, still bolted down but only recognisable to
people with strong memories, the north pole is there, minus it's 2ft
layer of slippery ice - remember the old ruin (no, not the big
house) that stood near to the Crazy Golf ? well it's still there -
I never knew if it actually was a ruin or had been built like that
for SCL, no matter - it seems to have passed the test of time and is
still intact - it'll probably still be there in a few hundred years
when people will put a plaque up saying "The site of the original
SCL, long may she RIP".
Hope you like the photos....
Dawn
** Julie and David
say: It's so sad .... How has it come to this?**
Hello,
First of all, I would like to congratulate you for creating an
excellent website. I am a relative newcomer to Aviemore but have a
keen interest on its development and history. While browsing
the "Your Photos" section I noticed my house was in one of the old
black and white postcards. The photo is called "Easter, Aviemore"
(written on the bottom left of the card) and has a house (mine) and
a church on the left hand side. It was so exciting to see the
old photo of our house. I have quite a few old postcards of Aviemore
from many, many years ago but our house always seems to be hidden by
the church or just a dot in the distance!
(click to enlarge)
Not sure if this is of any interest to you but i can tell you a bit
about the history of our house:
-built in 1907 by Mr & Mrs Frank McCook from Carrbridge (he was a
baker).
The house was named Craiggowrie.
-the room at the front right of the house was opened as the village
grocery and and a few years later a bakery was opened next door by
Mr McCook.
-the shop in the house closed and Mrs McCook opened a haberdashery
shop within the railway station.
-the McCooks sold the house to the one and only Davie Cameron (he
owned the Red Mac and built the shops on Grampian Road) in the late
1970s/early 1980s.
-the bakery next door became Comfy Carpets.
-the house was sold on in 1998 and became a guest house called
Craigellan.
-we bought the house in 2005, opened it up as a guest house again
and called it Strathspey House!
I'll try and get my old postcards on disc for you and post them out
asap.
Many thanks again, you have been a great help and keep up the
excellent work on your website.
All the best,
Kyle.
How it looks now
(click to enlarge)
PS if you want a sneaky peak of the house today please go to
www.strathspeyhouse.com , we have
re-instated the finials to the house which match the old postcard
surprisingly well!
** Julie says - we have been emailing back and forth with Kyle for a
week or so now since he saw his house on the photos section of our
website. If you ever want somewhere to stay in Aviemore, this
B+B looks lovely and is in the best B+B guide. We will
certainly be paying him a visit when we are next in Aviemore.
If you do book, let him know that you saw it on the
www.auldaviemore.co.uk website. It's good to know
that we are helping to promote historical Aviemore **
Hi
Julie and David
I now live in Western Australia but look at your website every few
weeks for an update.
I lived in Aviemore for 30 years and remember when the centre was
being built. We really didn't realise just how lucky we were as
kids, having all the facilities at our doorstep, and also the chance
of getting a Saturday job when you were old enough,I worked in
Cairdsport with my good friend Shirley Dickson and remember dodging
the puddles in the back shop store as the swimming pool was directly
above and it leaked! and it was a great environment for all sorts of
wildlife ( mainly cockroaches!)
We
used to fight over who would serve the good looking blokes, and we
did a roaring trade in swimming trunks, we really emphisised the
fact that they could not be returned so it was best to try them on,
then we would hang about near the changing rooms to give maximum
humiliation! We used to argue over who went over to the ice
rink snack bar for the hot chocolate, it was dicing with death if
the kiddie cars were on Allander square just outside the shop. We
used to go to Arnotts (house of Frazer) and try on all the clothes
in our lunch break then into RS McCalls for the sweeties to see us
through the afternoon. I remember going to the "White Heather
Show" when I was 12 with my late father in the speyside theatre, he
played in his own band and loved his music, no doubt readers may
remember him, his name was Hugh Mackenzie. and the band played in
most of the hotels at one time or another. I loved the Easter
Bonnet Parades as the sun always came out, and Allander Square on
Hogmanay.
My brother Michael used to work in the Ice rink, on the skate hire,
and cutting the ice, the funny thing is as a local kid we never
seemed to pay entry fees for anything, we used to just walk in! it
was the same at the swimming pool too! we really were very lucky
kids.
I love living in Western Australia, and will have been here 17 years
in December, but I still miss the snow and the atmosphere that
Aviemore had. I was back 4 years ago and the derelict centre just
left me speechless ( and thats saying something!!) but I will be
back in Aviemore for another holiday this Oct (6 weeks to go
whoopee!) so I am really looking forward to seeing what they have
done with it all.
I think your website is great, and I loved the really old photos of
aviemore, I remember going to the pot luck for the sunday papers
when I was about 9 or 10, and I remember the bridge over the
butchers burn before they did the road, I must have been about 5
then I think.
Well, I have rambled enough, I hope you can use some of my memories!
All the best from "down-under"
June
Dear David and Julie,
I saw your request in the Sunday Post for information about Aviemore in
the 60s, 70s and 80s and I thought you might like to hear some of my
recollections of my life there. We bought one of the cottages on Railway
Terrace in 1975 and moved there from a small village in Suffolk. The
family consisted of myself, my husband and our
5 year
old son. We moved there for a complete change of lifestyle and a
healthy climate for our son. My husband worked as a railway engineer in
Inverness and I worked as the secretary at Aviemore Primary School. My
memories are of a very happy life, our son loved school and the children
did benefit a lot from the Centre whose staff seemed to make it their
business to make sure the local people had good use of the facilities
and our son learnt to swim in the magnificent swimming pool, which was
used by the school and the local swimming club. I also remember as one
of the leaders of the local cub movement helping them use the pool with
the scouts to practice for a swimming gala. The centre did quite a lot
to help the school and one Easter they set up a disco within the school
hall. The noise was deafening as I sat in my office above them,
listening to them dancing and singing. The Headmaster couldn't stand
the noise and went to lunch leaving me and the janitor to deal with
parents looking for children who were late home for lunch. When the new
Santa Claus Land opened the centre arranged for the two youngest classes
to visit and I went with one of the classes to help supervise. The
excitement of the children was marvellous and the centre staff were
lovely with them all. When “Star Wars” the film was opening at the
centre cinema, the centre set a competition for each class to build a
model and the prize was for the whole winning class to go to the
cinema. I was asked to go with the class and we walked in a "crocodile"
along the A9. During the interval all were given choc-ices and sweets.
Although we did not ice skate I remember going to "Mini Car racing on
ice". It was great fun. During the very bad winter we were cut off for
some time and we had no electricity. The local hotels delivered hot
meals to all the pensioners on Railway Terrace, these being pulled on
sleds by the staff through snow drifts higher than cars! We were forced
to move away in 1979 for my husbands work, but I have never forgotten my
happy times in Aviemore and have lived in many parts of the country but
always promised myself I would retire back home to Aviemore. I never
made it back there and the placed has changed so much and I personally
do not think for the best, but I am as near as possible to my home!
Yours sincerely,
Josephine Taylor
Nairn
Dear Aviemores, As a family we used to go to Aviemore in the 1960s. At that time you could pass through in a few seconds, no hotels other than the Alt-na-Craig opposite the station. We stopped at the railway holiday hostel across the lines from the present Spey Valley Railway. There were steam trains operating the normal services then. There was no development for some years, and the main shop was the Co-op which was where there is a parade of shops now, and there were no shops at the station, although there was a petrol station there. The first signs of the Aviemore Centre were announced generally in an article in a Sunday paper about the new facilities being built, and the next time we visited, there was a lot of building going on, and a big change was a chip shop called 'The Happy Haggis' at the south end of village. I remember my children were very impressed with it. My wife and I were less impressed by the extra helping of deep fried bluebottles available with the fish or haggis and chips.Eventually the ice rink arrived which children loved, but the BIG attraction for the youngest was the paved area near the new shops which had electric scooters for hire for children to race all over the area. And the surroundings were still unspoilt, no holiday village at the north end, and Loch Morlich had no caravans, no reindeer, no car parks, and the road to the Cairngorm was mostly empty. The car park there came early on, but not then.
