Enter the 2014 New Year Dook at Broughty Ferry Harbour

It's time to get your entry in for the New Year's Day Dook 2014 at Broughty Ferry Harbour. Start time this year is 2:30pm.

The dook is organised by Scotland's only open water swimming club; Broughty Ferry's 'Ye Amphibious Ancients Bathing Association'; the Phibbies! 

Yes the year is passing fast and as the Christmas lights in The Ferry have already been switched on, it's time to fill in your entry form. All entrants will receive their own Dook T-shirt and a Certificate of Achievement.
Entry fee £15.

To enter either fill in the entry form in the printed Dook 2014 Official Programme which is available throughout the Ferry in shops and at the Library or apply online at Ye Abba Dook 1st January 2014 - online entry form. 

Steel Framework Assembly Begins for Barnhill Primary School Extension

On Wednesday, work began assembling the steel frame for the extension to Barnhill Primary School. Looking over from Gillies Park, you can see one of the the first steel beams being lifted by a crane into position. As these are erected, the scale and shape of the two storey extension to the school will become more apparent.

The £2 million extension is programmed to be ready for occupation by teachers and pupils for the new intake in August 2014.

Dundee Festival of Libraries - Events at Broughty Ferry Library This Week

@ Broughty Ferry Library This Week

Thursday 28 November 2013 7.00pm 
Lesley McDowell - Adult Event

Lesley talks about her new gothic novel “Unfashioned Creatures” 200 years after Mary Shelley’s stay in Broughty Ferry.

Saturday 30 November 2013 3–4.00pm
Metaphrog - Children’s Event
10–15 years

Create your own comic character workshop with graphic novel duo Metaphrog.

Read/download Dundee Wide Programme of Events

Broughty Ferry Community Library
Queen Street, Broughty Ferry, Dundee, DD5 2HN
Phone  01382 436919
Email  broughty.library@dundeecity.gov.uk
Website  http://www.leisureandculturedundee.com/library/broughty_ferry

Great Night Out at Christmas Lights 2013 in Broughty Ferry

Last night the Switching on of the Christmas Lights in Broughty Ferry and the associated festivities appeared to be a great success. 

Brook Street and Gray Street were thronged with folk enjoying the fun of the fair and the entertainment on the Radio Tay stage. While the temperature was near freezing, thankfully it was dry this year. 

Many thanks to Broughty Ferry Traders' Association for organising another great night out to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season in The Ferry

Link to Slideshow of Christmas Light Night 2013 in The Ferry

Christmas Poster Competition Winners 2013 from our three Broughty Ferry Primary Schools

Click on poster to enlarge

Broughty Ferry Traders' Association have just announced the winners of their Christmas Poster Competition for 2013. 

• Lawry Angus from P7A at Barnhill Primary School, 
• Rosie Nicoll P5 from Eastern Primary School and 
• Sophie Merchant P2B from Forthill Primary School

will all collect their prizes from the stage at the Christmas Light Night in The Ferry on Thursday evening. 

Didn't they do well?

Temporary Road Closure Central Broughty Ferry Thursday 21 November 2pm-9pm for Christmas Lights Events

THE ROADS (SCOTLAND) ACT 1984 - SECTION 62

The Dundee City Council as Traffic Authority being satisfied that traffic on the road should be prohibited by reason of the Broughty Ferry Christmas Lights switch on event 

HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in:

1. Brook Street (between Fort Street and St Vincent Street) Broughty Ferry
2. Gray Street (between Queen Street and King Street) Broughty Ferry.

This notice comes into effect on Thursday 21 November 2013 between the hours of 2.00pm and 9.00pm.

Alternative routes for vehicles are available via Fort Street/Queen Street/St Vincent Street.
Access will be maintained where possible.

For further information contact (01382) 433168.
Mike P Galloway
Director of City Development, Dundee City Council

Christmas Lights Going Up in Brook Street

On Monday afternoon work began erecting the Christmas lights in The Ferry.

My picture catches the team perched on a platform over the middle of Brook Street putting up the illuminated 'Merry Christmas' suspended above the road between the YMCA and the Burgh Halls.

Only three days to go before the switching on of the lights on Thursday evening 21 November 2013.