It was possible to meet and talk to locals in peace at the bar at the back of the Alt-na-Craig, no Costa style shops and cafes anywhere. When Aviemore became ski city, and festooned with tat shops, we abandoned it and went further north where the developers had not reached. The best bit of Aviemore then was that apart from the few facilities in town, the whole area remained unspoiled. I am attaching photos I took about then which show that the only 'tourist' attraction we were tempted to was the canoe hire at Loch Morlich Interesting web site, I'm sure it will attract a lot of reminiscences.
James.V
Hello Julie and David
I just checked out your website which I got from the Sunday Post online,
grrreat!
Aviemore brings back so many happy memories for me and my friends. Our
first holiday on our own was at the caravan site in Aviemore, I think we
were 16 – this was in the seventies. The Freedom Inn was especially
memorable, there was a regular singer there, I’ve forgotten his name
right now, McLeod was his last name I think. We also used to go the
discos and of course the ice rink. We also stayed in one of the chalets
for a weekend a year or so later, it was so much fun there as it was a
great place to meet fellas! Ha-ha.
I also remember going to Santa Claus land when I was a bit younger and
when home for a holiday a few years back, my brother took me there and I
couldn’t believe it wasn’t the same. I guess you always expect things
to stay the same.
Anyhow I am going to pass on your website to my friends who are still
living in the
Thanks for doing a great
job.
Best regards
Elaine Abbott
Canada
Aviemore1950. Too long ago?
I remember Aviemore from 1950 – is this too early for your interest?
I was born and brought up
in Kelty, Fife, and when my friend’s father died, her mother got a job
in the Aviemore Hotel as a “sewing maid” and they moved there in 1949.
I spent two weeks with
them in 1950 in the original hotel which was burnt to the ground later
in the ‘50s. Supposedly, a
maid put hot ashes into a waste paper basket and that started the fire.
I don’t know if this is a
fact, it’s what I was told, but the dog belonging to her and also the
hall porter Mr Allan were killed
in the fire. I have a photo of the original hotel if that would be of
interest to you. Some of the places
you mention in your letter (Sunday Post) were in existence when I was
there. As far as I remember
there was one main street plus the council estate, and I only remember
the butchers and the grocers.
The locals bought their newspapers from the newsstand on the station
platform. I was 14 when I was
there and will be 71 in April 2007, so it was a long, long time ago.
Sincerely
Mrs Aileen M. Greer
Blandford Forum
Dorset
(A beautiful insight into pre-modern Aviemore, and I’m sure it will be
of interest to many. David)
From 1973 to 1977 I
lived on the Black Isle with my mother and step-father.
I was in my teens then, and we used to visit Aviemore. Myself and my
brothers
loved the "Aviemore Centre" and the magical place - "Santa Claus Land".
I got a job in the
the Post House hotel in 1981 as a chamber maid. We used to feed
the ducks out of the back of the hotel with the buns that had gone
stale.
Seasonal work there at that time was often guaranteed from Winter to
Easter as the
skiing was good, and of course, staff had a card to show to get free use
of the ice rink.
I still return north
once a year with hubby and children and visit the old haunts,
even though the centre has changed over the years.
The go-karts haven’t been there for a while either.
Ali Gina Shottan (nee
Wadsworth)
Ovingham
Northumberland
Santa...?
I
know the santa in your photograph. His name is George.
I am not sure of his surname as everyone calls him Santa.
He still stays in Collie Cottages on the main street in Aviemore.
Your site is great and I have been looking for old pictures on the
internet of Aviemore with not much success.
"UPDATE"
Here's "Santa" George at the Glenn Centre (from the Strathspey and
Badenoch Herald)
"Avie" Maria
Auld Aviemore website, what a great idea!
You have certainly brought back some fond memories of my time in the Highlands.
I worked at
the Post House Hotel in 79/80 with a great bunch of people,
comprised
mainly of misfits from around the world and especially Glasgow.
As a very naïve 19 year
old I was soon introduced into the Scottish way of having fun,
which seemed to involve
a lot of drinking! A pint of heavy was around 50p in ‘the old
days’.
There was around 600 residential staff for the centre, mostly
young folk with a zest for
partying, there always seemed to be a party of some description
going on somewhere.
I recall
many a good evening in the illicit Still bar being entertained
by ‘The Trampies;’
Donny McDonald and Arthur MacLean, or watching Skiing videos
shown by the local
instructors, who always kept on their ‘Ski instructor’ tops,
presumably to impress the girls.
Skiing was
the reason for my living in Aviemore, I was lucky to be there
when it
snowed properly. In 1980 there was so much that I was able to
ski on my birthday, May 15th!
I had some fantastic days on the mountain; one of my best was on
a warm spring afternoon
with friend’s Simon and Wendy. Simon being the adventurous type
decided to show us an
extreme off-piste run, called ‘The Wall,’ this was extremely
steep with scattered exposed
rocks. A couple of inches of fresh powder had fallen overnight
presenting us with perfect
conditions, the skiing was sublime, at the bottom we looked back
to see our tracks carved
into the virgin snow. It was truly an unforgettable and awesome
run, happy days.
My fondest
memory has to be meeting a girl called Jenny, who was visiting
Aviemore.
We fell in love, must have been my tight ski pants! Or maybe too
many drinks in the
Freedom Inn, or a combination of the ‘Aviemore effect’. Anyway
we got married two years
later and now live happily in Kent, with our two boys 18 & 15
years.
Best wishes to all the ‘Auld Aviemore’ crew.
Tony Watson
Hi guys, great
idea - sadly Aviemore, as you know, is now nothing like it was.
I was a very young policeman in the mid 70's and had a wonderful and
"developing" time there.
I have many tales to tell if you are interested - mostly funny.
I met my wife of almost 30 years there thanks to the Cinema and
Cynthia's Disco.
We both still miss it. I might have some old photo's some where
which if I find I will forward on.
All the best.
Iain MacColl
Hello David and Julie.
Enjoyed your letter about Aviemore. I too
remember all the hotels plus other
things that you mentioned. I went up to Aviemore twice a year
from when
I was 14 until I was 19. My sister and I enjoyed the swimming
pool. The ice rink
was our favourite. A great place for eyeing up the talent.
There was usually
plenty of nice looking guys around. We also went to the discos
late in the evening.
Do you remember the ones that weren't licensed. Oh, happy days.
I drove through Aviemore the week before last and somehow it wasn't the same
Fond memories.
Theresa Cannon
P.s. Did you ever go to The Woodshed Bar just outside the Coylumbridge hotel?.
Hi David and Julie
I
read your letter in the "Sunday Post" about Aviemore and it
brought back many happy memories for me. Although I don't have
access to the Internet, I thought I would write and tell you about
some of my "old Aviemore" memories. I enjoyed Summer holidays
there in the years 1973 and '74 with my sister and two of our
friends.
Both times we stayed at the Speyside caravan site down by the river.
As we were all in our late teen and early twenties at the time, we
really
enjoyed the night-life in Aviemore! Most nights we went to the Wolf
Bar
in the Badenoch hotel, then on to "Cynthia's" disco. We also went
to the
folk nights - in Cynthia's too (I think?). Other places I recall we
went
to, included the Post House, the Red McGregor, High Range and
Coylumbridge hotels. I too remember the Pinewood restaurant.
We often ate there during the day - their sandwiches were great!
I seem to remember eating-out in a place that was decorated inside
like a Swiss/Austrian style log-cabin (Edelweiss?) It was in the
Centre
- was it opposite the ice-rink? The fountains in Alexander Square
provided the backdrop to many a photo that we took!
The ice-rink was great - we always had a good time skating there!
The
last time I was in Aviemore was in the late 1980's - it had changed
a lot by then and I suppose it will be more so now. I think when we
were there in the 70's, Aviemore was in it's heyday - I certainly
felt it
was a unique, special place at that time.
Sheila Stewart
Dundee
Hi Julie and David,
Have just been visiting your Aviemore site and found it brought back
great
memories of fabulous holidays and long weekends we spent there
ourselves.
Our first encounter with Aviemore was in 1973,when as we were
touring
Scotland we decided to spend the day here. We loved the place so
much
that we returned two or three times a year until the renovations
started.
On our first holiday there we stayed on the Speyside caravan park in
a small
un-insulated caravan with no running water and no mod-cons,
but it was fabulous. From our caravan your senses were greeted by
the
aroma of the nearby fish and chip shop “The Happy Haggis”. We spent
a lot
of evenings queuing outside for our “fish suppers” which ranked as
the
best in Scotland.
When our daughter Pauline came along we decided that she too would
enjoy
Aviemore and that she did. She met santa, visited the North Pole
and
enjoyed the swimming pool and ice-rink. Many are the stories we
still recall
about a place so dear to us, so much that we decided to call our
house ABH MOR,
the gaelic root of Aviemore,
Ronnie Gage
Leven
Fife
Hi,
I have been going to Aviemore at New Year for 32 Years. My family
were
brought up with Aviemore. I remember the little electric cars
outside the
ice rink in the square, the Das Stubel restaurant, Caird Sport, the
old
Ptarmigan restaurant up the mountain. My son, now 40 just a couple
of years
ago, found his signature in the "Ski 'n Dhu" restaurant, who have
sheet on the
wall from their opening. His is from about 76. There was also the
swimming
pool - (the fireworks display at New Year was on the roof of the
swimming
and also the ice rink), the Happy Haggis chippie - the chip van at
the top of
the road just as you entered the centre near the crazy golf. Then
we went
posh and got a crepe van/hut along nearer the go karts. The Red
Macgregor
where the Trampies were the top attraction. I have probably said
enough for
now but it certainly brings back GOOD memories or is it I am just
getting
older. I was staying in Nethybridge this year but still had my
visits to
Aviemore. I have stayed in caravans, chalets and houses but my
favourite was a
cottage on the
Rothiemurchus estate.
That reminds me, there was the whisky
tasting shop and the Gallery Restaurant there, beside the Ski Shop
and the
fish farm. Now I am really getting carried away. I must stop.
Yours Norma McLeod
Dear David and
Julie
I saw your request in the Sunday Post asking for memories of
Aviemore.
I remember passing through Aviemore on the way to the Cairngorms
when
I had been staying in Kingussie on coach tours in the 1960’s, but in
1975 on
another coach tour, my mother and I stayed at the Strathspey Hotel
for two nights.
On one evening dinner was geared to Scottish food. I believe other
hotels did similar
things at that time and also had whisky tastings.
I remember quite clearly having haggis, neeps and tatties for
starters. This was
followed by venison. For sweet I had Flummery Drambuie which was, I
think,
whipped up cream mixed with Drambuie and served in a small glass
with a teaspoon.
While staying in Aviemore my mother bought a jumper and cardigan
from a shop on
the same side of the road as the railway station
-
probably one of
the woollen mill shops.
My husband was the driver of the coach tours when we stopped in
Kingussie.
I am his second wife, we have been married eight and a half years
now.
Although he drove through Aviemore on many occasions he does not
remember
anything specific about it. He says it was one of those places in
those days
where if you blinked, you missed it!
With best wishes for your project.
Good luck
Audrey MacCall
Wollaton
Nottinghamshire
Hi Julie & David
Here are some old photos that may be of interest to your new site.
I was involved with the Aviemore Blackhawk’s for many years and other sporting activities
Many people may remember my dog "Barney", an "Aviemore icon"!
Keep up the good work
Best regards
Andy Blair
 Windsurfing "in the High Street" 1982 (pouring with rain!) |
Aviemore's Loch Paluddran |
It's a Knockout ! |
"Caird" dry-slope |
David Wilkie with the Blackhawks |
More It's a Knockout ! |
Blackhawks team photo |
It's "Barney" - the "Ski-Dog !" |
Highland Pentathlon |
More Blackhawks |
Dear David and
Julie
My brother was at the building of the Post House Hotel in
Aviemore with Mr Cameron the builder.
It opened in July 1971 with Mr Allen Wheway as the manager,
along with his wife Tanya.
They were very good. My brother was left to tidy up after the
builders and he met Mr Wheway
who asked if he would like to come into the hotel to work. My
brother was there for 11 years and
saw many changes – not always for the best! When he left in
1983 the Post House was a shambles,
but we had happy memories of all that you mention. I am sure
there must be many who could help
you as it was very good in it’s heyday.
Lena Brown
Banff
Dear David and Julie
I was interested in
your letter which appeared in the Sunday Post.
We have a new centre, but I don’t think it will ever be as good
as the old one.
When I read your letter I remembered coming across a “Santa
Claus Land” leaflet,
and I thought that maybe you would like a copy.
"Santa
Claus Land" map
"Santa Claus Land" leaflet
My children were
young then, the boys played ice hockey and one of the girls
became “Scottish Novice’s Champion” at skating, and of course
there was swimming.
Mrs J. Wilkie
Aviemore
p.s. whilst looking for a big envelope I came across this start
of an advert
for ice hockey, which became a success!
"Ice hockey sign"
Hello Julie & David
I was so excited when I read your article on my local paper
(Forres Gazette) with regards to Aviemore. Well, I worked there
at the Freedom Inn for 2 years and what memories your web
site brought back to me, and I got in touch with my friends to
tell the about the site.
The two guys who played at the Illicit Still bar would
have been Bill Paul & Gillie I think they were "brill" and
always
pulled the crowds in wherever they played in Aviemore.
The Tesco site that used to be Fine-Fare, and many a time a
"life saver" for a bad hangover, and I had a few of them in my
time there.
The ice-rink was great & also the swimming pool. Do you
remember Crofters bar in the centre, next to the
picture house? I remember that we used to ski on the
Hilton hill when the Cairngorm was closed due to high
winds. It was great and as we worked in the centre we could
get ski hire at a good price - how fab it was !
The great thing about then was we could go round all
the pubs in Aviemore for the Happy hour, and we always went to
the Red Mac last, as that's where the best entertainment
went on. It is so sad that it has gone now. I was very
disappointed when I returned to Aviemore a few years
later to see all the changes.
I will try and look out some photos and get them to
you
Regards
Shona McLennan
(by email)
Hi
there. My name is Paul and I have lived in Aviemore for nearly 6 years
now. Sadly I didn't get to see Aviemore in it's heyday but couldn't
imagine
living anywhere else. I'm from Edinburgh originally and go home now and
again but as soon as the train leaves Aviemore my heart sinks as I call
this
place home now. I moved here to take on the position of Assistant
manager at
the Highlands Hotel (post house) And Then was employed right through the
refurbishment and then in the newly opened conference centre up until
last
Christmas when the new owners Macdonald Hotels & Resorts made me
redundant
(a blessing in disguise as I would probably still be there hating every
minute of it but doing nothing about it. You just need to read the "Strathy"
every week to know that this corporation have done absolutely nothing to
endear themselves to the village). I worked with Iain McRury who is in
one
of your pictures and thought you might be interested to know that he now
runs the coffee corner on the main street next to Nevissport. (top bloke
by
the way!!) I have some images of both the interior and exterior of the
old
Osprey building at various stages of the refurbishment which may be of
interest to you. They may be too large to e-mail so I'll pop them on a
disc
soon and send them to you. Anyway, you have a cracking site!
Keep up the good
work
Yours Sincerely
Paul Moran
Hi Julie & David
Firstly congratulations on this great site. I look forward to what appears on it in the weeks to come.
I live in Forres and on many occasions went to curl at the Ice Rink
- quite a number of moons ago!
I will try and gather my thoughts on some of these occasions. I
present a programme on
Scottish Internet Radio which is listened to by people all over the
world. In fact I have sent details
of your site to a lady in Palm Beach, Florida - a native of the
Aviemore area - and she promises to
make her contribution to the "your memories" section quite soon. If
it is OK with you I would publicise
Auld Aviemore in my next programme and play some appropriate music.
I have managed to track
down an LP of "The Trampies". Also I have a good recording of a
tune called THE AVIEMORE JIG.