Dundee Cycling Report Card - Some Good Progress But We Must Try Harder

Click on image to enlarge

A recent national report on Cycling in Scotland assessed the polices of each of the 32 local councils in Scotland. This assessment awarded the City Council an average score of two and a half stars from five. The summary report card is pictured. 

The Council's performance is rated as slightly stronger on 'Planning' and 'Monitoring' and relatively weaker on 'Action'. In fact the two star rating for 'Action' is the Council's lowest score.

The 1% modal share for cycling shows by implication that there is an enormous gulf between this performance and the target from the Scottish Government of 10% of short journeys by bike by 2020 to help meet carbon reduction targets.

Also significant and particularly disappointing are the very low scores of children cycling to school and those undertaking a Bikeabilty Scotland course, which is the replacement for the Cycling Proficiency Test that I tokk when I was at school. I don't think we can anticipate a significant future lift in cycling in our city if only two or three of our Primary Schools undertake this award.

More encouraging is the score for 'Households with Access to A Bicycle' at 23%. This shows that there are plenty of households with a bike who, with the right infrastructure and support, might be encouraged to get back on the saddle and ride their bikes rather than take short journeys in their cars. That would be good for the environment and personal health.

I will be raising the issues raised in this report with the Head of Transportation and the Director of Education.

 Read or Download the National Assessment Of Local Authority Cycling Policy

Speedy Response by Environment Department to Issues at Neglected Open Space on Douglas Terrace

On Monday night I raised an issue at the Environment Committee about the state of the rather neglected open space at the corner of the junction between the coastal pathway and Douglas Terrace. On Friday afternoon (yesterday) a team of Environment Department staff were out rectifying some of the issues I had raised.

The issues at this triangular area of public open space arose chiefly because the area close to the road had been used as a construction compound where plant and equipment had been stored, while recent construction work on the beach and the coastal pathway had been undertaken.

It looks as though the damage caused to the surface, particularly the deep ruts from heavy vehicles have been flattened.

I will look by again next week when the work has been completed - so far so good.

Temporary Road Closures in Central Broughty Ferry While Christmas Lights are Erected

THE ROADS (SCOTLAND) ACT 1984 - SECTION 62

The Dundee City Council as Traffic Authority being satisfied that traffic on the road should be prohibited by reason of the erection of the Broughty Ferry Christmas Lights being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in:

1. Brook Street (between Fort Street and Gray Street), Broughty Ferry.
2. Gray Street (between Long Lane and King Street), Broughty Ferry.
3. Fort Street (between Long Lane and King Street), Broughty Ferry.

This notice comes into effect on Monday 18 November 2013 for 3 evenings between the hours of 6.00pm and 11.00pm. Only one section of road will be closed at any one time.

Local diversion routes will be available for each closure. Access will be maintained where possible.

For further information contact (01382) 433168
Mike P Galloway
Director of Planning and Transportation, Dundee City Council

Countdown to 2013 Switching On Broughty Ferry Christmas Lights Thursday 21 November 2013 from 6:00 pm

Only seven days left until the beginning of the 2013 Christmas season in Broughty Ferry begins with the switching on of the Christmas Lights on Thursday 21 November.

The evening kicks off at 6pm with street rides, the Radio Tay Roadshow, Eastern Primary School Choir, street entertainers, carnival rides, the famous Scott Brothers BBQ, together with complimentary mince pies, sweeties and hot mulled wine courtesy of the Broughty Ferry Traders. It will all be going on in Brook Street and Gray Street with the central section of both streets car free for the evening. The lights will be officially switched on at 7pm.

Once again our very own Broughty  Ferry Traders' Association, have organised the night and donate the Christmas lights to the people of Broughty Ferry by way of a thank you for their custom over the year. The official sponsor this year is Gillies of Broughty Ferry.

Public Open Space Improvements in Broughty Ferry

At the Environment Committee on Monday (11 November 2013), Councillors approved proposals to undertake Public Open Space Improvements (Report reference AN121-2013) at a number of locations. These had been developed by the Environment Department to enhance amenity whilst, at the same time, reduce the cost of long-term maintenance. Apparently, the proposed improvements would also help reduce concerns about health and safety.

In Broughty Ferry the following three schemes were included.

• Barnhill Housing/Strathmore Street/Nursery Road - refurbish shrub areas and landscape to grass, improving maintenance;
• Queen Street/Orchar Park/Inchkeith Avenue - regenerate hedging and rose beds, replace with new plantings and
• Castle Green/Windmill Gardens - redesign and plant new flower beds.

At the meeting I welcomed these three improvements but queried why there were no plans included to cover the triangular area of public open space at the junction of the coastal pathway and Douglas Terrace. Part of this area had been damaged by successive contractors who had set up a temporary compound for building materials and equipment on this ground. I was assured at the meeting that this was to be attended to. On Tuesday I received an email confirming that the contractors who had been working there were being held to reinstate the flower bed and grass. While this commitment was also welcome, I have also asked for a redesign of this area because the rockery is crumbling, the other flower bed is overgrown with weeds and furthermore the corner by teh road has been become muddy and ill defined.

Commemorative Plaque Installed in Reres Road to Honour Cartoon Genius Dudley D Watkins

Dudley D Watkins (1907 - 1969) is one of the twelve historic figures to be chosen in the first year of the Commemorative Plaque Scheme for Scotland. There is a now a plaque on his former home in Reres Road honoring his celebrated work as an illustrator and cartoonist. I think his artistry, especially in Oor Wullie and The Broons makes this recognition much deserved.

According to Historic Scotland, each plaque celebrates the person's life and achievements and will be placed on their home or on a building synonymous with their achievements. Members of the public have been invited to nominate historic figures on Historic Scotland's website and then these were whittled down by an independent panel with a maximum of only 12 plaques awarded each year.

At this pace however, it will take many years before Broughty Ferry, or Dundee for that matter, has enough blue plaques to merit much more than passing interest. I hope this new national scheme will not preclude a scheme for Broughty Ferry, which I raised last month after the appearance of an unofficial plaque on a house wall celebrating the previous residency of Bob Servant.

Armistice Day Service at Grove Academy 11am 11th November 2013

Click on image to enlarge

This morning I joined pupils and teachers for a short service of remembrance at Grove Academy. 

The service, led by the School's clergy team, included the observation of the two minutes silence at eleven o'clock. This marks the time, at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of eleventh month of 1918, when the armistice was signed bringing the first world war to an end. 

The service was introduced by Rev Helen Bridger (St Mary's Episcopal Church) and included contributions from Gary Torbet (St James' Parish Church) and Patrick Sullivan (Church of Christ at Campfield Square) and Senior Pupils. It was held outside the school around the war memorial where two wreaths were laid to honour the memory of Grove FPs who died in the two world wars and later conflicts.

Broughty Ferry 2014 Calendar on Sale in The Ferry

Click on image to enlarge

Broughty Ferry has it own colourful Calendar for 2014 and it's on sale in The Ferry right now.

Click on image to enlarge

The calendar has been produced by Broughty Ferry Traders' to help raise money for local good causes.

The beautiful photographs, one for each month, were some of those submitted to the Traders as entries in their 2013 Photography Competition.

The calendar photographs attest to the high standard of entries received and to the attractiveness of Broughty Ferry as a place to live, work and visit.




The calendar costs £9:99 



Available from the following Ferry businesses:

• Eduardo Alessandro Studios, 30 Gray Street;
• Ferry Potty Arts & Crafts Shop, 339 Brook Street;
• The Gift Horse, 82 Gray Street;
• Gillies Furniture Carpets and Floor Coverings, 180 Brook Street;
• Millar's Clothing Store, 41-43 Gray Street;
• Mostyn McKenzie Shoes, 168 Brook Street and
• R.S McPherson Pharmacy, 120 Gray Street.

Remembrance Sunday 2013

Earlier today, I attended the Remembrance Sunday service at St Mary's Episcopal Church in Broughty Ferry.

It was a thought provoking service during which one of our congregational members read out the names recorded in the roll of honour inscribed on the chancel screen. This included the names of several members of the same family who had died in the first world war.

When you go home
tell them of us and say
For your tomorrow
we gave our today
(Kohima Epitaph)

During the service, I was particularly remembering my maternal Grandfather, Herbert Stevens, who had been born in Maidstone and I had known had served in the First World War. I had always assumed that he had joined The Queen’s Own Buffs, The Royal Kent Regiment. While I was browsing through a box of assorted papers kept by my Mother, I discovered his Character Certificate. This confirmed he had, in fact, served in the Royal Scots Reserve until he was discharged, 'no longer fit for war' in October 1917.