If you want to check out my programme log on to
www.internetradio.co.uk/andy.html
Slainte
Andy
Hello
My name is Rory Simpson I live in Aviemore. I worked in the ice rink
for 10
years and I was the last person to "cut the ice". I have some photos in
my house
of the "last night" - we had a massive party! I will try and dig them
out for you
I will post them off to you, if I can find them,
Think your web site is fab!
Rory .
Loved your website.
Good to see the old Aviemore. I have worked there since the late
70s,
in practically every part of the centre including the "DAS Stubel."
I was the therapist in The Four Seasons the last time you were
there.
I'm STILL working in the centre as an "aqua-fit" instructor.
Best Wishes
Brenda Surtees (previous Johnston)
Great idea folks. My wife and I came to live in Aviemore because
the Centre was about to open and we have been here ever since !
I have a few photographs that might be of use.
I do aerial photography from model aircraft so will be able to supply
some unique pics. My son grew up to be a ski instructor - first with
Cairdsport ( Sandy Caird is still about). My son now runs his own
ski school in the German Alps at Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Duncan Cameron
"Flying Cameras"
Aviemore
Dear David and Julie
Your
letter in the Forres gazette brought back memories of old Aviemore.
When I was a young airman at R.A.F. Kinloss in the mid 5o’s I would
often
travel south through Aviemore. It was a popular stop for a cup of tea
from
the platform trolley or kiosk. In the summer of 1958 my fiancé and I
were
traveling up from Edinburgh and changed at Aviemore for the train to
Forres over
the Dava, (a line now long closed). We had some time to wait for our
train and
went for a walk through the village. The memories I have are of neat
houses
built of dressed granite and of a granite wall running along the front
opposite
the railway station. We walked to the west end of the village
where a thorn hedge led into the surrounding country side.
At the east end we tried our luck at the Pot Luck Tearoom but it was
closed.
A garage now occupies the spot. There was very little by way of shops.
It was normal practice on Sunday evening for skiers to board the train
south.
Skies would be stood up in the corridor or laid on the floor.
There were little or no facilities for skiers in those days.
Aviemore has expanded greatly over the past 50 years, but I prefer to
dwell on
my memories of how it used to look with its neat little houses and
friendly
people.
Gas lamps on the station platform.
Tea and a wad, (?) but bring your own cup.
Andrew Hutchinson
Forres
I
read your article in the Scottish Sunday post and I had to send you
some photos of Aviemore.
I remember it well as a church group I was in used to go every year
on a camp for a weekend.
Those were great years.
I am now 42 years of age but I remember those days as if it were
yesterday.
I wish you well with website.
thanks and good luck..
Graham Hedger
OUR
"AULD AVIEMORE" by Evelyn McNicol
I have three children born 1959, 1962 and 1964. My husband and I started
them
skiing in 1966 and at first took them abroad and then to Glencoe — which
was
nearer to Glasgow — but access to the ski lifts being across a boggy
hillside we
soon changed to the Cairngorms. Not only was it easier to get the
children up the
hill because of the already growing lift system there was so much to do
around
Aviemore when the weather was so severe that ‘The Hill’ was closed —
which was
quite often. We soon got into a pattern of booking dinner, bed and
breakfast with
a Mrs. Grant in Kingussie (for £5 ) which gave us dinner on Saturday
night and a
large room with two double beds and a single bed which suited our family
very well
as we have two girls and a boy.
There was so much we could do if skiing was not possible. This meant
that by
Saturday lunchtime, while waiting for my husband to come home from work
there
were at least twenty five pairs of shoes/boots waiting in the hall. We
needed
ski-boots, walking boots, wellington boots, skating boots and slippers
for all five of us!
Many days we skated at the open air ice rink at Coylumbridge as well as
at the
ice rink in the Aviemore Centre. We also went most Sunday afternoons
after
skiing to swim in the well appointed pool in the Centre.
We didn’t use the hotels but appreciated the availability of them for
people who
didn’t know a "Mrs. Grant".
The shops in the Centre were attractive — there were book shops and
clothes
shops which were well stocked and there were suitable restaurants to
have a
meal or a snack before setting off home.
All this could be done between 6.30 pm on Saturday and 6.30 pm on Sunday
and
we did this most weekends from January till at least Easter when there
was
plenty of snow and plenty of other facilities in OLD AVIEMORE.
Evelyn McNicol
Glasgow
This
collection of photos, some a little dark or blurred, were
sent in by Miss E. Girvan of Aviemore.
They show various scenes in and around the village and
some "up the hill".
Thank you Miss Girvan.
Hi
Roddie at Cairngorm Mountain put me in touch with your site,
because I'm looking for some old chair lift company pictures.
Straight away looking at the home page bought back memories.
I'm
from Derbyshire, and have skied cairngorm since 94.
I remember staying in the poorly run Badenoch for a while.
This was through a company called Skills of Nottingham.
Their buses where green with black and yellow livery.
They pulled out of the Ski Supreme trips due to falling numbers
and poor management. I still see the head teacher, Derek who
looks a tad like Peter Sellers, and his son Ross who works on one
of the estates. I also stayed in the Mercury and there was a
little radio station close by I seem to remember. The coach always
had the station on for the ski reports (MFR?) I also remember an
Ebay type bid show for unwanted items..
Wonder who got the hand painted cortina?
It
was a shame for what happened to the ice rink. I used to watch
the Curling in there at night, and the bar. The cinema though was
an experience. The interlude halfway through the movie,
well behaved children... It's was like a step back in time.
Mind, I'm up in 4 weeks time, though I stay in Newtonmore now
at the "Balavil", but I have found Smiffy's fish and chips to be the
best in the area, so after 8 hours behind the wheel, that's my first
stop.
Regards
John A. Whilde
Memories of Aviemore by
Fiona Davie
1973—1974
(Me 1973)
In the summer of 1973 I decided to return to my roots and move to
Scotland.
My father was born in Glasgow and both his parents were Scottish, so I
thought
it was high time I learnt something about Scotland and its inhabitants!!
(Post House
1973)
In 1973 the Aviemore Centre had not long been built and consisted of The
Badenoch Hotel, ice skating rink, swimming pool, Austrian restaurant,
hairdressers, RS McColls, ski hire shop, theatre/cinema, Strathspey
hotel and
chalets. Aviemore village had a Fine Fare supermarket, post office, a
collection
of shops beside the station: café, electrical shop, ski clothes, garage,
and the
Altn-na-craig was opposite the station. At the other end of the village
was an
old fashioned shop that sold everything from paraffin to wellies, bread
and milk!!
(Housemaids
1974)
So, after answering an advertisement in The Lady magazine from the
Badenoch
Hotel in Aviemore requesting seasonal staff, housemaids, bar staff etc,
I found myself boarding the sleeper train from Rugby in late September
1973.
I arrived in Aviemore on a bright, sunny Autumn morning with the smell
of
damp heather in the air!
The taxi journey from the station to the hotel was very quick but
expensive;
I think he charged me a fiver!! I was met by the housekeeper who took me
down
to the basement where her office and the laundry room was situated. I
was to
be a housemaid and duly told and shown what my duties would be -
cleaning 10
guest rooms on the first floor. Duvets were just coming into fashion but
in Scotland
I was told “we call them downies”!!
(Easter
bonnets competition 1974)
The female staff accommodation at that time was on the north end of the
first
floor consisting of tiny rooms which slept two people. We had to be very
quiet
in the evening as guest bedrooms were just round the corner!!
There was just room for a bunk bed, handbasin and wardrobe. The
bathrooms
were across the corridor. There were several girls from Scotland...
Anna from
Glasgow (Housemaid), Grace (Hotel Nanny), her mother, Isobel
(housemaid?/cleaner?)
and Grace’s sister Isobel was to join the housemaids a few months later,
came from
Kingussie, Alice (housemaid) from Newcastle. Rosemary (waitress) came
from the
West Country but was only there a couple of months. She had recently
trained as
a teacher and was waiting to hear about a teaching post and was highly
delighted
when a letter arrived offering her a post in a school in Bournemouth!
Sue arrived
from Birmingham to gain more experience in the hotel trade
(I
think her parents
had a catering business in Birmingham) and it wasn’t long before she was
made
assistant restaurant manageress. We didn’t have any particular uniform,
had to
supply our own overalls but the waitresses wore tartan skirts and white
blouses.