Jazz In The Ferry Sunday 24 November 2-5pm Part of Dundee Jazz Festival 2013

Top class Jazz and Blues will be all over The Ferry on Sunday afternoon 24 November 2013 with a host of great names playing informal sets in four intimate venues.

With a rover ticket you can roam from venue to venue checking out the music and the atmosphere. 3 hours of great soul, jazz, blues and swing in 4 venues in Broughty Ferry for £6

Featuring:
Bruach 
2pm Dick Lee Swingtet - hot jazz inspired by masters of swing 
3-5pm Alison Affleck & Vieux Carre - Energetic hot jazz inspired by 1930s-50s swing – Billie Holiday and Peggy Lee. Vintage tunes from the Great American Songbook 
Gulistan House 
2pm Dundee University Big Band - Great big band tunes 
3pm Matt Andersen - Canadian blues guitarist and singer-songwriter 
4pm Dundee University Big Band - From Glenn Miller to Frank Sinatra via latin jazz 
Papa Jacques 
2pm Lorna Reid Jazz Café - Classic jazz and swing tunes from cool and classy singer 
3pm Remembering Chet - Colin Steele and Iain Ewing celebrate cool west coast jazz style 
4pm Lorna Reid Jazz Café - Shades of Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Krall and Tom Waits 
Post Office Bar 
2pm Molly Duncan - Soul, bop and funky jazz from co-founder of Average White Band. He is joined by Iain Mathieson, Ron Elder and Bill Kemp. 
4pm Colin Steele and Friends - A jazz jam led by Scotland’s top trumpeter

Rover Ticket £6
Ticket Hotline 01382 434940
Website http://www.jazzdundee.co.uk/

Broughty Ferry Christmas Street Party and Switching on of Christmas Lights Thurs 21st November 2013 Starts 6pm

It's only two week to go! 

On Thursday 21st November 2013, starting at 6pm, come to Broughty Ferry to see Santa and join in the count down to the switching on of the festive light displays at Broughty Ferry's Big Annual Christmas Street Party. 

Live music, carol singing and entertainment for all the family in Brook Street and Gray Street courtesy of The Radio Tay Roadshow. The street party includes Carnival rides, food stalls and much more! 

A great night to welcome in the beginning of the Christmas and New Year season in style!

Equal Pay Day Thursday 7 November 2013

Today is Equal Pay Day – the day on which women effectively stop being paid for the year because of the gender pay gap. The date for Equal Pay Day is set by the latest pay statistics, which show that women working full-time earn 15 per cent less per hour (excluding overtime) than men working full-time.


The gender pay gap for women working part-time is even greater at 35.6 per cent. For the UK’s six million female part-time workers, they effectively stop being paid on 27 August.

The TUC has marked Equal Pay Day by publishing an analysis looking at the size of the gender pay gap in occupations across the workforce. Its analysis of official figures shows that in many professions the gender pay gap is far greater than 15 per cent.

Occupations with the biggest gender pay gaps

Occupation	Hourly pay, men	Hourly pay, women	Gender pay gap (per cent)	Gender pay gap (per hour)	Gender pay gap (per year)
Health professionals	£26.54	£18.32	31.0%	£8.22	£16,029
Culture, media and sports occupations	£18.62	£13.50	27.5%	£5.12	£9,984
Process, plant and machine operatives	£10.79	£8.23	23.7%	£2.56	£4,992
Managers, directors and senior officials	£26.14	£20.21	22.7%	£5.93	£11,564
Business and public service associate professionals	£20.39	£16.05	21.3%	£4.34	£8,463
Corporate managers and directors	£27.51	£21.78	20.8%	£5.73	£11,174
Process, plant and machine operatives	£10.53	£8.56	18.7%	£1.97	£3,842
Skilled trades occupations	£12.03	£10.00	16.9%	£2.03	£3,959
Associate professional and technical occupations	£18.12	£15.20	16.1%	£2.92	£5,694
All employees	£16.50	£14.05	14.8%	£2.45	£4,778

Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2012

Launch of Maiden Voyage Pop-Up Shop in Dundee's Wellgate Shopping Centre

Click on image to enlarge

Earlier today, I attended the official opening of the 'Maiden Voyage' pop-up shop in Dundee's Wellgate Shopping Centre. The opening ceremony, the cutting of the ribbon, was performed by my colleague, Baillie Helen Wright.