We started at 8am with breakfast! The breakfast cook was a lovely woman
and
always made sure we got plenty to eat. However, if the hotel was very
busy we
just got tea and toast and had to go back at 10am for bacon, eggs etc.
Staff
lunch was served in the staff dining room at 12.15. We usually finished
work about
3pm and the rest of the day was our own. Staff were given an evening
meal about
5pm, but we usually had something to eat at the local café beside the
station!
Rosemary and I would more often than not walk up the hill at the back of
Aviemore as
the view from the top was fantastic! We once took the ski lift to the
top of Cairngorm
and having got our cup of tea discovered it was 10 minutes to closing
and the fog
had come down!
(Grace & Isabell 1974)
Towards the end of September the housemaids
were moved down to live in a bungalow
at the other end of the village, just past the pub that sells the best
selection of whisky!
I had a room to myself for the first week but was woken one morning by
the housekeeper
bringing another housemaid. Diana came all the way from Poole in Dorset
and we have
remained friends ever since! The only other occupant of the bungalow was
a polish
gentleman who worked in the kitchens, I think he was a prisoner of war
and ended up
here in Scotland. Not only was Aviemore and the surrounding area a
lovely place to
walk, we hired bikes from Coylumbridge and rode for miles!
The social life and evening entertainment was brill
—
there was something on somewhere
most nights! We were given staff cards so we got in free to most events!
As far as I can remember:
Sunday: Folk music with Barbara? at Post House Hotel
Monday: Ice Skating
Tuesday: THE Trampies!!! !Songs and Jokes!!
Wednesday: Disco at the Post House
Thursday: Ice skating
Friday: Coylumbridge Disco
— a must!!
Saturday: Entertainment in the theatre. The MacCalmans, Isla St. Clair,
Billy Connelly, Stefan Grapelli to name but a few!
(Rosemary 1973)
Diana and I sometimes got days off together and we would take the bus to
Grantown on Spey, or the train to Inverness for shopping. When we felt
like a break
and wanted to return home for a few days the housekeeper use to arrange
for us to
take our days off over a week as we lived so far away from home!! It was
much
appreciated and I enjoyed going home to Leicester to see family.
At Christmas the hotel was very busy as the snow had stayed! I worked
Christmas Day
and Boxing Day and Diana worked New Year. I remember I made £15 in tips
and bought
myself a pair of sheepskin gloves! On Hogmanay we found ourselves in a
local hotel —
the Red McGregor hotel - and proceeded to “first foot” several people in
the village
ending up at the Doctors house listening to somebody playing a guitar
and singing
Scottish songs!! It was 5am before I got to ma bed!!
I do remember it snowed heavily that winter and the village was cut off
for three days!
An RAF rescue helicopter was left stranded in the snow behind the centre
for about a
week and we had to take the long way from the bungalow through the
village to get to
the hotel for work! There were long tailed tits singing away in the
bushes in the centre
one freezing cold day... I seem to remember the temperature was minus 28
degrees!
Fortunately they had turned off the fountain!
(Sue from Brum 1973)
It was also the time of the
3 day week (miners strike) and we only got power for about
six hours a day! It was quite chilly in the bungalow so we bought
ourselves extra
blankets and hot water bottles.
Easter arrived and the weather warmed up a bit. There was an Easter
bonnet competition
in the square at the back of the hotel. Cairngorm still had snow so the
hotel was busy.
Diana left Aviemore, I think, at the end of April and I followed at the
end of May to return
home. I thoroughly enjoyed my few months in Aviemore.
(Donnie 1974)
When I returned with my family a few years ago the Centre had been
completely flattened,
apart from the theatre which was boarded up! Although the Aviemore
hotel was still
standing and looked as if it had been recently painted, and there was
nothing left of the ice
rink, shops or swimming pool!
Though the Centre has been re-built but I have yet to return for a
second visit!
From Fiona Davie
Perthshire.
Hello
It's brilliant to find someone who feels the same about the old Aviemore
as I do.
I have many fond memories about Aviemore, my family moved to Aviemore
from
Paisley 30 years ago, in those days the winters were fantastically harsh
with
blizzards and white outs. I remember one of our first winter's the
pipes burst,
the roads were blocked, the snow blower was piling up the snow at the
side of
the roads, people couldn't get out of their houses in some places - I
believe we were
completely cut off from civilisation - a helicopter had brought down the
power and
telephone lines, it was fantastic !! As a child I thought this was
brilliant - no doubt
the older villagers weren't too pleased though.
I went to the village primary school - my first teacher there in
"primary 5" was
Mrs Smith. I remember the year that the playing field flooded and we
almost floated
away in a porta-cabin which was our Year 7 classroom, the whole school
was
surrounded by rising flood-waters...
I spent most of my teen years in the ice rink, figure skating - I would
be at the rink
6am before getting the bus to Kingussie to high school, back in the rink
after school
until closing time - I still skate but not to that extent thankfully!
My instructor at
the time was Jill Sharp (Patterson ?). I also skated briefly with
Jackie Dryborough
and the kids who came down from Aberdeen to steal our great ice - they
didn't have
a rink at the time so we had to share. Every Weds night I would help
out by teaching
the local kids at the Skating Club - we put on a few Xmas time shows
which all the
village would turn out to see - those were the days! And yes, I was
part of
"It's a Knockout" - although I think I was in the reserves as I was one
of the
younger skaters (but, hey ! I did get paid for it !!)
I have fond memories of under age drinking at the Rock Night in the
Osprey Room -
it used to be filled to capacity - then there was the experimental split
disco in the
Fraser room 57th and 67th Street or something like that - strange
concept but it
seemed to work briefly, our 2 resident DJ's who seemed to be there
throughout
all the changes - Dave Gilfillen and Chris (?) brilliant ! Of course,
going even further
back there used to be the U-18's disco when it really was The Fraser
Room.
I live in London with my partner and my 2 children now, I've been down
here
since 1987, how time flies ! In the early years I would constantly
reminisce about
Aviemore, about how great Hogmanay was in the square, how in the Summer
you
could skate in shorts and t-shirts and then come out to the square and
listen to a
band performing on the fountains (which would be covered up !!), the
amazing snow
and the way that everyone seems to know everyone else. It's all changed
now, I find
it very sad each time I go home the old Centre has gone, swallowed up by
a hugely
expensive corporate centre - the ice rink is gone, gone too is the
swimming pool and
even the rickety old cinema. It's now all about money, I find it
astonishing that the
teeny little pool is so expensive. Living in the "South" you kind of
get used to high prices
for some things, but I wouldn't take the kids to that pool - it's really
overpriced.
When we do go up to Aviemore we spend a lot of our time in Inverness or
down at
the "Coylum" - we'll never grow tired of "Cyril the Squirrel's
Playhouse", nor the
outdoor play area. I cant say I miss the old outdoor ice rink that was
there as it was
always really cold and a bit of a trek to get to.
There used to be a lovely board walk down by the Spey and in the Summer
the lupins would
come out and you could sit on one of the benches or swim in the river.
My friends and
I used to run up the steep concrete slope under the road bridge then
slide down on
our bums - now that was very scary !!! I took my son there a few years
ago to try it -
it's just as much fun!
There was the games room (arcade) right next to the ice rink - our dad
was the manager
there. He kind of faded into Aviemore history and passed away recently.
I think the only thing that hasn't really changed is Craigellachie
walk. The trail up and
over the hill is slightly eroded now but it's still there if you know
where to look.
I miss the old times - maybe it's just sentimental memories and a
longing for childhood
But Aviemore was a brilliant place to grow up, it doesn't hold much
interest for me now
except to visit my family. There are too many housing developments and
not enough
things to do! Where the locals once had the centre there are now no
leisure facilities
actually in walking distance, and as Aviemore grows beyond Dalfaber that
walking
distance is surely getting bigger.
Dawn Hannay
Dear Julie and David
I just fired up the internet and saw your email. What a nice idea to
chronicle Aviemore over the years.
I've sent you email to a couple of former Forres "loons" Bill Macdonald
and
George Kosciuk and would be surprised if they don't reply.
My fondest memories of Aviemore (circa 1955) is going with my sister on
the
train from Forres to Aviemore when she was working in the station
newsstand.
Her name was Helen, but we called her Nellie. Nellie would take me (
probably 6 - 7 years old) to work with her and I'd sit at the back of
the
news agent shop reading comics and eating a chocolate bar that she would
buy
me, probably to keep me quiet. I loved the train ride there and back
and
we'd look out the window doing silly things like trying to count the
number
of cows in a field or just watching the rain running down the carriage
windows. For a kid like me, this ride (free I think) was a great
adventure and one that I looked forward to for weeks in advance. I
think
she covered for the regular girls' vacation and it must have happened
during
the school holidays as my mother would never have allowed me to miss
school.
I can remember the trip quite vividly as me moved from the low-lying
land
around Forres to the high ground at Aviemore. What a wonderful memory.
I have some other memories which I will share at a later date. I left
Forres
when I was 20 but on each trip back we made the obligatory trip to
Aviemore
with my brother or parents.
Thank you for the offer to put my website on your site. That would be
most
appreciated. This is a new business and any help I can get to promote
the
products is most welcome. My website is
www.highlandline.com
I will take a look at your site and let you know what will work best.
Keep up the good work.
Alan
Dear Julie and David
It is a
pity that your site only starts in the 60s. For many years
before that Glenmore Lodge on Loch Morlich was the centre for
the winter sports activities in the area. I learned, and later
taught, skiing and winter climbing there, in the late 40s and early 50s.
That
was before the days of ski-lifts, walkways etc. We travelled
by train to Aviemore then walked with our rucksacks out to the
Lodge,
where accommodation was like that in the old mountain youth
hostels.
All the skiers were real mountaineers - they had to be as they had
to
get uphill as well as down (on old Kandahar bindings!) without any
assistance. Our ski boots were army boots or work boots with
"Commando" soles, stiffened with a metal plate screwed on from the
heel forward and a groove burned in the back of the heel with a
poker
to take the binding; no fancy Lycra clothing but ex-army anoraks (or
as a treat we would get a real tough anorak from Blacks of Greenock
-- I still have mine, here in Darwin, Australia!) and trousers
soaked in
waterproofing liquid.
I heard and saw Ferla Mor, the "Grey Man of Ben MacDui", while
climbing by map, compass and altimeter on Cairngorm during a
total white-out; heard laughing voices at midnight during a dreadful
blizzard while 3 of us were bivouacked behind a snow wall under the
Shelter Stone, and on returning to the Lodge the following night
met a group who had been bivouacking on Braeriach and had heard
the same thing at the same time. An old man whom we met while
walking back to Aviemore at the end of our stay looked very worried
and told us that "The Voices" were only ever heard when there was
an impending disaster; we politely heard him out and went on for
our respective trains home -- and a week later the national press
headlines were about the old Aviemore hotel being burned down
(c. 1552) with the loss of several lives. We were sometimes
called
out on mountain rescue tasks (usually in the middle of the night!)
to search for non-mountaineering people from Aviemore who had
wandered too far and with too much self-confidence in dangerous
conditions.
Sometimes we would leave for home via a long walk through the
Lairig Ghru to Braemar, which involved crossing a slack 2-wire
"bridge"
over the burn near a deserted shepherd's bothy; the crossing was
easy enough when unladen, but with a full heavy rucksack, one's feet
were liable to shoot forward, the rest back, and it made for a
tiring
and difficult crossing to arrive without getting soaked in icy
water.
While the social life at the Lodge was nowhere near as sophisticated
as it was to become in Aviemore in the ensuing years, it was great
fun, with exhausted climbers and skiers relaxing and sharing
experiences
(and they were mostly very experienced mountain men) after a long
hard day before retiring quite early ready to get up and out before
daylight the following day.
I
emigrated to Papua New Guinea in 1964 and have not lived near snow
ever since, though my mountaineering days stood me in good stead in
1965 when with two Papuan men, and without guides and carriers, we
broke John Landy's record for crossing the Kokoda Trail over the
Owen Stanley mountains in 3 and 1/4 days, which stood as the new
record until only a year or two ago.
Now
in my 70s I no longer climb, but keep fit, with my wife, teaching
and participating in Scottish Country Dancing. This allows us to
get
back to Scotland every 2 years for the big RSCDS School in St
Andrews,
and to New Zealand every year for their national Summer School.
But
my Papuan wife and I both do miss the lost genuine
wildernesses of our different younger years.
Angus
Angus & Puka Henry:– Royal Scottish Country Dancing
Society
DARWIN, AUSTRALIA
http://www.users.on.net/~anguka/
Dear
Julie and David,
My husband and I and a group of friends from University spent a
very
happy week there some 25 or so years ago. We stayed in a rented
cottage where we had to dry out the wood around the fire before we
could burn it!
I will see if I can find some photos, but I am not sure whether
they
all made it across the Atlantic when we moved.
We certainly have very happy memories of our holiday there. We
thought -13 deg C was cold then, now it is an average high
temperature in January and February in Minnesota.
Janet McKernan
Minnesota - USA
Dear
Julie and David,
I will tell all of the Scottish Country Dancers in Melbourne,
Florida,
about your new website tonight at our dance evening. I really
enjoyed
looking at your website and I know that the dancers will have fun
looking
at it also. I hope that you receive all sorts of photos and
reminiscences.
Unfortunately, I've never been to the UK, so I wasn't able to visit
Auld Aviemore in its heyday. I spent the 60s on the San Francisco
peninsula
in California where I was born and in South Bend, Indiana, where I
went
to college at Saint Mary's College. I *wish* I could have spent some
of my
vacations at Auld Aviemore!
All the best,
Catie Condran Geist (Palm Bay, Florida, USA)
Handwritten letter from
Brenda Birch, SOUTHWOLD, Suffolk. 20 March 2007
Dear David and Julie,
My nephew saw your article in the paper and sent it to me. He
remembered
a good few happy holidays in Aviemore.
My husband Brian was manager of the Post House Hotel from 1972-1979,
the good old days when the centre boomed, there was snow on the
Cairngorms and Cairdsport Ski School, based at the hotel, thrived!
I’ve looked at the photo album, but, typical of a doting young
mother,
the photos are all of my children, now 31 and 33 years old.
We’ve found some old films in the loft, but no projector.
Any luck and I’ll be in touch again.
I did though, find this little ad in my writing case (why was it
kept??????),
which I’ve photocopied.
I was secretary of the Osprey Curling Club,
a mad group of hotel and centre staff, who met one evening a week in
the winter for a great laugh and a good bit of curling.
David Dick was our President/boss.
That’s it.
Kind regards,
Brenda Birch
My father was a journalist and we
spent a week in the Chalets on the opening of the new
centre in order to entice new business with an article in the
Scottish Daily Mail.
With Disneyland just a gleam in Walt's eye, Aviemore was a
teenager's dream.
The ski slope-a muddy 1 in 2 incline- seemed a precipice to
rival St Moritz.
Das Stubel, the Austrian restaurant, appeared more sophisticated
than the Ivy.
The ice rink, with precedence given to curlers, nevertheless
turned me into a
junior Jayne Torville as my baby brother staggered around on his
double bladed
training skates. There was a go karting track but for over 18s
only though I managed
to sneak on one night when it was closed. Great security! The
wooden chalets were
very foreign, with duvets as yet a rarity in Scotland. I've
lots of photos which I'll dig out
along with some proper descriptions and send to you A.S.A.P.
Regards
Mary Paterson
Nice to read your letter enquiring
about the place.
I
worked there in the late 60's at the Coylumbridge Hotel.
my husband played in the resident band, and i worked in the
coffee shop.
at that time Santa Claus land was just in the pipe-line.
did you
know Alistair and Betty Stirling. He played the organ in the
band.
and betty and i worked in the coffee shop.
we left ( a long story) then I went back in the early 70's
yes, i remember all those
places you mention. never went to the ice rink,
as i couldn't skate. but what about those water fountains
outside.
one of our staff poured washing liquid into the water. wow.
that was something.
we passed through Aviemore
from our holiday in Wester Ross, and i wanted to see
the place again. it was like a mini Blackpool and we never
stopped.
want to remember it as it was all those years gone by. a
lovely tidy little highland village.
write to me if you want to know more. don't know where to start.
good luck in your search.
yours Andrea Tallo.