This is a new shop with a difference, as the shop design, marketing, buying and the staffing of the shop is all undertaken by students studying the NQ Advanced Enterprise in Business course at Dundee and Angus College. This impressive and innovative project provides front line and backroom experience in the retail sector thereby combining classroom based theory in the College with practice experience in the shop. 

The shop is modeled on a cruise ship in the 1950's. This has influenced the attractive retro shop fittings and the choice of fashion clothing and accessories on sale. Catch the shop while you can; it is open for the next six weeks running up to Christmas.

This is a fine example of a 'pop-up' shop very capably taking over some vacant retail space in the city centre. I hope the positive example of Maiden Voyage encourages other budding entrepreneurs to set up shop and try their hands at retailing their goods and services in Dundee.

Ecumenical Service Celebrates the Life of Broughty Ferry on the Centenary of Its Incorporation into Dundee

On Sunday evening, at the New Kirk in Queen Street, a large congregation came to mark the centenary of Broughty Ferry being incorporated into Dundee. The theme of the service was celebrating the life of Broughty Ferry as a strong community; emphasising that it has neither lost it's distinct identity nor has its voice been extinguished.

The service was led by Rev Helen Bridger (St Mary's Episcopal Church) and Rev Catherine Collins (Broughty Ferry New Kirk).

During the service certificates were awarded to eight young poets from Broughty Ferry schools who had submitted entries to the Poetry Competition. Over one hundred children sent in entries on the theme of what they liked about their community. The winners, six of whom are pictured above, read out their entries to an appreciate audience. Interestingly, the beach, the Castle and ice cream from Visocchi's featured prominently in the poems. 

Young people also read the old and new testament readings and two pupils from Grove Academy performed a duet for piano and cello. 

Local historian Chris Davey also delivered a fascinating short reflection on Broughty Ferry, a Strong Community.

The singing was led by a combined churches choir who also sang the Introit and choral Blessing.

After the service, refreshments were taken in the Church Hall and the Lord Provost cut the commemorative cake.

This ecumenical service was organised by Clergy from Broughty Ferry Churches together with support from our Communities Officer, Carole Jenkins.

Friends of Broughty Ferry Library Open Evening 7pm Monday 4 November 2013

Friends of Broughty Ferry Library are running an Open Evening in the Library at 7pm on Monday 4 November 2013.

The evening will start with the presentation of prizes to the children who submitted winning entries in the Friends' Logo competition.  The judges had a very difficult task, but the Friends of Broughty Ferry Library do now have their new Logo, which will be revealed on Monday night.  It and the entries of the other winners and those whose work was Highly Commended will be on display - some splendid art work and wonderful creativity.

The evening will continue with a talk on local history by Charlie Webster, so if you would like to learn more about where you stay, come along and hear about the development of Broughty Ferry and its environs.

There will also be a chance to meet the members of the Friends' Committee, to look at the artist's impressions for the proposed Library extension and an 'Ideas Board' to let the Committee know what residents would like the Friends' Group to be doing in the year to come.  They would really appreciate your thoughts:

• ideas for fundraising;
• activities and
• whether you might like to join the Friends' Committee.

Everybody welcome, entry free, refreshments available

Broughty Ferry Community Library

Queen Street, Broughty Ferry, Dundee, DD5 2HN

Phone:  01382 436919

Email: broughty.library@dundeecity.gov.uk

Website: www.dundeecity.gov.uk/communities/

Grove Academy Team Raise £330 for Kenyan School Project Through Dundee Cyclathon 2013

On Wednesday evening, the Grove Academy Cyclathon team had their fundraising efforts recognised at the Civic Reception in the City Council's Chambers in Dundee.

Grove's young team rode the miles, roads and pathways of the Dundee Green Circular on Sunday 15 September 2013. 