Dear David and Julie
Back in the 40s
Aviemore was only the Cairngorm hotel and the Station with a
little wooden
cafe at the side. No traffic. Pencilled postcard home reads
'Two cars passed us today, neither
gave us a lift' I was walking from Fort Augustus to
Inverness. Bread was rationed same holiday,
spent my first BUs (?) in Fort William co-op.
Won Pam in a
bet 1950. so took her up to see my favourite Bens Burns and
Bothies.
No lifts those days ,so we walked. By 1960s The lift went
up so I shot up one night, skied all day,
stopped at first hotel on way down. Coylumbridge. Absolutely
wonderful. Skied the following day
and straight back home. Took Pam up for Easter for the next
few years. It was a Rank hotel.
Cabaret straight from the telly. Own ski shop and school.
Clay pigeon shooting. Pony trekking.
Own ice rink. Dancing, cinema, whisky tasting, treasure
hunt. And the food was out of this world.
In the foyer were chickens hatching out, all in different
bright colours and rabbits all colours.
Easter Monday
was a Buffet. The guests queued to get in and then spent
ages just circling
round looking. A Fisherman sculpted out of ice, rod bent in
strain and a full salmon caught in a
frozen wave. Chocolate chickens and bunny rabbits of all
shapes and sizes. Meats fish fowl.
The cooks begging us to eat. "We haven't gone to all this
trouble just to look at!! EAT!!
Kiddies going
back to tables with arms full of chocolate fancies and eyes
like saucers.
The most fabulous hotel we have ever stayed in. Bit costly
mind you, We extended Easter
to a week once and the bill was £666.00 which in those days
was a bit much.
The Queue on
the ski road was a bit thronged . climb up to the ptarmigan
one day and
down the drift the next. Moguls on the white lady five feet
tall, if you hit one it took five
minutes to get your breath back. Feeling for the bumps in a
white out I gingerly reached down
to see how fast I was travelling, and fell over, I was stood
still. Another voice laughing its head
off said it had met a similar fate. Lots of memories of
Aviemore skiing, all happy. Stayed at the
Cairngorm for a few years also Nethy Bridge and Carr Bridge.
Coylumbridge priced themselves out.
We got a fortnight on the continent for less than the Easter
weekend. Not the same now of course,
it's just another hotel.
The RAC Rally
used to pass that way each year and as I was into motor
sport, I did something
on the RAC for 25 years on the trot. 1972 was the year of
the big blizzard. Some youngsters died
on the way to a hut. It really was bad. Shoulder high snow
banks on the A9. Worst snow
conditions I have ever driven. Scandinavians refused to run
the stages because they hadn't been
ploughed. Everybody running late. Lots of re-routeing. A
marshal following asked me to slow down
as he couldn't keep up over 90 and was completely lost. Not
long after midnight, we'd swapped
sides and I leaned in the back for maps, happened to look
out of the back and saw the most
wonderful Xmas card scene. Every pine needle glittered in
the moonlight and the whole lot was
reflected in the loch. Breathtaking! I leaned across the car
took the wheel and said "Look at that
NOW!!!" He said "I didn't used to believe in God, but I've
felt his finger on the boot a couple of
times and I think He must be out spectating. I had to agree.
Aviemore has
the record for best meal and best view.
Peter Todd
My
mother, a young woman in around the year 1902 worked in the old
Aviemore Hotel for several years. It was then an impressive
building
to which only the ‘better off’ people could afford to stay. In
those days,
they would arrive in their chauffeur driven cars, some with
their lady’s maids.
The hotel then was deemed one of the best in Scotland.
Service then to such visitors was top class. With a specially
trained
housekeeper controlling the staff (my mother at that time was in
training for that position), which in later years she fulfilled,
remaining
at the Aviemore Hotel for a number of years before marrying my
father.
As a child, she used to tell me what it was like to live there
and serve
the guests in those days. The staff, before being taken on, had
to have
very good references and during their time in service, all the
women
wore Grant tartan dresses and big white linen aprons and head
caps
and those waiting on tables were all inspected by the
housekeeper
before service.
Each
girl had to have a clean white linen napkin over her arm and
when
lining up for inspection by the housekeeper, if one girl had
forgotten
the napkin, 6d (sixpence), was taken from her wages and in those
days the monthly wage was £3, a bit above the everyday hotel
wage
then. It was an honour to be employed at Aviemore and when
seeking
another job, it was a good recommendation.
Staff
were employed for seasonal work from early Easter until the end
of September. Afterwards, only winter staff and the housekeeper
were retained.
It was a tragic day when that beautiful building was destroyed by fire.
Today, it is so different, when everyone can afford to enjoy the
beautiful
hills and scenery and skiing.
Somewhere among my old collection of photographs, I have
original postcards
of the hotel and surrounding views. If only I had the energy to
clear out all
the drawers of photographs, but being at the age of 93, I think
that could easily
be left to those who will one day empty my house and look at
all the old
photographs and wonder whether they are worth keeping and
possibly out
they will go. The youth of today want to look forward. Looking
back is the past.
I now
live in a small house by the side of Luce Bay in bonnie
Galloway, a very
lovely part of southern Scotland and many of my friends have
come up through
the ‘tartan curtain’ to retire and enjoy the peace of Galloway.
Please forgive my handwriting. I am old fashioned and do not
have ‘the web’,
(except those that the spiders make!) and I do not have a typing
machine.
I do
enjoy monthly the Scots Magazine together with a very
informative and
interesting Dumfries and Galloway Life magazine.
Sincerely,
Isabella C.S. Shaw
P.S.
My mother used to tell me of a family she was friendly with who
lived in
Aviemore. Their name was WEBSTER. In 1960, my mother and I and
my
husband drove to Aviemore and stayed for a few days and tried to
find this
particular friend of my mothers, only to find that she had died
the previous day.
My
mother died in 1970 aged 88. My only relation now (my niece),
lives in
California, so only visits once in a while.
Hi. We
first went to Aviemore with our two children 1982, son aged 11
and daughter 1+.
I remember the ice rink, the swimming pool and son had a great
time on go-carts which
at that time were in the centre surrounded by hotels etc. There
was also a large cafeteria
adjacent to one of the hotels, which proved popular with
families. The ice rink initially was
very popular but as the years progressed we noticed it was not
being utilised as it should
and became very shabby with virtually no upkeep. I remember the
hired skates were almost
impossible to wear and several attempts had to be made to find a
pair suitable. Santa Land
was also popular although I don't recall ever visiting it. The
car park was always fairly full,
again right in the centre of the "village".
Fiona McMillan
Having read in the Scots magazine you were looking for
memorabilia of Aviemore.
This postcard is postmarked 1987, but I think the views in the
picture are older,
as we as a family visited Aviemore from the late 1960’s to
present day.
Hope this pic is some help to you.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs.
E. Smith
Bathgate, nr Edinburgh
Hello there!
I worked
in the Chalets for a year between 1968 and 1969.
My name was Jill Jack in those olden days!!
You're
quite right. It was a magical place in those far-off days.
However, Santa Claus Land, the Post House (may perhaps have
been in the
throes of construction) and Freedom-Inn Hotels were not
there.
The Centre was certainly a humming place then with never a
dull moment to
be found. As I said, I worked in the Chalets in Reception
along with a girl called
Pat Holland and another called Sue (very blonde and very
pretty!!).
Harry Abrahams was the big chief in the chalets in those
days.
Sadly, I believe he died a year or two ago.
I moved
back to Scotland 6 years ago and my husband and I went up to
Aviemore,
my first return since leaving in 1969. We didn't stay long
- there was nothing to see
and I preferred to keep my own mental pictures alive and
well.
By the way I picked up your letter in the April edition of The Scots Magazine.
Best regards,
Jill Eastwood
Hi Julie and David,
I love your site because I spent years having summer holidays in
Aviemore
and have many happy memories of it.
I miss the Aviemore centre as it was in the 'good old days'.
I'd love to see pictures of the Red McGregor and the fun fair
that was
beside the Winking Owl.
Many thanks.
Kind regards,
Doug Briglmen
Dear Julie
Please forgive the ramblings of two old duffers but my husband
George and I
remember you from the Aviemore Hilton at Christmas a few years
ago.
We came across the advert in the Scots magazine regarding the
old Aviemore
Centre and whilst looking at the photgraphs of you and your
husband on the
website that you and your husband have made, George remarked
that he was
sure he had seen you at the Hilton Hotel, Aviemore, when we last
stayed in
Scotland. We seem to recall that you had some children with you
when Father
Christmas visited on Christmas day, and that there was some
kerfuffle over
the reindeer not being allowed in the hotel areas... foot and
mouth or
something similar?
The children were with Father Christmas (a member of hotel staff
i believe)
and had photos taken with him. Happy days and I'm sure the
children will
remember it with fondness. George and I have not been back to
the Hilton
hotel as I had read that the Centre had been taken over and that
all was not
well with the staff, with many leaving to seek gainful
employment at the
Coylumbridge Hotel on the Cairngorm Road, now a much more
popular hotel I
believe, because of the problems in the village. My younger
sister Emily
who is now 65 has recently moved from Reading in the South to
Newtonmore and
says it is a wonderful little village. We shall visit her in
the Summer and
hope to stay with her at wintertime for Christmas.
I'm rambling here but I just wanted to say that we have lovely
memories of
Aviemore but sadly no photographs of the "old centre" as we have
only been
twice. You must be very clever to be able to put all that
information onto
the web thing (can't think of the word).
Oh and also I really do admire your cross-stitching, it really
is wonderful.
How did you ever manage to come up with such a beautiful
idea? You really
are very talented.
If you ever go back to Aviemore, perhaps as you say soon to live
there, I
hope both you and your hubby are very happy... I know I shall be
very
jealous - maybe we'll be hot on your heels and moving near to my
sister. Who
knows?
All the best and happy memories
Lena and George Painter
Dear
Julie and David
In November 1957, myself and another lad were chosen to go to
Glenmore Lodge,
near Aviemore for a month of outdoor activities along with many
others from different
schools. We were all 14-15 year olds and had a wonderful time.
We were taught
orienteering, map reading, canoeing, how to use a compass etc
and we went on 3 day
bivouacs. Every Sunday morning, we all had to run around Loch
Morlich before breakfast.
Together, we all climbed Ben MacDui, Buchaille Etive Mor and
many more. We saw the
white stag on one of our outings and we met the deer herder as
he rang his bell and
brought the reindeer down from the hillside. Everyone was
allocated chores, peeling
potatoes, tidying rooms and hallways and cleaning boots for the
next days hike.
I’ll never forget how lucky I and a couple of others were, as
through the month,
we witnessed sightings in the big house that were later
explained to us as ghosts.
I believe that one of our teachers at the lodge was the grandson
of Scott of the Antartic,
but I’m not certain of this. We visited Aviemore a few times,
but were always supervised.
I have very fond memories of Aviemore and Glenmore Lodge.
The last time I visited Aviemore, it had become very
commercialised and I was so
disappointed at what I saw. Anyway, I still have my memories,
but sadly all photos
have been lost over the years.
Mr N. Gruner
Dear Julie and
David
As a student at Stirling University 1972 to 1977 I had
several occasions to work
at the Post House Hotel as a night porter during my
Christmas break.
My memories are many and multi-fold. I first took the job as
an innocent
(well nearly innocent) 20 year old in1973-4. Arriving at the
centre by train from
Stirling just after it had been cut off by heavy snow for
ten days.
The centre was then newly built and the SantaWorld did not
exist.
I worked under the night manager, Peter Forbes, a gruff
Highlander who had
worked with the contractors building the hotel prior to
working in it.
His opinion on the quality of the construction was thus
unprintable.
Peter had three night porters working under him.
Myself (that year for seven weeks and for the same period
for the next
three years) Ashley, an Australian on his world tour, and
Mark, an Orkadian
married to one of the day receptionists. The hotel was then
a flagship for the
Forte group employing a cordon blue French chef and
supplying the best the
group could manage to its guests at anything but cheap
prices.
The general manager was an ex bank manager I believe
headhunted by
Forte himself as the man who managed Fortes own accounts.
He had several shift managers from an Oxford graduate to a
promoted receptionist.
One of the more interesting shift managers was the real
Bert Mackay from
the Isle of Sky. Bert was like a fish out of water as a duty
manager.
He hated the job and looked extremely uncomfortable in the
morning suit that
shift managers were expected to wear. The second year I was
there the cordon blue
chef threw a final artistic wobbly and executed his
constant threat to walk out.
Bert was asked to manage the kitchen. He threw the morning
suit in the bin
before they could ask a second time and threw the cordon
blue menu in the
bin with it, dusted down his chef whites rolled up his
sleeves and phoned
granny back on Skye for her recipe for Scotch Broth. The
punters loved it.
Bert gave them traditional Scots fair with the best of
ingredients. Game Pie,
Venison, Salmon, Scots beef. He was on the telly within
twelve months as a
celebrated chef and one of the first promoting Scots fair. I
doubt if the
Post House Aviemore ever again employed a cordon blue chef
and Bert from being
an unhappy under manager became a very happy chef.
I have many other stories but that will do for now.
I submit this purely for your interest and am happy to
submit more should you
wish so I can bore a wider audience than my family with my
reminiscences
of 1970s Aviemore.
Yours
Chris Dolan.
Dear Julie and David
Funny how life goes, having returned to stay in Badenoch
(Kingussie) after a long
long time I was in Tesco at Aviemore today where I met an
old friend called Rosemary.
We both ,like many worked in Aviemore Centre in the hay
days, i.e., late 60 s.,
those times were good, winters were winters, snow arriving
late November and still
there in March, how times have changed.
Anyway, thought you and all viewers of
site might like a bit of a laugh.
About 1968 a former school friend of mine (Angus Kerr from
Bridge of Allan ) was
working in the Badenoch hotel as a chef, I used to go up to
Aviemore at weekends
to see him and sneaked a bed in the hotels staff quarters.
He let me know that if I
wanted to have a job in the Centre one was available in the
Ice Rink, whoever got
the job had to be good at ice skating as it was full time on
the ice. Never having been
on skates as he well knew I asked him how he thought I could
get it, reply was, "come up,
my mate works in the swimming pool, he knows one of the guys
in the Ice Rink who will
give you a crash course." Crash course indeed, just what I
needed.
Off to Aviemore I duly went on a Tuesday,
interview was arranged for the Friday,
didn't even have skates!!!!!. Bought a pair of Hockey
skates, they do not have the
serrated barbs at front but since the Ice Rink manager was a
Jack Dryburgh who had
been a pro ice hockey player in Canada I think it would hold
good impression with him.
Three nights, five hours a night, through the night when the
Ice Rink was closed we
entered on the q.t. with only the night lights on in rink
area. Who says it can take a lot
of time to learn, by the end of the three nights, and as a
paying customer during the
day ( when the manager was not in) I was good, backwards, no
problem, a few tricks,
no problem.
Now the big interview day, blah, blah,
blah etc, how is your skating?, good was the reply.
Lets see he said, not expected though, but off we went,
he was obviously impressed,
got the job, Great.
Had a good year plus in the Ice Rink, met
a lot of great people who worked in the
Centre, Show Bands at weekends were first class and all the
entertainment was
if you knew the right people, i.e. doormen . Never to be
repeated I fear.
Many a free meal, no, most in fact could be obtained by the
few who had contacts in the
Pinewood Restaurant, but, the Das Stubel, well, totally out
of bounds, staff there
all had different backgrounds, ( think about it folks, see
what I mean now)
Any, only a distant memory now, but a very very pleasant
one.
PS. Angus Kerr, wherever you are in the world try to contact.
Dennis Hyndman,
Kingussie.