Battling against the wind and rain they completed the ride and raised over three hundred pounds for their good cause, a project connected with Grove Academy's exchange partner school in Kenya. 

Grove's team are waiting to hear whether they won the best fundraisers in the schools' category. They are apparently up against teams from Menzieshill High School and The High School of Dundee. Go Grove!

Special thanks go to Claverhouse Rotary Club for once again organizing a successful event which enabled so many adults and young people to raise thousands of pounds for the Rotary nominated charity, 'Cash for Kids' and the participants' chosen good causes. 

Broughty Ferry Churches Centenary Trail - This Weekend 2-3 November 2013

As part of the series of community events to mark the centenary of Broughty Ferry becoming part of Dundee, Broughty Ferry Churches have organised a number of events this week called the The Broughty Ferry Centenary Church Trail. 

These are the activities for this weekend - Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 November 2013.

Saturday 2 November
St Stephen and West (Church of Scotland)
96 Dundee Road, DD5 1DW
10.00 - 4.00: Church open to visitors with displays including stained glass windows, overseas Meru project in Kenya and its links with Broughty Ferry community groups, our recent journey to linkage with St Mary’s Parish Church, Dundee. Refreshments available.

Saturday 2 November
St Luke’s and Queen Street (Church of Scotland)
5 West Queen Street, DD5 1AU
10.00 - 12.00: Church open for visitors. Display of youth handwork on the theme ‘Our Church’. Organ music and refreshments.

Saturday 2 November
Barnhill St Margaret’s Church (Church of Scotland)
10, Invermark Terrace DD5 2QU
10.00 - 4.00: Church open to visitors
10.00-12.00: Guild coffee morning, to which all are welcome. Displays of work locally with schools, Starter Packs, Dundee Foodbank and overseas with Mary’s Meals and orphanage and feeding programme in the Phillippines.

Saturday 2 November
St Mary’s Scottish Episcopal Church
Queen Street, DD5 1AJ
10.30-4.00: church open to visitors, displaying the work of Mothers’ Union (only branch in the diocese of Brechin)
St Mary’s Home and Overseas Support Project and Balgillo Nursery. 11.00: Demonstration of ‘Sing and Sign’ communication technique with small babies. 2.30-3.00: Talk by Mr Chris Davey, historian, former lecturer Dundee
University, co author of ‘The Memory of Broughty Ferry’ written to mark the incorporation of Broughty Ferry into Dundee.
3.00-3.30: Organ recital by Mr Gordon Foster, organist from the diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.

Sunday 3 November
Broughty Ferry New Kirk (Church of Scotland)
370 Queen Street, DD5 2HQ
Ecumenical Service with joint churches’ choir and pupils from Grove Academy, followed by refreshments. Displays of work locally and overseas including 65th and 81st Dundee Guides and 44th Dundee company of the Boys Brigade, Broughty Ferry’s only BB company.
Winner of the School Poetry Competition will be announced and entries will also be on display.

Dundee Christmas Light Night Friday Evening 15 November 2013

Welcome to Dundee's biggest street party. Christmas Light Night celebrates the start of the city's Christmas festivities and sees the whole of the city centre transformed into a moveable feast, with choirs, music, dance, theatre and art.

The excitement begins with the torchlight procession and this year the lanterns, themed ‘Wings and Things' will mingle. The procession comes from The McManus: Dundee's Museum and Art Gallery then winds it way down Commercial Street, into the High Street then into City Square where the Christmas lights will be switched on.

Stroll around for a couple of hours to see performances drawn from the talent of some of Dundee's community organisations and school groups as they come together to entertain you during the evening.  Amongst the many highlights of this year is the return of One Big Ceilidh in City Square where you are encouraged to join in the dances, The Dundee Nativity which will be performed outside the Steeple Church and the firework finale. 

A first for this year is an ice rink and vintage carousel outside Overgate Shopping Centre and The Christmas Bus. The bus will have presenters from Wave 102 on board to help the event reach out and spread Christmas cheer when it visits the communities of Lochee, Ardler, Douglas and Broughty Ferry.

Why not do a bit of Christmas shopping in the Wellgate Centre and Overgate as well as some of the independent shops, which will be open late especially for this evening?

Get a bite at some of the eateries or visit some of the cultural attractions.

Read or download the programme